Not viable solution

Dear Editor,

In the 1/17/08 edition of the McCook Gazette, Sen. Christensen responded to the question, what is next concerning Kansas' threat of suing for damages from noncompliance of the Republican River Compact.

He stated, "It depends on which way the lawsuit over LB701 goes. If the lawsuit is successful, the Republican River natural resources districts will have to reduce pumping allocations dramatically, and if it is dismissed, the NRD's can use LB701 for compliance."

Apparently, Sen. Christensen does not understand that the challenge to 701 is about how compliance issues are funded, not about pumping allocations. If the challenge to 701 is upheld in court, the state of Nebraska will need to step up to the plate and amend 701 in such a manner that the State takes responsibility for the obligations of the Republican River Compact, not the local property owners in the Republican basin.

It is understandable that Sen. Christensen wants to defend 701 in that he sponsored the bill. However, it has become tiresome that Sen. Christensen repeatedly threatens that if the good folks in the basin don't pay all the costs of compliance, then we will shut off your water. That simply would not be a viable solution to a very complex problem and it is a good bet Sen. Christensen knows it.

Dan Wallen

McCook