Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today signed the record of decision for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project.

The pipeline is a component of the Navajo Nation water rights settlement that President Barack Obama signed into law. The project will serve the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the city of Gallup, New Mexico.

“This will allow us to move forward in helping empower and improve Native American communities,” said Salazar. “This project addresses an unfulfilled promise to support the Navajo people by providing a long-term sustainable water supply that will reduce the need for hauling water, improve health conditions on the reservation, and provide the foundation for future economic development activity in northwestern New Mexico.”

The pipeline will cost $864 million. Construction is set to begin in 2012, with funding subject to appropriations.

Salazar was joined by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico), Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) and Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-New Mexico) at the signing that took place in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee room in Washington, D.C.

Get the Story:
Press Release: Salazar Signs Decision on Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, Clearing the Way for Historic Water Rights Settlement (DOI 10/1)

Relevant Documents:
President Obama Remarks | STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT | BACKGROUND ON THE OMNIBUS PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT ACT BILL SIGNING | Secretary Ken Salazar Remarks

Omnibus Lands Bill:
H.R.146 | S.22

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Editorial: Much work left on Navajo water rights (06/10)
Navajo Nation celebrates water rights settlement (05/27)
Editorial: Water project benefits Navajo people (4/9)
Obama signs omnibus public lands bill into law (3/31)
Obama to sign omnibus public lands bill into law (3/30)
Tribal provisions included in omnibus lands bill (3/26)
Navajo Nation water rights settlement in Congress (02/17)