PojoaquePuebloCommunityMeeting
November3,2016
PojoaquePueblo
ThequestionsbelowwerereceivedfromattendeesatthePojoaqueCommunitymeeting.The
first32questionswereansweredorallybytheparticipantsattheNovember3,2016meeting.
Theremainingquestionsareansweredinwritingbelow.
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WhataretheproblemsthathavedelayedtheissuanceofthedraftEnvironmental
ImpactStatement?
Whatisthesizeofthetanks[thatwillbeneededbytheRegionalWaterSystem]and
wherewilltheybe?
TuesdayeveningattheCountyCommissionersMtgPueblogovernorsmentioneda
watersystemisneededforourfutureinparticularforeconomicdevelopment/growth.
Withgrowthcomestaxesforfiredepartmentprotection,police,waterandsewer
systemandrefuse.IsthegrowthonPueblolands?Becausewiththebasinclosed
privatelandownersarelimited.Whatthengoesintothetaxbaseforthesesystemsand
services?
CantheCountyprovideinformationonwherethewatersystemwillandwillnotbe?
SallyElystatesthiswatersystemwillcreatejobs.WillthePueblos(natives)havefirst
priorityinemployment?
WhyisthewaterlinegoinguptoBishopsLodge?ChupaderoispartoftheNPTbutthey
havebeenignored.
Istheregoingtobesomewaytoassurenon-pueblomembersthatthepriceofwater
willbereasonableandnotskyrocket?
Ican’taffordanotherutilitybill.WhatwhatmustIdo?
Howareyouliterally“bringing”inmorewaterintothebasin?(Paperwaterrightdoes
notequalmorewater)
TherearewatercontaminationproblemsthruouttheU.S.A.Whatmayweexpect?
Isittheintention[oftheJPA]thatthetwoappointeddirectorsbesuppliedbythe
CountyWaterSystem?
Isthereaplanonprovidinginfo/educationtothepartiesonconservingwater?
IownavacantlegallotinNambewithacequiawaterrights.IfIdecidetobuildahouse
onthelotbeforethewatersystemisoperational,canIdrillawellformydomestic
watersupply?
Ifthewatertabledoesn’tcomeuplikeprojectedandtheindividualswhoelectedto
keeptheirwellswhatisthecostgoingtobetogetonthewatersystem?
ThespringswhichhaveprovidedwaterforirrigationinCyemunguearejustaboutnone
excitinganymore.IsitbecausetheCasinoBuffaloThunder?
Howmanywellsarecontaminated?Whatareas?
Isthereanycurrentresearchonthecontaminationofgroundwaterbytheseptic
systemsintheNPTbasin?
Anyplansonasewer/watertreatmentsystem?
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Whataretherulesandwherearethestated?
WillthePueblos/casinostobeallowedtoputstrawsinthegroundNPTbasin?
Whowillenforcerulesandregulations?
Howaretheallotmentofwatergoingtobeissued?
Presumptiveuseof0.5acre/ftperfamily-non-pueblo.Whatistheperfamily
presumptiveuseamountforthepueblos?
Ifyouelectedtohaveorkeepyouwellisitgoingtobemetered?
Howdoesone’shistoricalbenefituseproved?
IsittheofficialpositionofSantaFeCountytosupports?
Howistheissueofroadeasements,ascurrentlyconnectedwiththeCountywithholding
fundingforthewatersettlement,beingresolved?
TheCountypassedaresolutionthattheywillnotfinancethesystemuntilallroad
easementsaresettled.Havetheybeensettledtothesatisfactionofthenon-tribal
communitymembers?
ThePostSettlementagreementallows0.7af/yindoorsorout.Willthisagreement
continuetobehonored?
Ifyougoovertheamountofwaterthatyouareallocatedistheregoingtobeapenalty?
Ifyourwellismeteredwhoisgoingtodotheobservationandisthereacost?
Ifyouhavetwodwellingsonthesamewellbutdifferentplotshowmuchwaterisgoing
tobe[given?]toeach?
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Howandwhencanwemovetheamountofourwaterrights?
Ifyouhaveanexistingsurfacewaterrightyoucanmoveor“transfer”itwithintheNPT
BasinatanytimeafterobtaininganynecessaryapprovalfromanyAcequiacommission
andfilinganapplicationwiththeOSEtochangetheplaceofuse,pointofdiversion,or
purposeofuseofthewaterright,subjecttostatelaw.Youmayalsobeabletotransfer
commercial,industrialoragriculturalgroundwaterrightsbyfilinganapplicationwith
theOSE.
