News Releases for April 2005
April 15, 2005
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Hoeven: Court Decision A Step Forward For NAWS And North Dakota
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today said a ruling in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is a victory for the Northwest Area Water Supply Project and the State of North Dakota. The project was challenged by the Province of Manitoba in 2002.
Judge Rosemary M. Collyer today ruled that construction on the NAWS pipeline between Minot and Lake Sakakawea can continue. The judge also ruled that construction could proceed on other facilities as long as it can be demonstrated that they don’t impact on a decision regarding water treatment options. In February, the judge ruled that the federal government had to do additional research on the water treatment options.
Hoeven issued the following statement:
“Today’s decision allows the project to move forward concurrently with an environmental evaluation by the Bureau of Reclamation. Over the course of 20 years, this project has met all federal legal and water-quality standards. The Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation has allowed us to move forward. In addition, the project has also been found to be in compliance with the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 and the National Environmental Policy Act.
“We are committed to continuing with the NAWS, an environmentally sound project that will bring high quality water to the people of northwestern North Dakota who need it.”
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