Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven announced that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has approved Dr. Andrea Travnicek's nomination for the position of Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Her nomination will now proceed to the full Senate for consideration.

"The Senate Energy Committee approved Dr. Travnicek’s nomination with bipartisan support not only because of her vast technical knowledge, but because she has a proven record of collaborating across all levels of government, as well as with tribes and private stakeholders," stated Senator Hoeven. He emphasized her previous role as a trusted advisor during his tenure as governor and highlighted her suitability for this position.

Hoeven noted that in her new role, Travnicek would focus on priorities such as completing drought-resistant water supply projects in North Dakota and conducting necessary U.S. Geological Survey studies to unlock energy potential. "Andrea’s nomination now goes to the full Senate and we’ll work to get her confirmed as quickly as possible," he added.

As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, Hoeven introduced Travnicek at her confirmation hearing, emphasizing her experience and qualifications. They discussed key issues related to agriculture, energy, and water development that she would address if confirmed.

Among these issues are ensuring reliable water supplies for North Dakota communities and advancing legislation to increase authorizations under the Dakota Water Resources Act (DWRA). The senator also pointed out the need for increased funding from programs like Municipal, Rural, and Industrial (MR&I) to complete projects such as Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) and Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply (ENDAWS).

Other topics included updating U.S. Geological Survey surveys of oil and gas reserves with current technologies, maximizing access to taxpayer-owned energy resources, reducing fragmentation of state and tribally-owned lands through equal-value exchanges under the North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act, providing regulatory relief, and streamlining federal permitting processes.

Dr. Travnicek holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resources Management/Communication from North Dakota State University. She served as a deputy assistant secretary at Interior during President Trump's first term and was most recently Director of the North Dakota Department of Water Resources. Previously appointed by Hoeven as a senior policy advisor while he was governor, she also worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Sacramento, California.