News Releases for November 2003
November 28, 2003
Contact Rick Robinson, Department of Emergency Management, 701.328.8136
Hoeven, Chairman Murphy Provide Update On Fort Yates Water Emergency
Governor Demands Substantive Drought Measures In New Corps Plan
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven and Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman Charles Murphy today provided an update on the water supply emergency at Fort Yates.
State, tribal and federal officials worked together to complete a temporary overland pipeline Wednesday to restore water to community residents, businesses and facilities. As of early Friday morning, treated water had been provided throughout the distribution network, which will be flushed and re-chlorinated during the course of the day. The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) will begin sampling and testing the water at its Bismarck laboratory on Saturday. Testing takes 24 hours.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires the municipal water system to be tested for four consecutive days without a positive sample before residents and businesses can use the water for human consumption without boiling. The NDDoH, together with the EPA, has issued an administrative order requiring residents to boil tap water for a full minute before consuming. Hoeven Tuesday issued a water emergency proclamation, and dispatched National Guard troops and Department of Transportation water trucks to the site with potable water for drinking and additional water for heating systems.
“Our agencies have worked with the federal officials throughout this emergency, and the water is now up and running,” Hoeven said. “At this time, our Department of Health is working to ensure that the community’s water supply is not only reliable, but also safe. We hope that process will be completed by Wednesday. I would also like to commend Chairman Murphy and tribal officials for their outstanding leadership throughout the course of this emergency.”
In a related action, Hoeven today sent a letter to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division Chief William T. Grisoli demanding that the Corps recharge the upland reservoirs and include substantive drought conservation measures in its upcoming Annual Operating Plan and Master Manual.
“Because of the Army Corps of Engineers’ mismanagement of the river, more than 10,000 North Dakotans are confronting a risk to the health and security of their drinking water supply on both major North Dakota reservoirs,” Hoeven said. “This is the kind of emergency we will continue to see until the Corps recharges the lakes and adopts strong drought conservation measures.”
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