Timetables for Missouri River water wars, Rounds colonoscopy announced

US Senators from the upper Missouri River basin have requested a hearing with the Army Corps of Engineers: the definition of 'surplus water' is central to talks. This from a press release at Senator Tim Johnson's (D-SD) website:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ [sic], which manages water flow from the six dams on the Missouri River, recently proposed a change that would institute a fee for gaining access to water in Missouri River reservoirs. Senators Thune, Conrad, Hoeven, Johnson, and Tester have concerns that the Corps’ actions contradict state water law, historical and legal precedent, and would have negative impacts on individuals, tribes, businesses, and water systems in Montana and the Dakotas.

Recall this intersection at interested party in June, 2011?

The Corps sells 24% of US hydropower capacity. The Corps enjoys sovereign immunity; expect a political powerplay directed at them from Marty Jackley.

The Senators called for testimony from the attorney general of the State of South Dakota. It's suing the Army Corps of Engineers to determine ownership of so-called 'surplus water.'

Hardly coincidentally, a former earth hater governor of South Dakota (after having built a house in a swamp, that flooded resulting in a generous self-reimbursement from insurance coverage underwritten by his own company), just used exactly the same brand of coded vitriol for non-whites described in interested party's previous post when he announced his intent to begin grovelling for money from supporters.

He expects to make a case for running for the seat held by Senator Johnson by attacking the Army Corps of Engineers despite the fact that the corps is hardly accountable for flooding (surplus water) but is, through statute, responsible: remember that an apology implies liability in US law.

Gov. Mike Rounds made an unholy deal, along with Tom Daschle, by the way, holding Barrick harmless for polluting the Cheyenne River watershed while dropping the ball on the compressors in the Ross then allowed the Homestake to fill with water.

The Tribes got screwed (again) and believe that they own the water.

Missouri River discharge from Oahe Dam at Pierre
photo courtesy Bruce Venner

Hidden agenda? The state has a $83 million dollar surplus but would argue it can’t afford to dredge and treat the dams so it expects taxpayers to do it. Ag and livestock special interests likely contribute the most poison crap to the system followed by human-based pharma/chemical toiletries.

Barrick Mining Company is on the hook for most of the worst shit: it's armed to the teeth with a bank of lawyers and lobbyists. The State enjoyed royalties and severance taxes.

AG Jacklow is engaging in legal sock-puppetry. By suing the corps over surplus water he is forcing them (US?) to pay for the clean up of a century of mine tailings and organic effluent that has saturated the banks of the Belle Fourche/Cheyenne River system then depositing many tons of toxic silt into Lake Oahe and the other downstream dams after 1962 now displacing many acre-feet of water.

Another Canadian mining company just admitted to polluting a river in the US: yes, slag is toxic.

Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer told a local news outlet that the Keystone XL pipeline will be built replete with crossings of the river and hundreds of her tributaries.

Let the wild rumpus start.