Letter to Representative Doc Hastings, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Representative Tom McClintock, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water and Power

Letter

Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is requesting the House of Representatives take action on a bill to protect southwestern Montana. Last week, Rehberg requested that the House Natural Resources Committee hold a hearing on a measure that would extend the existing water contract for the East Bench Irrigation District (EBID) while a tentative new agreement moves through a District Court appeals process.

"The East Bench Irrigation District is a long-established water lifeline for the farmers and ranchers in southwest Montana, and vital to the economy of the area," said Rehberg, a member of the Congressional Rural Caucus. "It's critical to protect this resource while a tentative new water agreement works its way through the courts. I'm pushing the House to move forward with this stand-alone plan that will protect the rights of current users."

The EBID covers an area of 28,000 acres and receives water from the federal Clark Canyon Dam at the head of the Beaverhead River. The EBID's long-term Water Service Contract with the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) expired at the end of 2005. EBID and the BOR have sought the required District Court confirmation of a tentative new agreement, but the contract has been held up through an appeals process. Congressional appropriations bills have extended the existing water rights for terms of up to two years, but the last extension expired at the end of 2009. Members of the EBID are seeking a longer extension in a stand-alone measure. If approved by the House and signed by the President, the existing water contract would be extended through the end of 2013.

The East Bench Irrigation District Water Contract Extension Act (S. 997, introduced by Sen. Jon Tester, D-MT) passed the Senate late last year, and was referred to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Rehberg addressed a letter to Representative Doc Hastings, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Representative Tom McClintock, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Water and Power requesting a hearing on the bill, which is one of the final steps in moving the bill to the House floor for a vote.

The full letter is included below:

Dear Chairmen Hastings and McClintock,

Thank you for your leadership on water and power issues which are vitally important to Western states like Montana. Water is our most precious resource, especially in states like Montana where we rely on water for drinking, irrigation, and energy.

I write today to respectfully request that the Committee hold a hearing and markup on S.997, the East Bench Irrigation District Water Contract Extension Act. The East Bench Irrigation District (EBID) is located in Beaverhead and Madison Counties in southwest Montana. The District is approximately 28,000 acres in size and is vitally important to the local tax base and economy.

The EBID's long-term (40-year) Water Service Contract with the Bureau of Reclamation was set to expire, however both parties were able to negotiate a new contract. However, the pending contract is being held up by litigation. While those issues are being resolved, it's important that the terms and conditions of the long-term contract remain in place. S. 997 accomplishes this objective and provides some amount of certainty for EBID.

There are no conflicts or objections to this "housekeeping" matter, and the importance of EBID and its many farmer-rancher members cannot be over-emphasized. I have worked hard to extend the EBID contract in the past and look forward to working with the Committee to expedite this critical legislation before year's end.

Thank you for your consideration of this request, and please don't hesitate to contact my office if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,

Source