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Public Forums on Platte River Cooperative Begin Next Week

Date: Aug. 31, 2006
Location: Lincoln, NE
Issues: Agriculture and Food Environment


Public Forums on Platte River Cooperative Begin Next Week

(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman announced today that the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a series of forums to share information on the proposed Platte River Recovery Implementation Program and provide opportunities for public comment. The first of three forums will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 6, beginning at 1 p.m. MT, at the Gering Civic Center, located at 1050 M St. in Gering.

"These forums will provide an important opportunity for farmers, ranchers and all Nebraskans to weigh-in on the issues related to Nebraska's potential participation in the Platte River agreement," Gov. Heineman said. "Many years of hard work have gone into the production of this compromise, but with the costs and ramifications becoming clearer, we want to hear from Nebraskans about their hopes and concerns regarding the program."

Each forum will begin with a presentation on the proposed program and its projected costs by a DNR representative and comments from federal representatives. Several members of the governance committee involved in the development of the Platte River proposal and other interested parties have been invited to make brief statements. For the Gering meeting, the speakers will include a representative of program supporters from the Panhandle; Don Adams with Nebraskans First; Don Kraus, General Manager of the Central Nebraska Public Power District; Duane Hovorka with the Nebraska Wildlife Federation, and Ron Cacek, General Manager of the North Platte Natural Resources District.

The opportunity for public comments and questions will follow. DNR Acting Director Ann Bleed will moderate each of the forums.

Bleed said, "This is a policy intended to meet the needs of Nebraska's producers, its rural communities and the environment, but it cannot succeed without input from the public."

Two additional forums have been scheduled for Friday, Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. CT, at the Fonner Park 4-H Building Café in Grand Island, 700 E. Stolley Park Rd., and Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. CT, at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln, 1040 P St.

http://www.gov.state.ne.us/news/2006_08/31_platte_river.html

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