12.27.18

Hoeven Statement After Minnesota DNR Issues Permit for Permanent Flood Protection in Red River Valley

Hoeven: The Red River Valley Needs Permanent Flood Protection

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven released the following statement today after the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a permit for comprehensive flood protection in the Red River Valley. The permit advances Route B, which incorporates the changes recommended by the joint task force convened by Governors Doug Burgum and Mark Dayton. 

“Residents and businesses in the Fargo-Moorhead region need the certainty and security that comes with permanent flood protection,” said Hoeven. “Today’s permit from the Minnesota DNR is an important step that will enable this vital project to advance and is necessary to address the injunction on the project. Getting this permit is necessary as we work to secure additional federal funding for this infrastructure project.”  

As a member of the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Committee, Hoeven is working to maintain strong support for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ construction account and secure project funding in the coming years. This follows the increased funding Hoeven secured in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 for the Corps’ construction efforts, which helped ensure the Corps included $35 million for construction of flood protection in the Fargo-Moorhead region in its FY2019 work plan.

Hoeven secured provisions in this year’s WRDA legislation and the FY2019 Energy and Water funding bill, both of which were signed into law this fall, to move forward with flood protection projects in North Dakota and throughout the country.

WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT

  • Resolves easement issue to enable Route B: Hoeven included his provision to resolve easements on land purchased with Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding. The senator’s provision grants the authority needed to implement Route B, the changes recommended by the joint task force convened by Governors Doug Burgum and Mark Dayton.  

FISCAL YEAR 2019 ENERGY AND WATER FUNDING BILL

  • Increases the Corps’ construction account by $150 million to ensure priorities like flood protection in the Red River Valley continue to receive funding.
  • Implements the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program to provide states and local governments with low-cost, flexible funding sources when building water infrastructure. 
    • The legislation directs the Corps to complete a detailed plan for implementing WIFIA and provides up to $6 million to support WIFIA program implementation. This aligns with Hoeven’s legislation to extend the WIFIA program.
  • Ensures fair treatment of P3 projects and others that use alternative financing methods during the Corps’ cost-benefit analysis, including flood protection in the Fargo-Moorhead region. 
    • The bill requires the Corps to develop a policy on how it will evaluate P3s and incorporate them into its budget.
    • Hoeven also helped advance a provision in the Senate-passed Financial Services and General Government funding bill ensuring the Corps can fund P3s.

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