It is ironic that the same kinds of concerns that trouble Nevadans about Yucca Mountain are concerns we in Snake Valley feel about the SNWA water grab. We, too, resent the likely hazard to our way of life being dictated from afar. We, too, resent outsiders throwing around bogus "science" that everything is going to be OK, that there is nothing to worry about.

powerful, prophetic, and wise.

The quote from Mr. Mrowka's letter are all documented in the BLM's draft environmental impact statement.

You explained why the pipeline might be good for Clark County. The title implies, however, it would be good for the entire state but you did not say anything about that in the text. Is that because the northern counties would irrationally rather have water to drink than any marginal financial benefits that might result from Las Vegas' former cancerous growth?

"the stated concern of project opponents is that neither our state's stringent water law nor environmental laws will be enforced, nor will these legally binding agreements be honored."

The "legally binding" stipulated agreements between SNWA and the federal agencies, however, do not include triggers but basically call for the parties to talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. SNWA has a built in veto since they must OK any changes to the pumping scheme. And all done in secret. Does anyone really think that once northern water starts flowing through southern NV taps it will ever stop? Regardless of negative impacts in target basins, the political and financial pressure to keep water in the pipeline would be overwhelming.

Ms Mulroy's view (from the all-benefit, no-risk end of the pipe) is vastly different from ours in Spring and Snake Valley (at the all-risk, no-benefit end). She is willing to risk dried springs and denuded landscapes -- in someone else's valley. Just hope the dust-laden wind never blows from the north.

Didn't you forget Pat Mulroy's 1992 quote in the High Country News:

Mulroy now acknowledges that the groundwater importation plan has been proclaimed "the singularly most stupid idea anyone's ever had." But, she says, "I don't think we would have gotten attention to southern Nevada's needs without the outpouring of concerns on those applications."

along with this:

David Donnelly, chief engineer for the water authority, is also openly disdainful of the importation project that he defended until recently. "Frankly, it doesn't make any sense. We don't want to build any more dams, reservoirs, or construction projects. We want to do things that cost less and that are more politically, socially and environmentally acceptable."

Dean is our neighbor here in Snake Valley and every word about him in this story is true. Unfortunately for Snake Valley, every word about Mulroy, Bunker, and Reid seems to be true as well.

Mulroy has said repeatedly that the Utah negotiators, in bad faith, are stalling the negotiations. But that is not true. The negotiations are proceeding at a prudent pace, despite efforts by Mr. Bunker and his team to rush things to a quick, one-sided conclusion.

Is it good-faith negotiating to keep trying to ramrod a lopsided agreement about Snake Valley water at the same time the NV Engineer begins hearings about Snake Valley water rights -- at the urgent request of Ms. Mulroy? Add that to the anecdotes in this news story about Mulroy's unsubtle threats over the Washington County bill and you see Mulroy and Reid are the poster children for bad faith.

Meanwhile, we keep hearing rumors that Sen. Reid is poised to slip in another sneaky rider (like he did to slip the anemic White Pine County bill through) to rescind the 2004 language mandating an interstate agreement. Reid's explosion, “I will not let my legacy be the rape of White Pine County!” is in danger of self-contradiction. Reid knows who has the "juice" in Nevada and he wants to continue as part of that crowd. What is mere water compared to "juice"?