October 1, 2003

Editor:

No one familiar with U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) projects and their cost overruns is surprised by the story in the Herald's September 24, 2003 issue concerning Animas-La Plata Project cost overruns.

A look at the history of USBR projects reveals that almost all such projects substantially exceeded the initial project estimates and contractual amounts. Cost overruns are not restricted to USBR projects. Cost overruns are commonplace at all levels and in virtually every area of government.

It is unlikely that criminal behavior will be found in the Animas-La Plata Project case, since such cost overruns are a fact of life in government programming and contracting - and always have been. Such white-collar crime is nothing more than government/private sector business as usual.

It is the placid, sheep-like, uninvolved taxpayers who are the ultimate culprits, since they let these practices go unchallenged, even though they pay all of the costs, legitimate and otherwise.

Sincerely,

Hal Mansfield, 1138 C. R. 302, Durango, CO 81303-8050 970.259.1324 mansfield_h@fortlewis.edu