[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 93 (Tuesday, July 18, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S7151]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WILLISTON WATER TRANSMISSION LINE

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of the 
bill to authorize the Williston Water Transmission Line. Williston is a 
small town of 13,000 located in the Northwest corner of North Dakota 
about twenty miles East of the Montana state line. Williston is located 
along the Missouri River not far from where the Fort Union Trading Post 
existed from 1828-1867. Today the fur trading post is a tourist 
attraction, and agriculture and oil productions are the main industries 
in the Williston area.
  Mr. President, prior to construction of the existing Williston Water 
Treatment Plant, Williston obtained water to meet its municipal needs 
from the Missouri River. With the construction of the Garrison Dam and 
the creation of Lake Sakakawea in 1954, Williston is in the delta area 
of Lake Sakakawea and had to relocate its water intake and water 
treatment plant approximately five miles upstream to its present 
location. The Corps and Williston funded the construction of a large 
diameter transmission line to convey the entire water supply from the 
water treatment plant to the city of Williston.
  All of the water treated by the water treatment plant must flow 
through this single existing transmission line to reach Williston. In 
the 1970's and early 80's, siltation covered the existing intake valves 
for the city's water supply, requiring the construction of two new 
intake valves. The lake is currently silting twice as fast as the 
original Corps estimate. Mr. President, in the spring of 1998, a leak 
in the transmission line caused by the saturated soil forced the city 
to forgo any supply of water for five and a half days. The lack of 
accessibility, unstable soil conditions and high ground water along the 
route make the line's reliability a significant concern. Williston must 
now construct a new water transmission line on higher ground.
  This bill will authorize the construction of a new water transmission 
line to Williston. Because the old line has been damaged by the 
construction of the Garrison Dam, this authorization is appropriate and 
essential. Mr. President, I would like to commend the residents of 
Williston who have worked so hard for so long to resolve this problem. 
They have been tireless in their efforts to fix this problem--a problem 
caused by the Federal government.
  Mr. President, I join with Senator Conrad and look forward to working 
with my colleagues to ensure the citizens of Williston have a reliable 
water transmission line.

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