04.16.21

ND Delegation Helps Secure Extension for Washburn to Utilize $1 Million PDM Grant for Water Intake Improvements

WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Congressman Kelly Armstrong today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has extended the deadline for the City of Washburn to utilize its $1 million Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant. The city had received the grant in 2019 to address reliability issues in its water supply that resulted from changing high and low flow conditions in the Missouri River, which have strained the city’s water pump intake system. However, due to additional expenses and market conditions, the city was unable to award any of the bids for the project, putting the grant at risk as it was set to expire in early 2021.

In response, the delegation wrote in support in of the city’s extension request and worked with FEMA to ensure the funding remained available until October 2022. Further, at a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Committee this week, Hoeven asked Acting FEMA Administrator Robert Fenton for an update on the status of the extension request and pressed for its timely approval.

“This extension gives the City of Washburn the time it needs to raise additional funding and ensure these improvements to its water intake system do not overburden local residents,” said Senator Hoeven. “I pressed Administrator Fenton to approve our request for this extension at a hearing this week, and we appreciate FEMA working with us to provide this much-needed flexibility.”

“We are grateful to FEMA for being flexible, listening to the needs of this local North Dakota community, and allowing it to effectively use the grant it received,” said Senator Cramer. “The additional time will help the city of Washburn secure additional funding to be used for fixing issues surrounding its water pump intake system." 

“This extension is great news for the residents of Washburn as they seek to secure their water supply. This project is essential for the community and we are grateful that FEMA is working with us to make it a reality,” said Congressman Armstrong.

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