Three Responses to NY Times Article from 

the Water User Community

To the Editor:

The opening salvo and basic premise of Timothy Egan's March 3rd article,
"For Thirsty Farmers, Old Friends at Interior Dept."  is utterly false. 

Egan asserts that Deputy Assistant Secretary Peltier influenced Interior’s
decisions on the renewal of long-term contracts for water in California.  I
will testify under oath that this allegation is untrue. 

I was the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at Interior from
2001-2004.  I was responsible for supervising the development and analysis
of the alternatives for term, price, and renewal of these contracts, and was
personally responsible for obtaining Departmental approval of the
controversial contract provisions. I am absolutely certain that Mr. Peltier
did not influence or make these decisions, in part because we both thought
that was the ethical thing to do. 

Reasonable people can debate the policy implications of these decisions, but
these debates are only hindered by Mr. Egan’s reckless disrespect for the
truth.
 
Bennett Raley
120 Lincoln St., Suite 1600
Denver, CO 80203

 

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March 6, 2006

 

 

New York Times

229 West 43rd Street

New York , New York 10036-3959

 

To the Editor:

 

Timothy Egan (“For Thirsty Farmers, Old Friends at Interior Dep’t”, Mar. 3) misses the point.  He criticizes Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Jason Peltier for reviewing an environmental restoration fund.  Egan implies that Peltier, formerly employed by the affected water users association, will not make an honest assessment.  He ignores the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, requiring multi-million dollar annual payments for fish AND providing for review and possible payment reductions.

 

Such appointees are often drawn from related industries.  Egan acknowledges that environmental lobbyists often fill such posts.  He quotes Clinton appointee John Leshy, but doesn’t mention Leshy’s ties to vocal anti-farming groups with a dubious history of rural depopulation.

 

Anti-farming sentiment is the real point.  Farmers are not “thirsty.”  They grow food and fiber for America .  This water is under pressure for urban growth and perceived environmental needs.  Food, like oil, is a domestic security concern.  Personal attacks on those who share these concerns are not warranted.

 

Sincerely,

 

Patrick O’Toole

President, Family Farm Alliance

Savery, Wyoming

 

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California Farm Water Coalition

717 K Street, Suite 417

Sacramento , CA   95814

 

New York Times

March 3, 2006

 

Editor,

 

Critics of California farm water will use any excuse to cast a shadow on an industry that provides the food and fiber demanded by a consuming public.  The recent story---For Thirsty Farmers, Old Friends at Interior Dept.—is a classic example.  Critics use the California water experience of Jason Peltier as a reason why he should not be involved in deciding that state’s water issues while serving at the Interior Department.  Yet, it is this same experience that qualifies Peltier to do the job. 

 

Why won’t critics accept the word of Peltier’s superiors at Interior that his involvement provides valuable background; yet, final decisions are made elsewhere.  Why won’t critics accept the fact that officials who determine conflicts of interest and ethics violations have given Peltier a clean slate.

 

Why?  I’ll tell you why…these critics don’t care about the truth. 

 

Mike Wade, Executive Director

717 K Street, Suite 417

Sacramento , Ca  95814

(916) 441-7723

mwade@farmwater.org