(Washington, D.C.) - Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus today announced nearly $13 million for the Fort Peck/Dry Prairie and Rocky Boy's/North Central Rural Water Systems in Montana. Baucus worked to ensure that $30 million of the funding budget for water projects was dedicated specifically for rural states, and he wrote to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to make sure Montana's projects received their fair share of that funding.

"Access to safe, clean water is critical to making sure Montana stays the best place on earth to live, work and raise a family," Baucus said. "This smart investment is a good step that will create jobs right now building the clean water infrastructure Montana communities need to grow and attract new businesses down the road. Still, there is more work to be done and I will keep fighting every step of the way until we get these projects completed. "

In December, the Senate passed spending legislation including $50 million for ongoing water resource related-projects nationwide, including $30 million specifically for drinking water projects in rural states. Baucus wrote to Salazar in January, and today the Interior Department announced Montana would receive nearly $13 million of the total $30 million for rural drinking water project construction.

•    $9 million for the Fort Peck Reservation/Dry Prairie Rural Water System. This project will enable the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes to complete the mainline pipeline from Brockton to the Big Muddy to facilitate the delivery of water to Dry Prairie Rural Water Authority customers. The funds will also allow for the completion of the mainline from Big Muddy to Culbertson so that a sufficient amount of water from the new treatment plant will be delivered to Dry Prairie customers.

•    $3.9 million for the Rocky Boy's/North Central Montana Rural Water System. This funding will allow the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation to complete a portion of Segment 3 of the Core pipeline installation for the Rocky Boy's Rural Water System. It will also help to provide an interim water system to three areas in Montana as part of the North Central Montana Rural Water System.