The North Dakota Senate has approved additional funding to help communities affected by the cancellation of federal grants for infrastructure projects. The Federal Emergency Management Agency pulled about $20 million in grants designated for North Dakota projects, including the Fessenden wastewater lagoon erosion project. Senator Jeff Magrum introduced an amendment to House Bill 1577 to authorize the Bank of North Dakota to issue up to $9.7 million in loans for wastewater projects impacted by the funding cuts. The bill also directs the Department of Environmental Quality to seek state funding in 2027 to repay the loans, with the option to use restored federal funds for repayment. Lawmakers also plan to add funding for other affected projects, such as the $7.1 million water intake project in Washburn. Senator Tim Mathern emphasized the importance of helping these communities with state-backed loans and noted the potential for more issues requiring a special session in the future. The bill includes a provision for a study on creating a wastewater project fund for the state, with input from various stakeholders. The amended bill now moves back to the House for further consideration.
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