FROM: COLORADO FARM BUREAU P. 0. Box5647
Denver, Colorado 80217
CONTAGr: Parley Jensen, Information Director, Phone 433-6796
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DENVER, NOV. 8, 1973--Agriculture s ability to produce food and fiber in the Colorado River Basin could be Jeopardized if the strict salinity control regula-Uon& pToposed by the Env.iTonmental Protection..Agency(EPA) are a<iol!ted, a fMm leader said here today.
Don Ahrenholtz, manager of Colorado Farm Bureau, sa ld the preliminary salinity regulations that EPA proposes to publish in the Federal Register are much too Inflexible and must be revised drastically if agriculture In the Colorado River Basin is to survive. The Basin lies in seven states--Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.
"In view of the Administration's call for all-out agricultural production to meet the growing food and fiber demands of the nation and the world, it is essential that EPA doesn't throw up any road blocks through unreasonable, lm-practical or even impossible regulations,~ Ahrimlloltz said.
"As interpreted by Felix L. Sparks, director of the State Water Conservation Board and one of the most authoritative water experts in the country, the proposed EPA salinity regulations, if adopted in present form, would create 'a water problem of crisis proportions,' • Ahrenholtz stated.
The farm leader also expressed concern that if such stringent regulations are adopted for the Colorado River Basin, equally strict regulations may follow for other river basins in the state, such as the South Platte and Arkansas.
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-EPA regulations--add one
As proposed, the regulations would establish a maximum level of 850 parts per million for dissolved salts in the Colorado River system. This maximum level of salinity was recommended in April, 1972, by the reconvened 7th session of the Conference in the Matter of Pollution of Interstate Waters of the Colorado River and its Tributaries.
"Mr. Sparks tells us that communities along the Arkansas River have been using water with almost 4, 000 parts per million for 75 years, which, while not the best drinking water, is fine for agricultural use," Ahrenholtz reported.
Under current procedure, the EPA would publish the proposed regulations in the Federal Register, after which, a period of 90 days would be allowed for interested persons to submit written data, views, or arguments in regard to the proposed regulations. After the 90 day period, the regulation, as and if amended, will become effective immediately upon republication.
Ahrenholtz urges Colorado farmers and ranchers to express their views on the proposed regulations, with emphasis on the necessity for agriculture to
- - - 'c"".ontinue. to produ_ce...food aml.fibeJ:...With.out unre_gsonable and impractical restrictions.
Individual opinions on the proposed regulations should be submitted, in triplicate, to Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Program;, Washington, D. C. 20460.
