today, when our country faces enormous challenges--both domestic and international--we have an opportunity to recognize President Ronald Reagan on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Today--when we need big doses of optimism and a renewed…

I really was interested in other energy sectors as well, including renewables.

We are doing it right. We are doing it well. We are being very diligent that it's environmentally sound, but we will not be dissuaded or deterred.

We are going to complete NAWS, and today is a big step forward.

Clearly, communication is an important part of meeting this challenge.

We really are working to go forward with a three-part plan.

I contacted Senator Conrad when I heard that he was going to have these hearings both up in Devils Lake and down here in Valley City.

we're looking at all options.

just that one bridge is $65 million.

we're at the point now, where we're within feet of a whole new round of infrastructure that's going to be impacted.

I think that's a really good thing. I think that's great. Because we're all going to have to work together on this issue.

Thank you, Senator. Good to be with you, I appreciate you being here, and also very much appreciate the moment of silence for one of our soldiers.

the incredible costs that you get into.

It's got to be a team effort.

it's good to see Fargo and West Fargo working together on a joint facility. That's great.

you're talking about building a water treatment plant, probably bigger than is used for a city the size of Tampa, Florida or San Diego.

this has to be a local, State, and Federal team effort to make this work.

We've all--it's got to be a team effort, here.

Senator Conrad, again, good to be here with you and to be working, not only with our local partners, but the Federal partners.

potentially billions of dollars, in essence, then, to put water back in the river that has almost the same sulfate content as the water you took out.

We've got to work together on this one and as I listen to the testimony here today, I mean it, again, it convinces me we've got to work together on this challenge.

I want to thank all of the--everyone who's here today.

We're going to work with them through the Water Commission, and we'd love some help from the Federal participation as well.

We have worked hard to provide information to all concerned regarding the operation of the Devils Lake Outlet, and I thank you, Senator Dorgan, for your support of the outlet.

The State's objective with the west-end outlet is to minimize or avoid the effects of a discharge from Devils Lake into the Sheyenne that would create problems downstream from either a flooding or water quality standpoint.