in 2012 president obama actually went to southeastern colorado. in pebo colorado where the project originates and state that the arkansas valley conduit would be built. he said it will be built. why is the request only $500,000? what has happened? is this project receiving the kind of priority that it should in order to be completed? >> on issues like this i turned to experts for the department. that's my deputy secretary. mark? >> i've had the opportunity to work very closely with your constituents as a staff member on this committee when we passed the legislation as well as running the bureau of reclamation and getting the nipa work in association with that. i understand the water supply and water quality concerns that your constituents have and the bottom line is right now we're trying to plan for a phased in development of this project and it's tough given the constrained resources that we have. overall after getting the nepa and record decision done we've focused on the feasibility work that needs to be plirkd.be accomplished. we're looking at

i want to talk about the arkansas valley conduit, a project in southeastern colorado, first authorized in 1962 under president kennedy. the project will serve more than 40 rural economically depressed communities in my state. congress passed legislation in 2009 that provided a funding mechanism to fully repay the cost of the project and an extensive nepa process has been completed. early stages of mapping, design and other activities are under way as well. local negotiations have led to a significant number of savings to have existing treatment facilities as the project moves forward. but this year the administration's budget request was only $500,000. in 2012, president obama actually went to southeastern colorado in pueblo, colorado, where the project originates and stated that the arkansas valley conduit would be built. he said it will be built. can you help me understand how come -- why is the request only $500,000? what is happening? is this project receiving the kind of priority that it should in order to be completed? >> on issues like this, i turn to the expert for the departme

and, in 2012, president obama actually went to southeastern colorado in pueblo, colorado and said itwill be built. can you help me understand, why is the request only 500,000 dplars? what is happening? is this project receiving the kind of priority that it should in order to be completed? >> on i shall shoes like this, i turn to the expert for that department, that's mike connor, deputy secretary. >> senator i've had the opportunity to work very closely with your constituents. when we passed the legislation as well as running the wur row reclamation and getting the work done associated with that. it's a very important project. i understand the water supply and water quality concerns that your constituents have. and if bottom line is right now, we're trying to plan for a phased-in development of this project. and it's tough given the constrained resources that we have. overall, after getting the record decision done, we've focused on competing the feasibility work that needs the be accomplished. and i think overall, we're looking at this in bite-sized pieces. that work is going to tak