By Elizabeth Berry | Prescott eNews
The U.S. Senate Tuesday night passed a bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) to fully implement the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Settlement, an agreement that clarifies the use of certain water settlement funds by the White Mountain Apache Tribe for construction of the Miner Flat Dam.
Specifically, the bill states the Interior Department has the authority to use previously authorized funds from the 2010 White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Settlement to address cost overruns on the dam project stemming from unanticipated geologic issues. This paves the way for the dam’s completion, which is essential for the tribe to use its water.
