402 Permit Applied for by State for Devils Lake Outlet

On this page: 402 Permit applied for / President's Budget Cuts Devils Lake Funding / ND Projects in Budget

State of North Dakota Applies for 402 Permit for state version of Devils Lake outlet.

"Dennis Fewless (North Dakota Health Dept)
...confirmed the he has received an application for a 402 permit from the
state for their outlet. Once a draft permit is available, perhaps 2-3 weeks,
it will be released for a 30 day public review. After the public review, a
decision (based on public interest) will be made about the need to hold a
public hearing. If there is a public hearing, there would be 15 day period
after the hearing for any additional comments.

NWF's Statement of Administration's FY04 Corps budget

Tue, 04 Feb 2003
President’s Budget Cuts Many of Army Corps’ Most Wasteful and
Environmentally Damaging Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Bush’s proposed 2004 budget strips funding for many of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ most environmentally destructive pork-barrel projects while it supports several critical economically sound restoration projects, making the Corps’ funding one positive element in the budget, according to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

“The president’s budget strikes at least one positive note with welcome cuts in wasteful and environmentally harmful projects in the $4 billion Army Corps budget,” said Mark Van Putten, president of the National Wildlife Federation. “It sends a clear signal that the administration expects progress, not pork, from the nation’s largest water resource management agency.”

Van Putten cautioned, however, that the budget contained less than adequate funding for the Corps' flagship Everglades Restoration
program. “The budget contains a flat level of funding for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, when we need to increase our as the project moves forward if we are to truly restore America’s River of Grass,” added Van Putten.

The administration’s FY04 proposed budget released today:

Holds Corps spending to approximately the same level as expected for fiscal year 2003 and represents a reduction of about 13 percent from actual funding for fiscal year 2002.

Eliminates funding for both the Yazoo Backwater Pump Project in Mississippi and Devils Lake Outlet in North Dakota. Powerful members of Congress are attempting to move both projects forward through appropriations riders, which would circumvent the normal authorizing process and the fiscal and environmental scrutiny that comes with it.

Eliminates or substantially reduces funding for many of the most expensive and controversial Corps projects. Among the most costly and environmentally damaging projects for which the administration proposal eliminates or substantially reduces funding are the Grand Prairie Irrigation Demonstration Project in Arkansas, the Delaware River Deepening Project, the Oregon Inlet Jetties in North Carolina, the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project in Georgia, St. Johns Bayou/New Madrid Floodway in Missouri, and Dallas Floodway Extension Project in Texas. Each of these projects was identified as among the most wasteful Corps projects in the nation by the National Wildlife Federation and Taxpayers for Common Sense in their March 2000 report, Troubled Waters.

Focuses the Corps’ $4 billion budget on priority projects that will bring greatest benefit to Americans, considering the cost, including restoration benefits for critical ecosystems.

Articulates important, positive guidance for improving and reforming future authorizations and funding of Corps projects and programs in the Fiscal Year 2004 Budget Message of the President.

“The budget is a bold step to address the serious environmental and economic problems surrounding Army Corps’ projects across the country,” concluded Van Putten.

The nation’s largest member-supported conservation education and advocacy group, the National Wildlife Federation unites people from all walks of life to protect nature, wildlife and the world we all. The Federation has educated and inspired families to uphold America’s conservation tradition since 1936.

North Dakota projects in budget proposal
By The Associated Press, February 4, 2003
The Associated Press

North Dakota officials praised President Bush's proposed military construction spending at the state's two Air Force bases.

But Sens. Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Rep. Earl Pomeroy, all D-N.D., and Republican Gov. John Hoeven criticized other items they said didn't go far enough.

A glance at the president's proposals for state projects, which will be revised as Congress hammers out a final budget for next year:

MILITARY: The budget includes more than $75 million in new military construction, including hundreds of housing units at the Minot and Grand Forks Air Force bases. The total is second only to Texas, Conrad said.

But the budget also called for cuts in the number of B-52s at Minot - a move the congressional delegation has blocked in the past.

DEVILS LAKE OUTLET: No federal money is included for an outlet to Devils Lake for the next budget year. Conrad and Dorgan have argued to keep money for the work in this year's budget proposal, however, and the state government, using state funds, is working on its own project.

GRAND FORKS FLOOD CONTROL: Funding is reduced from past proposals, which could slow the work.

GARRISON DIVERSION: Deep cuts are proposed for state water work, including the Northwest Area Water Supply project which would bring Missouri River water to northwestern North Dakota. Hoeven said the NAWS proposal "makes no sense" because work on the project is under way.

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