The Bureau of Reclamation announced today that it has awarded a contract in the amount of $4.6 million to Southwestern Dakotah, Inc. for construction of three underground pipeline crossings near Farmington, NM. The contract marks the start of general construction of the Navajo Nation Municipal Pipeline (NNMP) - a structural component of the Animas-La Plata Project in New Mexico.

"Award of this drilling contract signifies the start of construction on the Navajo Nation Municipal Pipeline and marks further progress on the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 2000," said Reclamation Commissioner Robert W. Johnson. "When completed, this municipal pipeline will stretch for more than 29 miles and convey 4,680 acre-feet of water from the city of Farmington to the Navajo Nation near Shiprock, New Mexico."

To build the new pipeline crossings near the cities of Farmington and Hogback, NM, will require excavation of two Horizontal Directional Drilled (HDD) crossings under the San Juan River and installation of 24-inch high density polyethylene pipe (HDPE). A third installation, using the same methods and materials, will traverse Nenahnezad Hill. HDD is trenchless method of installing underground pipes and conduits in a shallow arc along a prescribed bore path using a surface launched drilling rig. HDD is used when open trenching is not practical and to minimize environmental disruption.

The NNMP project is divided into six distinct reaches, including: the city of Farmington, Fruitland, Nenahnezad, San Juan, Hogback and Shiprock. The city of Farmington will have responsibility for the design and construction of features within its city limits. The Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority will have responsibility for construction of all reaches of the project within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation. Reclamation has responsibility for construction management of the entire project.

Reclamation anticipates work on the NNMP to be completed in 2011. Additional details concerning this contract, along with other information on the NNMP, are available at Reclamation's web site and clicking on the Animas-La Plata Project link.

Southwestern Dakotah, Inc, based in Tuscon, Arizona, was founded in 1992 and is engaged in general commercial contracting and construction management. The company has expertise in the building of municipal water distribution systems, sewer systems, fire suppression systems, and commercial buildings.