(AP) _ State and federal officials have extended the public comment period on a plan that would send Missouri River water to the Red River Basin in times of drought.

Dennis Breitzman is an area manager for the U-S Bureau of Reclamation. He says his agency and the state need more time to review issues that have already been raised by the public.

Bureau of Reclamation spokeswoman Patience Hurley says there is not a deadline on the current round of public comments. She says, ``further analysis is needed.''

The project's draft environmental impact statement was released in December. State and federal officials have already extended two, 60-day public comment periods since then. | save this article / add to your favorites list