Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys announced today that $100,000 of emergency drought relief has been approved for the town of Geraldine, Mont., to help in drilling a new municipal water supply well. The town's water supply had come from a well originally developed by the railroad for steam engines and from a natural spring. The well is heavily laden with minerals and water from the spring has decreased substantially because of persistent drought.

Town management has secured funding to build a new water tank and distribution line and received another federal grant to partially fund the well. The Reclamation emergency drought funding will complete the funding needed to drill the well.

The funds are being made available under the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991, which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to help fund activities that minimize losses and damages resulting from drought conditions in the 17 western states.