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Article: High court says Western states must bear cost burden of water rights claims.
- Article from:
- The Bond Buyer
- Article date:
- May 4, 1993
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1993 SourceMedia, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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WASHINGTON -- States cannot require the federal government to pay filing fees in water rights disputes, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled yesterday.
The court's opinion in the case, United States v. Idaho, probably will force Western states to shoulder a sizable portion of the high cost of adjudicating water rights claims.
The court's ruling could cost Idaho $10 million, the amount of filing fees it sought from the federal government in a court action of divvy up water rights to the Snake River among 450,000 applicants. Idaho has claimed the Snake River adjudication will cost a total of $32 million, funded by fees charged on those making water claims.