Toclarifydoesthewellelectionoption#3requirethatpropertyownerswhosharea
wellalsoconnecttotheRWS?
No.EachhouseholdcanmakeitsownchoiceaboutwhethertojointheSettlementand
whattodowithitsshareofthewellwater.
InComponentsoftheAgreement,item(c)seemstosaythatthePuebloswill
administerthenon-Pueblowaterrights.Clarify,please,whatthatmeans.Doesn’tthe
StateEngineeradministerallwaterrightsinNM?
TheStateEngineerwilladministerallnon-Pueblowaterrights.ThroughtheWater
Master,theOSEwillalsoadministerPueblowaterrightsinaccordancewiththe
SettlementAgreement.
TelluswhereSandra’spresentationcanbefoundonline?
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Sandra’sNovember3,2016presentationontheAamodtSettlementAgreementcanbe
foundonSantaFeCounty’sAamodtwebpage:
http://www.santafecountynm.gov/public_works/utilities/aamodt
IfNativeAmericansinheritthepropertywhathappensthen?
ThepropertyremainsprivatepropertysubjecttothesameStateandCountyrulesand
regulationswithregardtouseofthepropertyanduseofwater.
TheFederalGovernmenthasa19or20trilliondollardeficit.Whyinthe***arethey
puttingmoneyintothewatersystem?
TheSettlementAgreementrepresentsasettlementoflitigationbyallparties,including
thefederalgovernment.Thefederalgovernmenthasatrustobligationtoallfour
Pueblostoprotect,defendandpreservetheirwaterrights.ThePuebloshadsignificant
claimsagainstthefederalgovernmentforthefailureoftheUnitedStatestoprotect,
defendandpreservetheirwaterrightsforoveracentury.Theregionalwatersystemis
anessentialpartofthesettlementagreementnecessarytosettlethePueblos’water
rightsclaimsincludingitsclaimsagainsttheUnitedStates.Congressandthe
Administrationbothconcludedthatthetangibleandintangiblebenefitsofthesystem
justifiedtheuseoffederalfunds.
TheStateGovernmenthasa200milliondollardeficit.Whyinthe****arethey
financingthis?
SeeanswertoQuestion38.
WhyistheSpanishTreatynotfollowed?
Thisissuewasthesubjectofextensivelitigation.TheCourtfoundthattheextensive
priorPueblorightsrecognizedinthecasewerefullyconsistentwiththetermsofthe
TreatyofGuadalupeHidalgo.
WhathappenstomysurfacewaterrightsifIconnecttoRWS?
Ifyouhaveadjudicatedsurfacewaterrightsthestatusofthosesurfacewaterrightswill
notchangeifyouconnecttotheRegionalWaterSystem.And,youwillreceivethe
benefitsoftheSettlementAgreementforpurposesofprotectionofyoursurfacewater
rightsfromprioritycallsbythePueblos.
Whathappenstowellownerswhodonotsignthesettlement,whethertheyignored
thenotificationsordidnotreceivethem?
OnecannotignorenotificationsfromtheCourtandoneshouldrespondwithinthetime
framesprovidedinthenotice.Ifsomeonewhoreceivesnoticedoesnotrespond,the
SettlementAgreementprovidesthatthepartieswillrequesttheCourttotreatsuch
individualassomeonewhohasagreedtotransfertheirdomesticwellrighttothe
County,connecttotheregionalwatersystemandreceivewaterfromthesystem.The
Courtwillmakethefinaldecisionastohowtoaddressthismatter.Ifsomeonealleges
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theyneverreceivednoticetheywillhaveanopportunitytoaddressthatissueatthe
appropriatetime.
Pleasetellushowyouknowtheaquiferisbeingdepleted.Whenwilltherebea
currenthydrologyreport?
Therehavebeennumeroushydrologicstudiesthroughthecourseofthislonglitigation
withregardtotheaquiferandinterconnectedstreamsandspringsinthebasin.The
EnvironmentalImpactStatementwhichwillbereleasedindraftinearly2017willalso
containadditionalstudyregardingthedeclineoftheaquifer.
