[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E328]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE PERKINS COUNTY RURAL WATER SYSTEM ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN R. THUNE

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 3, 1999

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Perkins County 
Rural Water System Act of 1999. This legislation authorizes the 
construction of the Perkins County Rural Water System, which when 
completed, will provide water to over 3,500 people in an area covering 
2,866 square miles. This area is larger than each of the states of 
Rhode Island and Delaware. The project addresses a basic need not 
currently being met in many areas of my state of South Dakota. That 
need is for water.
  Much like other areas of South Dakota, Perkins County frequently 
experiences problems involving both the quality and quantity of 
available water. The present water supply consistently fails to meet 
standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency for total 
dissolved solids and sulfates. Additionally, the sodium and fluoride 
levels have been found to be exceedingly high as determined by the 
State of South Dakota and numerous medical practitioners in the area. 
The water of Perkins County impacts not just the quality of life for 
these South Dakotans, but also their health.
  The Perkins County Rural Water System is not a new concept. As 
testimony before the House Resources Committee last year indicated, the 
project dates back to 1982 when a group of farmers and ranchers were 
contacted by the Southwest Pipeline Project in North Dakota to see if 
they were interested in obtaining water to serve Perkins County. By 
1992, Southwest Pipeline had grown to the point that Perkins County 
could have been included in engineering design work. However, the 
legislation did not specifically authorize the construction of the 
Perkins County System. And since 1982, the states of North Dakota and 
South Dakota recognized Perkins County as a future extension of the 
Southwest Pipeline project. In fact, the original congressional 
legislation authorizing the Southwest Pipeline project referred to the 
potential for a future connection for Perkins County. The current 
legislation authorizing the construction of this water system 
recognizes and builds upon this past history.
  This legislation was originally introduced during the 104th Congress, 
and I later reintroduced the measure in the 105th Congress. Since its 
introduction, the proposal has been the subject of several hearings, 
and extensive discussions and negotiations between the project 
sponsors, the Administration, and the committees of jurisdiction. These 
actions were instrumental in the Government Accounting Office, the 
Congressional Research Service, and the Administration's recognition of 
the need Perkins County has for safe water. Last Congress, this 
legislation passed unanimously out of both the House and Senate with 
amendments. Unfortunately, the amended legislation was not taken up in 
the final days of the last Congress.
  Given the progress achieved on the Perkins County Rural Water System 
during the last Congress, I am hopeful this body can move forward with 
this vital initiative for South Dakota.
  We all recognize the water needs the people of Perkins County have. 
It is time for Congress to move beyond looking at only the symptoms of 
poor drinking water and move forward with the solution this bill 
provides. Supporting the legislation authorizing the construction of 
the Perkins County Rural Water System embodies not only the commitment 
to support initiatives such as the Safe Drinking Water and the Clean 
Water Act, but also the authority of Congress to continue its 
historical support of working to meet various water needs. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues to ensure the people of Perkins 
County can meet the most basic of needs: access to clean, safe drinking 
water.

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