Source: http://www.rrbdin.org/BasinNews/020510.htm
Governor Hoeven and Premier Doer Respond
[Excerpts from EPA May 8, ND May 9, and MB May 10 News Releases]
The Region 8 office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has recommended against a proposal to construct an
emergency outlet at Devils Lake, ND. The outlet, designed to
relieve flooding, will do little to prevent further flooding and
protect the communities around the lake, according to the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers' evaluation of the project's impacts.
EPA objections include adverse impacts to downstream communities
such as drinking water pollution, negative impact on water
quality and aquatic habitat, potential introduction of non-native
species, failure to include environmental mitigation plans,
failure to consider cumulative impacts of proposed Missouri River
inlet and the state's proposed outlet project, failure to address
the requirements of the Transboundary Waters Treaty, and
understatement of environmental costs.
Gov. John Hoeven said he called Robert E. Roberts, administrator
of EPA region 8, to express his disappointment with the
agency’s public statement and reaffirmed the state’s
commitment to working with the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure
that water quality standards are met. EPA assistant regional
administrator Max Dodson withdrew the agency’s statement,
saying the remarks were inappropriate.
Premier Gary Doer said he welcomed the EPA recommendation and
noted the EPA's statement met with intense reaction from backers
of the outlet at both the U.S. federal and state levels,
highlighting the importance of this development.
EPA Region 8 News Advisory
ND Governor's News Release
MB Premier's Response
USACE Draft Planning Report and Environmental Impact Statement
EPA Region 8 Homepage
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