14. In 813: M6906/Pt. 1 MISSOURI RIVER BASIN INDUSTRIAL WATER MARKETING HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY RESEARCH AND WATER RESOURCES OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS NINETY-FOURTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON THE SALE OF WATER FROM THE UPPER MISSOURI RIVER SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY RESEARCH AND WATER RESOURCES HENRY M. JACKSON, Washington DALE BUMPERS, Arkansas MARK O. HATFIELD, Oregon BEN YAMAGATA, Counsel OWEN MALONE, Professional Staff Member (II) CONTENTS Abourezk, Hon. James, a U.S. Senator from the State of South Dakota__ Butler, Secretary Vern, Department of Natural Resources, on behalf of Hon. Richard Kneip, Governor of the State of South Dakota---- Ford, Charles R., Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Horton, Hon. Jack O., Assistant Secretary, Land and Water Resources, Department of the Interior, accompanied by Gilbert Stamm, Commis- sion, Bureau of Reclamation; Ernie London, Assistant Solicitor, Depart- ment of the Interior; and Edward Sullivan, Assistant Commissioner, Tonasket, Mel, President, National Congress of the American Indians‒‒‒‒ Church, Hon. Frank, a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho, letter to Hon. Kent Frizzell, acting secretary of the Interior and Hon. Howard B. Callaway, Secretary of the Army, June 6, 1975-- Frizzell, Kent, solicitor, Department of the Interior, memorandum to Horton, Hon. Jack O., Assistant Secretary of the Interior, letter to Gov. Richard L. Lamm, Governor of Colorado, March 25, 1975–– Judge, Thomas L., Governor of the State of Montana, letter to Senator Metcalf, Hon. Lee, a U.S. Senator from the State of Montana, statement Abourezk, Hon. James, a U.S. Senator from the State of South Dakota, George A. Costello, legislative attorney, Congressional Research Serv- ice, February 5 and June 24, 1975-- Morris Thompson, Commission of Indian Affairs, July 14, 1975--- "Confiscation of Indian Winters Rights in the Upper Missouri River Hon. Richard Kneip, Governor, South Dakota, July 17, 1975_. "Indian Water Rights in the Upper Missouri River Basin, by William H. Veeder, reprinted from North Dakota Law Review, summer 1972-‒‒‒ McCollister, Hon. John Y., a U.S. Representative from the State of Ne- MISSOURI RIVER BASIN INDUSTRIAL WATER MARKETING FRIDAY, JULY 18, 1975 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY RESEARCH AND WATER The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m. in room 3110, Also present: Russell Brown, professional staff member. OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES ABOUREZK, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA is Senator ABOUREZK. The hearing will come to order. I would like to welcome Senator Metcalf and Senator Burdick to the subcommittee. This is the first in a series of open public hearings, whose purpose to exercise congressional oversight over the sale of water from the Upper Missouri Basin by the Federal Government for energy develop ment. The push being given Project Independence, a plan proffered by this administration for rapid production of Western coal has put the predominantly agricultural economy of our region on the threshold of massive industrialization. Despite the growing need by farmers, ranchers and communities in the Northern Plains region, the Federal administration has been moving forward to provide water for electrical generating plants, coal liquifiction, and coal slurry lines to ship coal to other regions. In February of this year, an agreement was made between the Departments of Army and Interior known as the "Memorandum of Understanding." This memorandum provides the basis for the two Departments to expedite the use of water for energy development from the main stem of the Upper Missouri River essentially for diversion to the coal fields of Wyoming. Much protest has arisen from my State of South Dakota since this memorandum was signed. The basic question in my mind is whether this agreement by the two Departments could preemp State water rights particularly since an equitable apportionment has not been reached between the States who are facing their own decisions about water for agriculture and industry. (1) |