News Releases for August 2002
August 13, 2002
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Hoeven Statement On Army Corps' Delay Of Devils Lake Outlet
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor John Hoeven issued the following statement today following a phone call concerning an outlet at Devils Lake with Lt. General Robert B. Flowers, Commanding General/Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers:
“Today, I received a call from Gen. Flowers of the Army Corps of Engineers. He indicated that the Corps will delay release of its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and preferred alternative for an outlet at Devils Lake. The final EIS was due out in July, but now the Corps is announcing it will be delayed until January of 2003. The general further informed me that the U.S. State Department expects an additional delay of six to 12 months to consult with the Canadian government through the International Joint Commission.
“Although I am not surprised, I am disappointed at today’s decision. After so many delays, and seven years, we are losing confidence that the Corps will ever follow through with this long-delayed project, which would correct a situation that has already cost the people of Devils Lake great hardship and American taxpayers between $300 million and $400 million dollars in disaster aid.
“We have been working on a three-part strategy at Devils Lake, including storing more water in the upper basin; mitigating around Devils Lake and building an outlet. We will continue to move forward with our state outlet project. We are coordinating our efforts with the Corps and our congressional delegation on a federal outlet project, but the people of Devils Lake cannot afford to have us simply wait on the Corps’ endless delays.”
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