[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 111 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8866-S8867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURNS (for himself and Mr. Baucus):
  S. 1989. A bill to authorize the construction and operation of the 
Fort Peck Reservation rural water system in the State of Montana, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


          Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 1996

   Mr. BURNS. Madam President, today, I introduce a bill that 
will ensure the Assiniboine and Sioux people of the Fort Peck 
Reservation in Montana a safe and reliable water supply system. The 
Fort Peck Reservation is located in northeastern Montana. It is one of 
the largest reservations in the United States, and has a population of 
more than 10,000. The Fort Peck Reservation faces problems similar to 
all reservations in the country, that of remote rural areas. This 
reservation also suffers from a very high unemployment rate, 75 
percent. Added to all this, the populations on the reservation suffer 
from high incident of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. 
A safe and reliable source of water is needed to both improve the 
health status of the residents and to encourage economic development 
and thereby self-sufficiency for this area.
  This legislation would authorize a reservation-wide municipal, rural 
and industrial water system for the Fort Peck Reservation. It would 
provide a much needed boost to the future of the region and for 
economic development, and ultimately economic self-sufficiency for the 
entire area. My bill has the support of the residents of the 
reservation and the endorsement of the Tribal Council of the 
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes.
  The residents of the Fort Peck Reservation are now plagued with major 
drinking water problems. In one of the communities, the sulfate levels 
in the water are four times the standard for safe drinking water. In 
four of the communities the iron levels are five times the standard. 
Sadly, some families were forced to abandon their homes as a result of 
substandard water quality. Basically, the present water supply system 
is inadequate and unreliable to supply a safe water supply to those 
people that live on the reservation.
  Several of the local water systems have had occurrences of biological 
contamination in recent years. As a result, the Indian Health Service 
has been forced to issue several health alerts for drinking water. In 
many cases, residents of reservation communities are forced to purchase 
bottled water. Not a big deal to those who can afford it, but difficult 
to a population that has the unemployment rate found on the 
reservation. All this, despite the fact that within spitting distance 
is one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the United States, built 
on the Missouri River.
  Agriculture continues to maintain the No. 1 position in terms of 
economic impact in Montana. In a rural area like the Fort Peck 
Reservation agriculture plays the key role in the economy, more so than 
in many areas of the State. The water system authorized by the 
legislation will not only provide a good source of drinking water, but 
also a water supply necessary to protect and preserve the livestock 
operations on the reservation. A major constraint on the growth of the 
livestock industry around Fort Peck has been the lack of adequate 
watering sites for cattle. This water supply system would provide the 
necessary water taps to fill watering tanks for livestock, which in 
normal times would boost the local economy of the region and the State. 
An additional benefit of this system would be more effective use of 
water for both water and soil conservation and rangeland management.
  The future water needs of the reservation are expanding. Data show 
that the reservation population is growing, as many tribal members are 
returning to the reservation. It is clear that the people that live on 
the reservation, both tribal and nontribal members, are in desperate 
need of a safe and reliable source of drinking water.
  The solution to this need for an adequate and safe water supply is a 
reservation-wide water pipeline that will deliver a safe and reliable 
source of water to the residents. In addition this water project will 
be constructed in size to allow communities off the reservation the 
future ability to tap into the system. A similar system for water 
distribution is currently in use on a reservation in South Dakota.
  The people of the Fort Peck Reservation the State of Montana are only 
asking for one basic life necessity. Good, clean, safe drinking water. 
This is something that the more developed regions of the Nation take 
for granted,

[[Page S8867]]

but in rural America we still seek to develop.
  I realize that this bill will be assigned a number and will not go 
much further than being referred to a committee. However, this issue 
needs to be placed upon the radar screens of Congress, so that in the 
coming years we can get this accomplished for the Fort Peck Reservation 
and the people of the State of Montana.
                                 ______