NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — North Dakota Senator John Hoeven has introduced bipartisan legislation that would support more reliable, drought-resistant water supplies in the Peace Garden State.

Hoeven’s bill would do two things:

1. Amend the Dakota Water Resources Act (DWRA) to increase authorizations under the Municipal, Rural, and Industrial (MR&I) water supply grant program for North Dakota and the five Tribal Nations in the state. This is necessary to finish ongoing water supply projects, like the Northwest Area Water Supply Project (NAWS).
2. Ensure the federal government covers the full costs of biota water treatment (BWT), which is its responsibility. Because no ceiling was outlined for funding for BWT facilities, North Dakota and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) have been forced to use MR&I resources to cover the costs.

The legislation would also help fulfill federal compensation that was promised to the state and tribes upon the construction of the Garrison and Oahe dams.

“The Garrison Diversion was established to compensate North Dakota and Tribal Nations in the state for the loss of more than a half a million of surface acreage when federal reservoirs were established along the Missouri River,” said Senator Hoeven. “Not only was the Garrison Diversion never completed, but the grant program authorizations meant to replace the project were inadequate to cover the long-term needs of North Dakota and tribal communities. Our legislation would correct this issue, helping to ensure that the MR&I program has sufficient funding authorizations to support water supply projects across the state.”

Hoeven also discussed the legislation at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee hearing and guaranteed the support of BOR Commissioner Camille Touton.

Hoeven’s legislation is cosponsored by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND). Congressman Kelly Armstrong has introduced a companion to the bill in the House of Representatives.

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