Doesthemoneyallocatedcovercompletepipelines?Completemeaningpipes
connectiontohouseholdfornon-Pueblo?
Yes,forSettlementPartieswhoelecttoconnecttotheCountyWaterUtilityassoonas
serviceisavailable.Inotherwords,peoplewhoelecttoconnectassoonasserviceis
availablereceivethebenefitofhavingtheconnectionfromtheirhousetothemeterbox
nearthepropertylinepaidforbytheStateorCounty.TheState’s$4million
contributionforsuchcostswillbefromthePojoaqueValleyWaterUtilityConnection
Fund.
WillthismoneyalsocoveroldpipingforbothPueblosandnon-Pueblos?
No.ThePojoaqueValleyWaterUtilityConnectionFundonlyfornon-Pueblowater
userswhowillbecustomersoftheCountywaterutility.
Doesthisopenthedoorinthefutureforadam?
No.
IftheNPTBasinisa“WaterShortBasin”whydoesthesettlementallowthe
“ImportedWater”tobeleasedoutsidetheNPTBasinseemscounter-intuative?
TheSettlementAgreementallowstheCountytoleasewateroutsideofthebasinfora
verylimitedamountoftime.ThePuebloscanalsoleasewateravailabletothemfrom
theRegionalWaterSystemunlessanduntilthatwaterisnecessarytomeetdemands
withintheRegionalWaterSystem.Thesystemisintendedtomeetthelongtermneeds
oftheBasin.Leasingisawaytohelpoffsetthecostsofrunningthesystemuntilthefull
watersupplyisrequiredtomeetthelongtermneeds.
Iam33%nativeAmerican(livedinthiscommunityallmylife-5thgeneration),butnot
aPueblomember).CanIgetawaiverandnothavetopaytotapintotheRWS?
IfyoudonotliveonPuebloland,youcanchoosewhethertojointheSettlementand
theRegionalWaterSystem.
IfyoujointheSettlementandagreetoconnecttotheCountyWaterUtilityassoonas
serviceisavailable,thereisnocosttotapintotheRWS.TheSettlementAgreement
specifiesthatnowelluserelectingtoconnecttotheCountyWaterUtilitywillbe
requiredtoceaseuseoftheirwellandconnecttotheCountywaterUtilityunlessall
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connectionexpensesarepaidbythePojoaqueValleyWaterUtilityConnectionFundor
otherthirdparty(3.1.7.3).
WhydoweneedtomoveforwardwithaRWSthatonlyputstheburdenonanonPueblousers.1)payingforservice(unknownrates)2)connectionfee(proposed
amountwillonlybeavailableforaperiodoftime)3)privatelandinterrupted4)meter
investment.Shouldallfailby2024myinvestmentisaloss.
TheRWSisessentialtosettlingtheAamodtlitigation.Settlingthelawsuitandavoiding
futurewaterrightslitigationisinthebestinterestofallCountyresidents.1)We
anticipatethatwaterratesforCountycustomersinthebasinwillbesimilartoratespaid
byotherCountycustomers.2)Theconnectionfeefundisonlyavailabletonon-Pueblo
wellownersthatelecttoconnecttotheCountyWaterUtilityassoonasitisavailable.
Afterthewellelection,anybodyconnectingtotheCountyWaterUtilitywillhavetopay
allapplicablefeesforconnectionsimilartootherCountyoftheresidents.3)Private
wellownerscanelectnottobepartofthesettlementortheRWS.4)Whetherthereis
aSettlementAgreementornot,allwellownersinthebasinwillberequiredtometer
theirwell.
ThefailureofRWStobesubstantiallycompletebytheestablisheddeadlineisa
significantrisk.Countystaffisexploringwaystominimizeormanagethatrisk.Butno
stepstakentodaterequiretheBoardofCountyCommissionerstoacceptthatriskand
appropriatefundsfortheRWS.Thatdecisionwillbemadeatafuturedate.
Dopueblospaypropertytaxes?
ThePuebloindividualspaypropertytaxesonnon-Pueblolandsthattheyown.The
PueblosdonotpaypropertytaxesonthelandtheyownasPueblosbecausefederallaw
exemptsthelandofPueblosandtribesfromstatetaxes,includingpropertytaxes.
Services:Jobsforthepueblo:Nogrossreceipts.Nopayrolltaxtostate.Economic
DevelopmentforPueblosforSantaFeCountyandnotforNM.TrueorFalse?
