(Las Vegas, NV): Nevada Seniors Ask Babbitt To Overrule Interior's Dismissal of Appeal for $1.7 Billion Water Project

The Department of Interior, Office of Hearings and Appeals in Arlington, Virginia dismissed the Nevada Seniors Coalition's appeal for the Southern Nevada Water Authority's $1.7 billion water project for Las Vegas. The Ad Hoc Board of Appeals cited "a lack of jurisdiction" in dismissing the appeal, two days after it was granted. "Now, that's more like the Interior Department I've been dealing with!" said the Dr. Larry J. Paulson, a retired UNLV biologist, who prepared the Coalition's appeal submitted December 19, 1996. "They've arbitrarily dismissed everything else we've done, why should this be any different?" The Board indicated the Coalition could appeal to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. Paulson explained they sent the appeal to the Commissioner's office when it was sent to Interior's Appeal Board. "They've got to give us the run around," stated Paulson, "it's a slam dunk for the seniors if we get them on a level playing field."

L. Kenneth Mahal, the Coalition's 75 year old president, says Reclamation's EIS for the $1.7 billion dollar water project "has more holes than a bar room dart board." Coalition seniors are extremely concerned about wastewater discharges contaminating Lake Mead's drinking water with deadly bacteria and viruses carried by 30 million visitors to Las Vegas each year. Contamination of the drinking water caused a "Cryptosporidium" outbreak in Las Vegas that killed 32 people during 1994. "Damn right I'm concerned!" says Mahal, "30 million visitor's crap ends up in wastewater discharged just six mile upstream of our water intake!" Paulson, who studied Lake Mead for 20 years, says Reclamation's own studies show wastewater flows like a "river" in the lake, near the existing and proposed drinking water intakes. Reclamation credits wastewater discharges from Nevada against its annual 300,000 acre feet Colorado River entitlement.

Mahal sent a letter today to Reclamation Commissioner, Eluid Martinez, requesting that he take action on the appeal already filed in his office. He also wrote to Interior Secretary Babbitt insisting that he overrule the Ad Hoc Board's dismissal of the appeal. The Coalition is not optimistic it will ever get a fair hearing. Paulson notes that construction was started on various project phases before the EIS was finished. BLM has 14,400 acres of land swaps proposed near the route of one water pipeline, including a 5,000 acre exchange proposed by Del Webb Corporation. Nevada's senior senator, Harry Reid, has taken a special interest in Del Webb's swap, according to "Electric Nevada." The Reno-based, Internet newspaper reported this week that Reid received $53,000 in campaign contributions from Del Webb's political action committee and employees in 1995. "It's probably just a coincidence," says Mahal.

Contact:
L. Kenneth Mahal, A.I.A, President (702) 737-1377
Larry J. Paulson, Ph.D. Water Consultant; (702) 566-1466