Print View From: Philip Jensen To: Date: Friday - August 14, 2009 5:08 PM Subject: Snake Valley Agreement As a Utah citizen I object to this agreement because it does not include an appropriate apportionment of water and does not preclude the possibility of the aquifer being siphoned to pipe water out of the drainage. First, Nevada's argument that they are entitled to a 50-50 split based on the location of the water's origin is disingenuous considering their claims on other water not originating in their state, e.g., the Colorado River. The water should be allocated based on the percentage of the aquifer located in each state. Second, because any piping of the water from the aquifer will detrimentally impact the aquifer as a whole, and indeed, other parts of the state indirectly, any agreement should stipulate that no piping will be allowed at any point in the future. Water is our most precious natural resource. While there are prospects for alternative energy to fuel our communities and industry, there are no alternatives to water. We must protect it and the communities where the water is located, as well as the state as a whole. This agreement does not do that. I urge you to resume negotiations in a way that will better protect Utah. Philip Jensen Midway, Utah