False.TheRegionalWaterSystemdesignandconstructionwillgeneratejobswithinand
withoutthebasinwhichareavailabletoallindividualsregardlessofPuebloaffiliation.
Additionally,grossreceiptstaxispayableforallworknotonPueblolands.Ultimately,
theRegionalWaterSystemwillsecureafirmreliablesupplyofwaterfortheentirebasin
forbothdomesticandcommercialuses.Thiswillsupporteconomicdevelopment
throughoutthebasin.
IsittruethatSanIldefonsocanhireanyonetoworkonwatersystem,NotCounty?
Thisisnottrue.TheBureauofReclamationinitially,andthentheCountyassystem
operator,willhirestafffortheRegionalWaterSystem.SanIldefonsowillnothireany
employees.TheCostSharingandSystemIntegrationAgreement,signedbytheCounty,
thefourPueblosandtheUnitedStatesprovidesalimitedpreferencetoSanIldefonso
Pueblomembers“totheextentauthorizedbylaw[for]employmentpreferenceand
trainingtoqualifiedmembersoftheSanIldefonsocommunityandsecondpriorityto
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membersofotherPueblosforconstruction,operationandmaintenanceoffacilities
locatedwithintheSanIldefonsoPueblo.”Asnoted,thepreferenceislimitedto
facilitieslocatedwithintheSanIldefonsoPueblo.
Whenwillwellelectionnoticebemailed?
TheCourthasnotyetsetadeadlineformailingoftheelectionnotice.Weexpecta
deadlinetobesetsometimeinthefirstquarterofnextyear.Theelectionnoticewill
includearesponsetimeinthenotice.
IsthereapointandtimewhentheJointPowersAgreementisn’tworththepaperits
writtenongiventhesovereigntyofPueblos?
No.ThePuebloswillwaivetheirsovereignimmunityforpurposesofenforcementof
theJointPowersAgreement.
WillNon-pueblousersbelimitedto0.5afyonlywhenthereisaprioritycallor
always?
The.5afyisnotalimitation–ratheritistheminimumamount(absentdemonstration
ofahigherbeneficialuse)towhichawaterrightcouldeverbelimited.Thatwouldbe
theamountirrespectiveofaprioritycall.
Whatwouldjustifyaprioritycall?
Aprioritycallisjustifiedifthereisinsufficientphysicalwatersupplyinthebasinto
satisfyallusers.Inthatcase,theStatecanenforceprioritytoallowsenioruserstotake
waterfirstbeforemorejuniorusers—i.e.thosewithalaterprioritydate.However,it
doesnotpermanentlyreducethejunioruser’swaterright,butonlyforthetimeofthe
shortageasdeterminedbytheStateEngineer.
CanIselecttokeepmywellinperpetuityANDconnecttotheCountywaterutilityat
thesametime?
Itdependsuponthetypeofrightsandtheuse.
UndertheCounty’scurrentSustainableLandUseCode,awellownercannotusetheir
wellforoutdoordomesticpurposesonapropertysuppliedbytheCountyWaterUtility
(7.13.3.7).
UndertheSettlementAgreement,aformerwellownercouldusetheirwellifthe
CountyWaterUtilityisunabletodeliverwaterthroughnofaultoftheformerwell
owner.(3.1.8.4.1.)Inaddition,awellownercouldusetheirwellforoutdoor,nondomesticpurposesonpropertythatissuppliedbytheCountyWaterUtilityunder
limitedcircumstances.OncetheSection72-12-1wellwaterrightistransferredtothe
CWU;watercannolongerbedivertedfromthewellfordomesticpurposes.However,if
awellhasnon-domesticrights(suchaspre-basinorsupplementalagriculturalrightsor
livestockwaterrights),thewellcancontinuetobeusedforthosenon-domestic
purposesconsistentwithSection3.1.7.2.1oftheSettlementAgreement.Also“the
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ownerofapre-basinorpermittedright,otherthanonepermittedunderSection72-121,mayconveytitletoandtransferthatwaterrighttotheCWUforuseinproviding
watertoitscustomersinthePojoaqueBasin”(3.1.8.1).Thus,fornon-domesticrights,
theownercouldkeepthoseandcontinuetosupplynon-domesticusesfromthewellor
transferthoserightstosomeoneelse,includingtheCWU.
