[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 83 (Friday, June 23, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6458-S6459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURNS (for himself and Mr. Baucus):
  S. 3563. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
studies to determine the feasibility and environmental impact of 
rehabilitating the St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works and the Milk 
River Project, to authorize the rehabilitation and improvement of the 
St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works, to develop an emergency 
response plan for use in the case of catastrophic failure of the St. 
Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, today I am introducing the St. Mary 
Diversion and Conveyance Works and Milk River Project Act of 2006. In 
1903, Secretary of Interior Hitchcock authorized construction of the 
Milk River Project as one of the first five reclamation projects under 
the new reclamation service. Two years later, construction was 
authorized for the St. Mary Diversion Facilities. Completed in 1915, 
the Milk River Project and the St. Mary Diversion Facilities have been 
in operation for nearly 100 years with minimum repairs and 
improvements.
  The Milk River Project and the accompanying St. Mary Diversion 
Facilities are known as the Lifeline of the Hi-Line. The St. Mary and 
Milk River basins are home to approximately 70,000 people with a meager 
per capita income of approximately $19,500. Most of these people 
depend--directly or indirectly--on the project and would be

[[Page S6459]]

dramatically impacted by its failure and the loss of water.
  The Milk River is the backbone of the region's agricultural economy. 
It provides water to irrigate over 110,000 acres on approximately 660 
farms. This project provides municipal water to approximately 14,000 
people. Fisheries, recreation, tourism, water quality, and wildlife are 
all impacted by the water flow.
  But now the St. Mary Diversion Facilities and the Milk River Project 
are facing catastrophic failure. The steel siphons have leaks and slope 
stability problems. Landslides along the canal and the deteriorated 
condition of the structure make the project an unreliable water source.
  As authorized in 1903, the Milk River Project is operated as a 
single-use irrigation project. Since completion, nearly 100 percent of 
the cost to operate and maintain the diversion infrastructure has been 
borne by irrigators. The average annual O & M cost from 1998 to 2003 
was $420,000, of which irrigators were responsible for 98 percent. In 
addition, irrigators are responsible for reimbursing reclamation for 
the initial construction costs of the diversion facilities. Maintenance 
costs have increased with the accelerating deterioration of the aging 
facilities.
  In 2003, the St. Mary Rehabilitation Working Group was formed to 
address the pressing needs of the system. This broad coalition of 
interests came together to find workable solutions. This legislation is 
a result of their efforts and dedication.
  The St. Mary Diversion and Conveyance Works and Milk River Project 
Act of 2006 will provide a feasible and comprehensive approach to 
rehabilitating the aging and deteriorating infrastructure while still 
meeting the needs of the folks in Montana. I look forward to working 
with my colleagues in the Senate to move this important piece of 
legislation forward.
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