WASHINGTON, DC - Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today questioned Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) Commissioner Robert Johnson on the Bureau’s failure to include funding in the President’s budget for the Rocky Boy’s/Northcentral Rural Water Project and Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Rural Water Project. 

          “I don’t get it,” said Rehberg, a member of the Subcommittee, in the hearing. “BOR claims the President’s budget focuses on water projects that maintain existing structures, restore current systems, and promote new water development.  They also say that tribal involvement is a top priority.  Yet, Montana’s water projects meet all of these qualifications and the Administration continues to ignore them.  It appears it’s going to take some different approaches to actually get results.”

          During the hearing, Rehberg insisted BOR provide a list of ongoing water projects, when they were authorized, and how close they are to completion in order to determine where Montana’s projects fall on BOR’s priority list.

          “What is the rationale? Why don’t they qualify? Why was Fort Peck/Dry Prairie included in 2007 budget and not the next year,” asked Rehberg.

          The Fort Peck/Dry Prairie Rural Water System was authorized by Congress in 2000 and when completed, it will serve over 30,000 residents in northeastern Montana and on the Fort Peck Reservation.  The funds will be used to further construction of the water treatment plant and allow for continued placement of water delivery lines.

          The Rocky Boy's/North Central Montana Regional Water System will provide 7.3 percent of Montana's land base with a cost-effective, high-quality water source. Once completed, the water system will serve more than 30,000 people on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation and in north-central Montana.