From: Barry Norris [norrisbf@wrd.state.or.us] Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 7:42 AM To: Said Amali Subject: FW: Hermiston comments on Economic Analysis Report + Comments from Lynne Paretchan Barry From: Paretchan, Lynne M. (Perkins Coie) [mailto:LParetchan@perkinscoie.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 4:10 PM To: Paretchan, Lynne M. (Perkins Coie); Barry Norris Cc: Ed Brookshier Subject: Re: Economic Analysis Report + Barry, This email is about IRZ's report dated April 2009 and identified as Task K in their list of tasks. Lynne _____________________________________________ From: Paretchan, Lynne M. (Perkins Coie) Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 4:07 PM To: 'Barry Norris' Cc: 'Ed Brookshier' Subject: RE: Economic Analysis Report Barry, Here are two comments on the text in the first paragraph of Section 5.1.4 of this report. (1) Calling the alluvial aquifer a "major" source of municipal water for the City of Hermiston is an inaccurate description despite the USGS's report cited to in this section as the source from this sentence. The alluvial aquifer does not supply a majority of the City's water. (2) It is not accurate that imply that "all cities are looking for a secure water supply source to meet their growing urban demand," which is stated in the first paragraph of this section because the City of Hermiston has already secured a secure water supply source for its future water demands via its interest in a municipal water right from the Columbia River that it has not yet fully developed. The City does not anticipate needing to look to any other source for future water needs at this time. Therefore, I suggest (1) that the first paragraph be modified as follows below, and (2) that to the extent that IRZ's reports estimate the provision of water allocated for municipal and residential uses that include an allocation for the City of Hermiston needs (currently the total number of stored water for all municipal and domestic uses is reported by IRZ as being between "zero to 7,000 acre-feet"), that the upper end of this range be revised downward throughout IRZ's prior reports and any final summary report provided by IRZ to reflect the fact that the City of Hermiston has already secured the water it anticipates it will need for its future water needs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5.1.4 Direct Impact on Municipal and Domestic Uses (revised version) The alluvial and shallowest basalt aquifers are the main sources of domestic water for rural residents in the area. The alluvial aquifer is also a major source of municipal water for the cities of Irrigon and Boardman. The City of Pendleton also relies heavily on ground water as a source of water supply. Some of these cities have been facing declining ground water levels and are looking for a secure water supply source to meet their future demand. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please let me know if you have any questions about this. Thanks, Lynne Lynne M. Paretchan | Perkins Coie LLP 1120 N.W. Couch Street, Tenth Floor Portland, OR 97209-4128 PHONE: 503.727.2076 FAX: 503.727.2222 E-MAIL: LParetchan@perkinscoie.com * * * * * * * * * * IRS CIRCULAR 230 DISCLOSURE: To ensure compliance with Treasury Department and IRS regulations, we inform you that, unless expressly indicated otherwise, any federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written by Perkins Coie LLP to be used, and cannot be used by the taxpayer, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein (or any attachments). * * * * * * * * * * NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you have received it in error, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank you.