(Milk River) Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill advanced to the full senate August 2nd, in it federal funding for the Milk River Project.
This funding comes after the failure of the St. Mary Siphon exposed huge issues in the over-a-century old infrastructure that makes up much of the Milk River Project. US Senator Jon Tester addressed the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“In a project that’s over 110 years old, that’s older than you Kennedy, this facility failed, and it failed a few weeks ago. Look, we pushed the administration, they’ve stepped up and they’ve used emergency spending to get dirt moving. So, the administrations moved but the fact is this committee stepped up in a big way and put some dollars in to allow the Bureau of Rec [Reclaimation] to do this project and to get water flowing to help towns along the Milk [River] and to help 120,000 acres of irrigated land’
Last month, the Biden Administration announced they would immediately begin rehabilitation work along the Milk River Project. The Bureau of Reclamation also agreed to fund the repairs through existing emergency authorities under Public Law 111-11.
That said, this funding coming from the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill will be non-reimbursable, meaning it will come at no cost to affected communities.
Ordinarily, 75% of all spending done with the Milk River Project becomes the financial responsibility of the water users.
