Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) delivered the following remarks at a Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing today on his legislation to amend the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010, which is critical to enable the tribe and the U.S. Department of Interior to move forward with the construction of Miner Flat Dam on the North Fork of the White River on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The hearing also heard testimony from Vice Chairman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe Kasey Velasquez who underscored to Senator McCain and the committee the importance of completing construction of the Miner Flat Dam, which is critical to the future of the tribe:

“Mr. Chairman and Mr. Vice Chairman, thank you for holding today’s hearing on S. 2959. I understand that Chairman Ronnie Lupe was invited to testify but had to cancel. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Chairman Lupe for many years and can attest that he is a tireless advocate for the White Mountain Apache people. I am grateful that the tribe’s Vice Chairman, Kasey Velasquez, will be testifying today on behalf of the tribe.    

“This bill would amend provisions of the tribe’s Indian water settlement (the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Act of 2010) to enable the tribe and the U.S. Department of the Interior to move forward with the construction of Miner Flat Dam on the North Fork of the White River.           

“In 2010, Congress enacted legislation sponsored by Senator Kyl and myself that resolves the tribe’s claims to the Salt River in Arizona. The linchpin of the settlement was Congressional authorization to construct a water delivery system for the Fort Apache Indian Reservation through the construction of the Miner Flat Dam.           

“Unfortunately, tribal engineers have identified seepage and stability concerns at the proposed dam site which is delaying construction. The resulting cost overruns exceed the initial $126 million authorization for the construction of the Miner Flat Dam.            

“The Interior Department has informed the tribe that a clarifying amendment to the water settlement legislation may be necessary to allow other authorized funds in the settlement Act can be applied to the construction project. The bill I’ve introduced would clarify the Interior Department may access a separate fund in the tribe’s settlement legislation called the ‘WMAT Fund,’ which covers ‘water-related economic development projects’ including dam operations and maintenance.     

“Mr. Chairman, the federal government made a deal with the White Mountain Apache six years ago that we would build the Miner Flat Dam. The tribe is currently facing a drinking water crisis: groundwater wells on the reservation has dropped by 50% and the North Fork of the White River is expected to run dry by 2020 without the Miner Flat Dam reservoir project. We have an obligation to meet the terms of the water settlement. I urge my colleagues to support his bill.”

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