Welcome to Kenmare

Feature Stories (Vol. 110 No. 6--2/06/2008)

NAWS water could be here within two years

By Caroline Downs

The City of Kenmare is getting closer to providing good quality water that complies with the arsenic standard required by the federal government.

But don’t expect to see it running from your tap just yet.

NAWS project leader Michelle Klose told the Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) Advisory Committee that definite progress was being made on the NAWS pipeline during a meeting held in Minot January 22nd. "Good things have been happening with the NAWS project," she said. "The Souris River crossing has been completed. The pipeline going to the Berthold connection is now in the ground. This spring, we’ll work on the pump stations, and construction of the storage reservoirs near Berthold will begin."

She described the 2008 NAWS construction schedule as aggressive, largely because more federal money was appropriated for the project than requested. "We did receive $10 million in federal funds," she said. "We expected $3 million. And the state provided $5 million for this biennium."

Klose and other NAWS engineers would like to see some of that money applied toward construction projects on the northern tier of the system, including building pipeline from Berthold to Kenmare to deliver water to the city of Kenmare and the Upper Souris Water Users District, building pipeline to deliver water to Mohall and the All-Seasons Water Users District, and working with Minot Air Force Base to replace the outdated water system there. "These are priority projects for NAWS," Klose said.

Those projects, as well as construction of water treatment plants for the NAWS system, have been on hold, pending a decision by a federal judge on an injunction to halt construction of the pipeline because of concerns over the treated water and potential biota moving from the Missouri River system in the United States to the Hudson Bay watershed in Canada. The province of Manitoba filed a lawsuit in 2002 requesting all federal funding and construction activities on the NAWS project be stopped.

In 2005, the judge ruled construction of the actual NAWS pipeline could proceed, but no construction of treatment plants could take place until an Environment Impact Statement addressing treatment options and the Canadian concerns was completed by the Bureau of Reclamation. That document, started in 2005, was released as the NAWS Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on Water Treatment in late December 2007.

Completion of that draft document was enough for Klose and her team to begin developing a motion on the injunction that would convince the judge to allow new pipeline construction projects. "We are now asking for the entire northern tier of the project to be approved by the court," she said. "None of the projects north of Minot affect the level of treatment, as discussed in the DEIS."

She noted she had been working with attorneys on both sides of the international border to prepare the request for court, which will be filed later this spring. "If the judge approves, we could have Kenmare completed by the end of 2009," she said. "At the same time, we would work on the line north of [Minot Air Force] base to Mohall."

The City of Kenmare made its original request in early 2007 to reroute the NAWS pipeline from Berthold directly to Kenmare. The proposal was made in order to bring the city water supply into compliance with the federal standard for arsenic. Other options for water treatment were considered by the city council, but proved too costly for the community. Under the proposal, Kenmare would purchase water from the City of Minot until the NAWS project is able to deliver treated water from the Missouri River. The cities of Mohall and Berthold have similar plans to receive water from Minot through the NAWS pipeline.

Alan Walter, Minot city public works director, noted the project’s revision to build pipeline from Berthold to Kenmare and form a closed loop to Mohall improved the entire design. "It made the system a whole lot better," he said, "and it ended up costing less than the original plan." He added he had reason to believe Minot Air Force Base would continue their policy of helping pay for construction of the line from Minot to the base, thus allowing other designated NAWS fund to pay for the line north to Mohall.

Public meetings regarding the DEIS were scheduled for Bismarck and Minot earlier this week, with a third session planned at Four Bears Casino in New Town February 7th, beginning at 7 pm. According to Alicia Waters of the Bureau of Reclamation, no date had been established for the final EIS document. Public comments will be accepted until February 26, 2008, followed by a 30-day waiting period. The Bureau of Reclamation may also be required to address certain comments raising issues with the treatment options described in the EIS.

"Then the U.S. government issues a record of decision," said Waters. "That will say what is the adequate treatment of the water in the NAWS project and contains the actual decision."

Members of the advisory committee appreciated the busy construction schedule proposed by Klose. "This has been a project celebrating its 20th year of conception," said member Kenny Rogers of Maxbass. "In my view, we need to ask for as much money as we need to get the northern part of the project done and get started on that bio-treatment."

Committee member Alan Lee of Berthold asked about the potential water rates for cities receiving water delivered from Minot until the Missouri River water could become available for treatment and distribution. Klose said a study had been completed, and she needed to review those numbers before talking with the water districts involved. "We will be providing that information," she said.

Gary Hager, a committee member from Kenmare, was curious about the possible bid-letting dates for the upcoming construction projects.

Klose’s answer disappointed the group. "We’re looking at March for the high service pump station that could be done by the end of 2009 and must be completed before Berthold will be served," she said. "But on the other projects, we can’t even design it until the judge approves. We’re looking at later this summer for that Kenmare line to have crews out there."

She noted none of the design or easement work had been completed for any of the northern tier yet. "I will also be letting the judge know we want to begin the design and construction of those projects," she said.

Rogers asked specifically how much time would be necessary to complete the Berthold-to-Kenmare section. Project engineer Kevin Martin of Houston Engineering said that stretch could be finished by the end of 2009 or in early 2010. "If the judge says yes, we go," Martin said. "We’re looking at a June or July opening. We’d get the bids out there as soon as possible."

Klose explained the finished draft EIS was necessary before she could submit her motion on the injunction. "We needed to show the judge something was completed in regard to treatment," she said. "The last time we approached the judge in 2006, she responded within a month. The judge recognizes the need for the project and communities that need water service."

Klose described the judge as taking a hard look at the environmental issues raised about the water treatment. "But the concerns she outlined in her first ruling will be addressed clearly in the EIS," she said.

Klose believed the draft EIS handled the treatment concerns in a thorough manner, adding that she reviewed the draft and provided feedback while Bureau of Reclamation personnel were writing it. Several other entities were also involved, including the City of Minot, the Three Affiliated Tribes, the Garrison Conservation District, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

She and Waters suggested anyone with an interest in the NAWS project read and comments on the draft EIS. The document can be downloaded from the Bureau of Reclamation’s website at www.usbr.gov/gp/dkao. A copy can also be requested by contacting Waters at 701-221-1206 or awaters@gp.usbr.gov.

Comments about the draft EIS can be submitted by mail to Northwest Area Water Supply Project EIS, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 1017, Bismarck, ND 58502-1017, and must be received by February 26, 2008.

Klose reassured the City of Kenmare that the NAWS project had prioritized the delivery of water to the community. "We are really working hard to provide that water service," she said. "The EIS is moving forward. We are seeing quite a few positive steps, and we’ll keep moving forward."