Thepartiesareevaluatingwhethertherearecircumstancesunderwhichawellowner
withadomesticrightcouldusetheirwellfordomesticpurposesandconnecttothe
CountyWaterUtility.TheCountyCodewouldhavetobeamendedforthistohappen.
Whathappensifanexistingwellislocatedontwoparcels?
Ifanexistingwellservestwohomesontwoparcels,theOrderadjudicatingthewellsets
outtheamountofwaterthatistobeshared.Eachhouseholdmaychoosethewell
electionwhichbestservesitsowners.Thus,forexample,onehouseholdmaychooseto
jointheSettlementandconnecttotheRegionalWaterSystemwhiletheotherowner
electstokeepthewellinperpetuity.
I’m76yearsold.Whowillclimbdownintomywelltoreadthemeter?
ArrangementscanbemadewiththeWaterMastertoreadyourmeter.
DotheattorneysrepresentingStateEngineer’sofficehavetargetdateforfederal
courtfilingtoreadjudicateshareddomesticwellspreviouslyadjudicatedassingleuser
welltomulti-userwell?
TheStateexpectstohavethelastofthecorrectivemotionsfiledbyFriday,November
18,2016.
Wasthe0.5afyminimummodifiedby1994courtdecisiontothelessorof0.5or
actualhistoricuse?
No.TheJuly22,1994Order(No.4391)amendedallpreviousordersadjudicating
domesticwellstostate“AmountofWater:nottoexceedadiversionof3.0acre-feetper
yearfromthewelldescribedaboveorthehistoricbeneficialuse,whicheverisless.”The
amountof0.5wasneverspokento.
IsthereaplanforPueblocurrentuseandthefutureallocation?
ThewaterrightsadjudicatedtothePuebloswithinthebasinandmadeavailable
throughtheRegionalWaterSystemwillbeusedforallbeneficialusesofwaterneeded
tosupporttherespectiveindividualPueblocommunitiesinperpetuity.Accordingly,the
waterwillbeusedforcommunityuses,domesticpurposes,irrigation,commercial
purposestosatisfycurrentdemandswithinthePueblocommunitiesaswellasfuture
demandsrelatedtodomesticuseandeconomicdevelopment.
WhathappensifflowsontheRioGrandeareseverelyreduced?
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ThewaterrightsavailabletotheRegionalWaterSystemwillcomefromavarietyof
sourcesincludingSanJuanChamawaterimportedfromtheSanJuanBasin.The
amountofwaterwhichcouldbedivertedatfulldemandbytheRegionalWaterSystem
(4,000acre-feetperannum)representsjust.4%oftheamounthistorically(prior60+
years)availableintheRioGrandeattheproposedpointofdiversionfortheRegional
WaterSystem.TheRegionalWaterSystemwillbuildinbackupstrategiessuchas
storageandothermechanismstoensuresupplyintimesofshortage.Asinany
municipalsystemtherecouldbeatimewherewatersavingmeasureswere
implementedbytherespectivecountywaterutilityandthePueblos.Inthateventthe
entitiesarerequiredtoshareinshortagesonapro-ratabasis--everyoneonthesystem
willshareanyshortage.ThebenefitofapooledorsharedsupplybytheCountyandthe
Pueblosisthatthiskindofshortageisnotexpected.Intheeventthereisacomplete
failureofsupplybytheRegionalWaterSystemwhichresultedinaninabilitytosupply
watertocustomers,thosewhoconnectedtothesystemareallowedbytheSettlement
Agreement(3.1.8.4.1)toreactivatetheirdomesticwells.
Newwatersystemwillprovide0.5afytoeachhousehold,mostofthewaterwill
returnbacktotheaquifer.Isthiscalculationconsidered?
ReclamationwillconsiderandevaluatethisissueinthecontextoftheEIS.
HasNambePuebloalreadymadeaprioritycallonthelionsshareofirrigationwaters?
No,thePuebloandPVIDhaveagreedonvariouspracticalmeasurestoprovidethe
watertowhicheachisentitled.Discussionsaboutthoseprovisionstakeplaceevery
yearandaffectbothPojoaqueandSanIldefonsoaswell.
DoesthesamerulesapplytoPuebloandnon-Puebloetothetie-intothenewwater
system?
