KXO RADIO - Judge Stops All American Canal Lining Project

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Judge Stops All American Canal Lining Project

Todays is : Friday, 09 January 2009

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THURSDAY THE 9TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS ISSUED AN EMERGENCY INJUNCTION AGAINST THE PROJECT. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION OF MEXICALI AND THE CITY OF CALEXICO SOUGHT THE INJUNCTION. THE RULING WAS AN EMERGENCY INJUNCTION, PENDING A HEARING ON THE APPEAL FILED BY THE TWO ENTITYS. THE MEXICALI GROUP AND CALEXICO FILED THE APPEAL FOLLOWING A FEDERAL COURTS DECISION AGAINST THEIR LAWSUIT CLAIMING ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES AND OTHER CONCERNS RESULTING FROM THE LINING PROJECT. THE IID GENERAL MANAGER CHARLES HOSKINS SAYS THE INJUNCTION WILL DELAY THE PROJECT INDEFINATELY AND THUS DRIVE UP THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION. THE PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR 20 YEARS. HOSKINS SAYS IT IS A U.S. GOVERNMENT PROJECT FUNDED BY THE STATE AND THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY. HE SAID THE CANAL IS OWNED BY THE FEDERAL GOFVERNMENT AND THE IID IS SERVING AS LEAD AGENCY BECAUSE OF A CONTRACT WITH THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION TO MANAGE THE FACILITY. HOSKINS SAID THE DISTRICT IS OBVIOUSLY DISSAPPOINTED WITH THE INJUNCTION, BUT THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT WHEN THE FULL PANEL TAKES UP THE APPEAL IN DECEMBER THEY WILL RULE IN THE DEFENDANTS FAVOR AND ALLOW THE PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD. THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO RECAPTURE 67,000 ACRE FEET OF SEEPAGE WATER FROM THE CANAL PER YEAR. THE SO CALLED FUGITIVE WATER FLOWS INTO MEXICO, AND THE MEXICALI GROUP CLAIMS IT IS NEEDED FOR MEXICALI VALLEY GROWERS. THE IID SAYS THE WATER IS NEEDED TO HELP KEEP CALIFORNIA WITHIN ITS ENTITLEMENT OF 4.4 MILLION ACRE FEET ANNUALLY FROM THE COLORADO RIVER.