Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON –U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici today reported a key Senate committee has approved their bill to help meet eastern New Mexico’s future water needs by authorizing the federal government to build a pipeline that will carry water to several communities in Curry and Roosevelt counties.

The legislation, called the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System Authorization Act,

cleared the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today and can now be considered by the full Senate. The measure authorizes the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to

spend up to $327 million to assist the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority in the construction of the pipeline. The water will come from the Ute Reservoir, which was built on the Canadian River in 1959 as a sustainable water supply for eastern New Mexico.

Under the legislation the state and the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority, which represents communities in eastern New Mexico that will benefit from the pipeline, will contribute a total of 25 percent of the cost of construction. The Authority will be responsible for operating and maintaining the pipeline.

“After years of developing this legislation and building congressional support for it, I am very pleased it has cleared its first hurdle,” said Bingaman, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “While I remain concerned about the lack of Bush administration support for this bill, today’s vote gives me confidence that we can get it enacted into law.”

“We still have a long row to hoe with this project, but I like seeing progress on this bill. We need it to see that eastern New Mexico can access water to support growth in the region,” said Domenici, ranking member on the committee. “I hope today’s committee approval will

help propel this bill toward passage in the Senate and House. I truly want this bill enacted before my term expires.”

Communities that will be served by the pipeline include: Grady, Clovis, Melrose, Texico, Portales, Elida, Cannon Air Force Base, and other potential locations in Curry, Roosevelt and Quay counties.

Rep. Tom Udall introduced the same measure in the House of Representatives and is working to build support for the bill in that chamber.