TheRegionalWaterSystemwillbeownedandoperatedjointlybytheCountyandthe
Pueblosastothediversion,treatmentfacility,themaintrunklineandothershared
facilities.Eachentitywillestablishtherulesapplyingtowaterusersconnectingtotheir
system.Thedistributionofwaterfromthesystemwillbedividedintofiveseparate
distributionsystems,ownedrespectivelybytheCounty,andeachofthefourPueblos.
Allnon-PueblowateruserswillbeCountycustomersandconnecttotheCountywater
utilityandallPueblowaterusersresidingonaPueblowillconnecttotheirrespective
Pueblodistributionsystem.
Inthefuturehowcanbeassuredthattheydon’tmakeitamonopoly?
TheRegionalWaterSystemwillbeownedandoperatedbytheCountyandthefour
PueblosinstrictaccordancewiththefederallegislationapprovingtheAamodt
Settlement,andtheSettlementAgreementandCostSharingandSystemIntegration
Agreement.AJointPowersAgreementandOperatingAgreementwillbeenteredinto
asdirectedandrequiredbythefederallegislation.Thespecificrequirementsofthe
federalActwillrequirethesystemtobejointlyoperatedtoensureafirmandreliable
watersupplyforthecustomersofallfiveentities–thePueblosandtheCounty.The
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federalActdoesnotallowforanyindividualPueblo,thePuebloscollectively,orthe
Countytocreateamonopoly.
Whatguaranteedonon-IndianusershavethatthePuebloswillnotarbitrarilyraise
pricesorwaterlimitations?
TheCountywillhavesoleauthoritytosetpricesfornon-Indianuserswhowillbe
customersoftheCountywaterutility.ThePuebloshavenoauthoritytosetpriceswith
regardtonon-Indianusers.Theoperationofthesystemwillbetightlyconstrainedby
thelegislation,CostSharingandSystemIntegrationAgreement,JointPowers
Agreement,andOperatingAgreementtoensurethatthecostsareequitablydistributed
amongthefivegovernments.
Howaretheygoingtochargeforthewater?
UnderthedraftJointPowersAgreement,theAuthoritywouldnotestablishwaterrates
chargedtocustomersoftheCountyWaterUtilityoraPuebloWaterFacility.Instead,
thebillingofCountyandPueblocustomerswouldconformtothepoliciesoftheCounty
andapplicablePuebloWaterFacility.
WithregardtoCountywaterrates,theCountysetswaterratesthroughapublic
process.AnyratesmustbeapprovedbytheBoardofCountyCommissionersatapublic
meeting.Whensettingrates,theCountyfollowsindustrystandardsconsistentwith
thoseestablishedbytheAmericanWaterWorksAssociation(AWWA).TheAWWA
providesafewoptionsfordeterminingutilityrevenueneedsandrateschedules(by
customerclass)byconductingacost-of-serviceanalysis.
Inaddition,theCountywillalsohavesoleauthorityoversuspensionofservicetoits
customers.NootherpartywillhaveauthoritytodenyservicetoaCountycustomer.
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Uptowhatdistancewillthewaterlinebeprovidedfrommainlineunderthe
agreement?
TheinitialwidthoftheCountyWaterUtilityserviceareawillnotbebasedonaspecific
distancefromthemainwaterline,butthecosttoconstructtheconnectionfromthe
distributionlinetothehouse.UndertheSettlementAgreement,serviceisnot
consideredavailableifthecosttoconnecttotheCWUisgreaterthan$7,000in2006
dollars(3.1.7.2.3).WellownersthatelecttoconnecttotheCountywaterUtilityas
soonasserviceisavailabletothemwillhaveaccesstothePojoaqueValleyWaterUtility
ConnectionFund.
Itshouldbenotedthatthelocationsofthedistributionlinescomingoffthemain
transmissionlinewillbebased,inpart,onthewellelection.If,forexample,the
majorityofwellownersinaparticularneighborhoodelectnottoconnecttotheCounty
WaterUtility,itisunlikelythatadistributionlinewouldbeconstructedtothat
neighborhoodbecausethereisnodemand.Inaddition,thelocationandlengthofthe
distributionlineswillalsobebasedonavailablebudget.
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Whiletheextentofthedistributionsystemcouldbescaledbackduringtheinitial
planninganddesign,shoulddemandincrease,thesystemcouldbeexpandedafterthe
initialconstructionoftheRWSiscompletein2024.
