[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 16, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   DAKOTA WATER RESOURCES ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 1999

  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Dakota Water 
Resources Act of 1999. My colleagues, Senator Conrad and Senator 
Dorgan, are introducing a companion bill in the Senate today. This bill 
represents an unprecedented agreement among North Dakota's 
congressional delegation, the States' elected leaders and a variety of 
State organzations.
  After years of negotiations, this legislation embodies a bipartisan 
effort to meet the comprehensive water needs of North Dakota, including 
the State's four Indian reservations. Without a dependable source of 
quality water the State's potential for economic development will be 
crippeld.
  The Dakota Water Resources Act amends the Garrison Diversion 
Reformulation act of 1986 and would refocus the project from large-
scale irrigation to the delivery of safe water. Throughout North 
Dakota, people realize that the project as outliend under the 1986 act 
will not happen, and they support the more affordable, realistic 
provisions that would meet the State's water needs.
  Right now, much of the State lacks a supply of quality water. Many 
communities have unresolved Safe Drinking water Act compliance 
problems. Rural water systems and regional water supply systems have 
been formed to meed the water needs, but much more needs to be done to 
complete those systems.
  To meet cities and towns' needs for safe water, the act authorizes 
$300 million for municiapal, rural, and industrial water systems (MR&I) 
projects. It allows the State to provide grants or loans to MR&I 
systems. This means the State could establish a revolving loan fund and 
continue to use funds from repaid loans for MR&I systems.
  In conjunction with the State's need for MR&I, it is important to 
note the additional authorization of $200 million which would provide 
for MR&I on the four Indian reservations. Additionally, authorization 
for irrigation on the reservations is included in this legislation, 
along with a provision which gives tribes the flexibility to determine 
which sites to irrigate within the reservation. The Standing Rock, Fort 
Berthold, Turtle Mountain, and Fort Totten Indian Reservations would 
finally be able to meet their long overdue water needs with these 
provisions.
  Another major feature of this legislation which has not been realized 
under the 1986 act is the ability to meet the water needs of the Red 
River Valley in North Dakota. This would provide $200 million for the 
State to choose the method of delivering Missouri River water to the 
Red River Valley. The communities of Fargo, and Grand Forks, as well as 
other towns up and down the valley would have a reliable source of 
water for continued growth in population and commercial activity.
  Any project that would be completed under the act must comply with 
the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. We fully intend, and are required, 
to comply with the 1909 treaty between the United States and Canada 
when considering completion of any component of the project.
  In addition to meeting the State and the Indian reservation's 
comprehensive and future water needs, this act involves significant 
environmental achievements. As nature resources trust would receive $25 
million to preserve, enhance, restore, and manage wetlands and 
associated wildlife habitat, grassland conservation and riparian areas 
in the State.
  Other sections of the act include authorization for the State to 
develop water conservation programs using MR&I funding. A bank 
stabilization study along the Missouri River below the Garrison Dam 
would be authorized. Also, the current Lonetree Reservoir would be 
designated as a wildlife conservation area.
  All of these provisions and the entire Dakota Water Resources Act 
have been worked out with painstaking detail among numerous groups. I 
would like to personally thank the Senators from North Dakota, Senator 
Kent Conrad and Senator Dorgan and their very capable staff, as well as 
North Dakota's State engineer and counsel, for their tireless work on 
the extraordinary agreement.

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