I agree. I don't think it would be necessary to go to zero but I do think there are alternatives as that study showed.

Would you acknowledge that at a time of drought, as occurred in 2007, exceeding substantially the amount of withdrawals would be particularly problematic for downstream individuals depending on that water flow?

As an Alabamian, I think I speak for all Alabamians and the Governor that we understand north Georgia needs water and we can work this out.

Georgia wants Alabama to take less water than it has always received historically so that Atlanta may take more water.

With regard to Lake Lanier, we have the Eleventh Circuit opinion. It has been cited as a victory for the Georgia position...

Would you agree that it is not permissible under the law to take the water first and then get a legal authority later?

What if you take out more than that? Are you telling me you're going to stay at that contract amount?

This would be very important to us because there is a good deal of concern on that.

Alabama urges this Committee to strengthen the language of the Water Supply Act so that Congress' proper role in controlling local water supply uses of Federal reservoirs is maintained.

The way this historically arose I have discovered is that Congress was concerned about being in a position of financing water supply projects for cities, counties and areas.

The environmental impact statement, if you change the manuals, the flow rate and the withdrawal rate, an environmental impact statement is required?

I am asking a little more than that. I am saying will you ensure that you follow the recommendations of Chairman Boxer and Ranking Member Vitter and not favor any one State but follow the law?

I think you should think about that. Maybe Secretary Darcy, you could comment on that but it is a very real thing.

That sounds like pretty good policy, does it not? If Congress authorizes a dam for a series of purposes, the Corps of Engineers does not have the authority to alter that purpose, does it?

We don't want to take everything, but there is a unique way of life being driven to extinction in Apalachicola.

Don't you think that would be the preferable way to solve this dispute, if it could be achieved?

the facts simply do not support that Georgia or the Corps are to blame for these effects.

I just think when you change, when your temperature numbers do not hold up, like the models do, we go to things that start, every time there is a drought on the Weather Channel somebody complains about that.

Well, exactly right. You ask, people talk about we have had more storms and I do not think that is accurate.

Well, thank you for that. I think it should give us cause to analyze and think about that.

Senator Sessions mentioned that he would agree with it too.

So, back in 1995 our, well, in recent times the models were predicting a rather continuing increase in temperature because CO2 continues to increase in the world and whatever other factors they use.

We need to be honest and somewhat humble, I think, as we deal with these issues.

So, in the 1950's, we had clearly greater hurricane activity.

We know the atmosphere has warmed some over the last 100 years.