Whatwillbethesizeofthewatermain?
Thediameterofthetransmissionpipelinelineisexpectedtorangefrom4to18inches
dependingonthelocation.
Willhydrantsbeinstalled?
Yes.Althoughthefinalextentoffireprotectiontobeincludedhasnotyetbeen
decided,theBureauofReclamationdesignincludestheinstallationofsomefire
hydrants.
ReachingoutNOW?Aftergagordersand50+yearsoflitigationIdon’ttrustwhatis
comingdown.Whatcanyousaythatwouldencouragemetoliterallybuyintothis?
Litigationbydefinitionisdivisivewithwinnersandlosers.Thesettlementismuch
differentandintendedtobeawin-winsituationwithacommongoalofprovidinga
reliablewatersupplytoallresidentsoftheNPTBasin.Itisnotperfectbutthatdoesn’t
meanthatitisnotgood.Ifallaffectedpartiesworktogetheritcanachieveits
objectives.Putanotherway,thePuebloslikeeverybodyelsehaveastakeinmakingit
work.
Manypublicmeetingshavebeenheldoverthecourseofthelastdecade.ThePueblos
anditsSettlementpartnersarehopefulthatapositivedialoguecancommenceand
continuewithregardtotheshareduseofwaterwithintheBasin.
WearenotinfavoroftheAamodtSettlement.Asanon-pueblopersonthewayitis
writtennow.HowcanyouforceustobeapartofthisSettlement?Itisnon
constitutional.
NooneisforcedtobepartoftheAamodtSettlement.TheSettlementdoesnotrequire
anyonetoconnecttothesystemorotherwisebecomeasettlingparty.Ifonechooses
notbecomeasettlementparty,youwillnotreceivethebenefitsofthesettlement
agreementincludingprotectionsfrompriorityenforcementandthecertaintyofaclean
reliablesupplyofwater.
Withmoneyallotted,Doesthealsocoverthesewer,willpipesbecoveredwiththis
money?
WastewatertreatmentandinfrastructureisnotpartoftheAamodtsettlement.
However,theconstructionoftheRegionalWaterSystemandtheeasementsobtained
forthewatersupplyinfrastructurewillprovideanopportunityforfuturedevelopment
ofwastewaterfacilities.
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WhatassurancesdowehavethatSanIwillnotchargeusextraortrytotakeawayour
participationintheRegionalWaterSystemplantliketheyareattemptingtowith
CountyRd.84?
TheonlychargesyouwillgetforreceivingwaterservicefromtheRegionalWater
SystemwillbefromtheCountyWaterUtility.ThePueblosagreedtohavetheUnited
Statesgranteasementsforrightsofwayforthepipelinesandfacilitiesnecessaryforthe
RegionalWaterSystematnocost.Thoseeasementswillbeinplacebeforethesystem
beginsoperation.Allfivegovernmentshaveaninterestinmaximizingthenumberof
individualhook-ups,tosharetheoperationscostsoverthelargestpossiblebase.
TheallocationofwaterrightsandcapacitytotheCountyisprotectedbyfederallawandno
otherpartyhasdiscretiontoobstructtheCounty’sallocationanddeliveryofsupplyforits
customers.
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WillSanIhavetherighttochargeusaneasementoraccessfeefortheWTP?
No.
HowwillthetwonewmembersoftheJPAbechosen?
ThecurrentoftheJointPowersAgreement,providesthatinadditiontotheCountyand
eachPuebloappointingamember,theCountyandthefourPuebloswillappointtwo
additionalmemberswhoarecustomersoftheRegionalWaterSystem.
Canwerespondsothatwearea“responder”tothesettlementagreementwithout
“agreeing”tothesettlementagreement?Whataretheramificationsifwedothis?
IfyoufiledanobjectiontotheSettlementAgreementwiththefederalcourt,youhave
alreadyindicatedyoudonotagreetotheSettlementAgreementandyouhavealready
responded.Therefore,nofurtheractionisrequiredonyourpart.However,giventhat
allobjectionshavebeenoverruledbytheCourt,youwillhaveanopportunitytoelectto
becomeasettlingparty.Ifyoudidnotfileanobjectionandchoosenottobecomea
settlementpartytheformwillprovideanopportunitytostatethat.However,no
furtherobjectionstotheSettlementAgreementarepermitted.