216 



worth only $10,000. But that well is an exceptionally industrial 

 well. 



It is comparable to the well that Southwest Gas is selling 40 

 miles south of Lake Mead for $350,000. It is not worth $10,000. The 

 land is not worth $43 an acre. As range land, yes. As an industrial 

 site, no. 



Congress of the United States is the trustee for the owners, the 

 people of the United States. And as such, the owe the fiduciary re- 

 sponsibility not to sell for less than its fair market value, or they 

 are remiss in their responsibility as trustees. 



We all know this is to be used as an industrial site. The travesty 

 of an appraisal based as if it were worthless land, not fit for an in- 

 dustrial site, and so stated in the appraisal, makes a mockery of 

 that responsibility. 



We are also over the deep carbonate aquifer. That MX well was 

 the reason that the MX was fought successfully in southern 

 Nevada. We are an arid water-poor state, and that aquifer is a big 

 deep aquifer, but no one knows its extent. 



Now Peter Morris, the water engineer of the state, would like to 

 stress the well to see just how much water is there. And I concur 

 with his curiosity. But is there any assurance that Elko will not 

 lose its water supply. 



And what assurance do we have under the Transfer Act that 

 Aerojet wants of having only a monitor once a month during busi- 

 ness hours when they call ahead for an appointment? 



We do know that a Representative from California has a well- 

 documented case file. Representative Matsui of California, of the 

 Aerojet pollution of the water supply of Sacramento through an in- 

 jection well that was monitored as a class one but was in reality a 

 class four well. 



What assurance do we have, and how can we protect the purity 

 of that water? That fossil water is very pure now. Flowing out 

 there, it is potable water. 



Will there be assurance that the toxic wastes that are used, and 

 Aerojet states in last year's testimony on the exchange bill that 

 they wish to draw down 2 million gallons a day for their prime use. 



What are they going to do with that water after it has been pol- 

 luted? Will it go down into an injection well or how will they elimi- 

 nate that toxic waste? We know the toxins that they have and that 

 they plan to put into it. 



But we do not know how it will be disposed of. This is a concern 

 of the citizens of the State of Nevada who must depend on that 

 water supply for future growth. Sixty percent of the population of 

 the state lives in that Las Vegas valley area. 



Pat Pine of the Las Vegas water district would like to tap into 

 that aquifer. If it is polluted, it will be impossible to tap into. If it 

 is depleted, it will be impossible to tap into. 



These are concerns that an environmental impact statement 

 should address itself with. No environmental impact statement is 

 needed if Congress does not request it. 



And we are requesting that in something of this magnitude the 

 people of the United States be protected as to the value of the 

 lands being given or traded, and that the people who are living in 

 Las Vegas area and in the State of Nevada be protected for their 



