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Welcome to the Water Resources Coalition's April newsletter. The 111th Congress has continued to look at water resources issues this month with the notable introduction of the Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2009 last week. This month's Coalition newsletter will once again focus on all of the progress being made as we try to achieve the development, implementation, and funding of a comprehensive, national water resources policy to ensure a sustainable, productive economy; a healthy aquatic ecology; and public health and safety. | |
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The Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Bills Introduced in the House and Senate
The Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act of 2009 was introduced with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate last week. The bills will apply to state and locally-owned dams and would focus strictly on the necessary safety improvements to repair and rehabilitate high-hazard dams. Additionally, the bill would establish a program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide grant assistance for the rehabilitation and repair of these deficient state and local dams.
The House version of the bill, H.R. 1770, was introduced by Rep. John Salazar (D-CO) and cosponsored by Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO) and Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). In a statement, Rep. John Salazar stressed that, "We cannot wait for our nation to suffer a catastrophic dam failure that takes life to address this serious issue." The bill has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate, S. 732, by Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and referred to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The Senate version of the bill has six co-sponsors including Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA).
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Corps Presents Upper Mississippi Comprehensive Plan to Congress
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last month submitted to Congress a Comprehensive Plan outlining a number of proposals for flood control projects in the Upper Mississippi River basin. The report identified 13 separate project options and recommended one option to protect the watershed from a 500-year flood. The cost of the preferred option was approximately $4 billion.
The Corps' recommended option involves protecting areas with existing levees and floodwalls to the 0.2 percent chance annual - 500-year - level of protection. The protection level would apply to urban, agricultural, and unprotected communities in the basin. Hydraulic impacts of the plan on the Lower Mississippi River would be minimized through creation of additional storage areas and the exclusion of some agricultural districts from the plan.
Despite its' potential to provide a 500-year level of protection, the report urges Congress to take no action on the recommended option due to its high cost. The Corps' reasoning is based upon the national economic development (NED) evaluation of alternative plans. Using the NED standard, none of the options evaluated was cost-effective, according to the report, but there may be other benefits that Congress may want to take into account in order to protect the area.
The Comprehensive Plan is the result of a congressional directive in the Water Resources Development Act of 1994 requiring the Corps to study flood protection in portions of five Midwestern states along the Illinois River and part of the Mississippi River. The study area was the Upper Mississippi River drainage area above Cairo, Illinois at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio River and encompassed approximately 185,000 square miles.
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OMB Has Pulled the Plug on Coastal Protection
The White House Office of Management and Budget has pulled funding for every beach renourishment project from the stimulus list prepared by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Administration's reasoning is that using federal funds for periodic beach nourishment is contrary to their budget policy.
The Water Resources Coalition supports beach renourishment funding, due to our beaches ability to serve as natural coastal levees. America's beaches protect coastal resident's lives and property during severe weather and allow for reduced costs for the American taxpayer when it comes to storm recovery.
To read the American Shore and Beach Preservation Associations full Press Release please visit:
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House Subcommittee Approves Wastewater Grants and Loans
On March 4th the House Committee on Science and Technology held a hearing entitled, "21st Century Water Planning: The Importance of a Coordinated Federal Approach". The Committee examined the need for a coordinated federal approach to water research and development, in an effort to help communities that are facing water shortages.
The Committee also received testimony on HR 1145, the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009, a bill which builds on previous efforts to coordinate federal research on water resources by establishing an interagency committee -the Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality (SWAQ) of the National Science and Technology Council. The bill also incorporates recommendations from the 2004 report by the National Academies of Science, Confronting the Nation's Water Problems: The Role of Federal Research.
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WRC Statement Before the Energy and Water Subcommittee on the Fiscal Year 2010 Budgets
On April 3, 2009 the Water Resources Coalition submitted a statement for the record before the House Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee on the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget for the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Bureau of Reclamation.
President Obama has proposed a budget of $5.1 billion for the Corps in Fiscal Year 2010; however the Water Resources Coalition recommends an appropriation of $7 billion for the Corps and $1.3 billion for the Bureau. Due to years of under investment in water resources programs the cost for repair and maintenance has continued to rise and added investment is necessary.
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President Obama Announces Key Administration Posts
On March 19th President Obama announced his intent to nominate Michael L. Connor as Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. Mr. Connor has served as counsel to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee since 2001 and directs the Committee's Water and Power Subcommittee. As counsel, he has negotiated and managed legislation related to water reclamation, Indian lands, and energy issues.
On April 1st President Obama announced his intent to nominate Jo-Ellen Darcy as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Public Works, a position that oversees the Army Corps of Engineers. Ms. Darcy is currently the senior environmental policy advisor to the Senate Finance Committee, where she worked on energy, environmental, and conservation initiatives. Ms. Darcy has also served as senior policy advisor and deputy staff director with the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. While in those positions she oversaw the drafting of the $23 billion Water Resources Development Act in 2007. On April 3rd President Obama announced his intent to nominate Peter Silva as Assistant Administrator for Water Programs at the Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Silva is a Civil Engineer with nearly 32 years experience in the water and wastewater fields. He is currently a Senior Policy Advisor for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and has served in past positions in both President Clinton's administration and Governor Schwarzenegger's administration. |
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ASCE Releases the Full Findings of the 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure
ASCE released the full findings of the 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org including fact sheets detailing the conditions and solutions for improvement in each of the 15 different categories on March 25th.
The early release in January 2009 of the category grades was timed to coincide with the ongoing legislative debate over including infrastructure in the economic recovery package. The Report Card rated the nation's infrastructure at a cumulative grade of D and ASCE estimates that it will cost $2.2 trillion over five years to bring it up to a good condition. Ultimately, the up-to-date information provided by ASCE's Report Card helped to ensure that nearly $100 billion was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that was enacted in February.
Among the features released this week:
* A full-color, 158-page book that delves into the condition and background on each of the 15 categories graded. * Specific policy recommendations for each category that are designed to help raise the poor grades. * Brand new videos describing the condition of the nation's infrastructure. * Case studies for each category of infrastructure that demonstrate how some communities are already taking the steps to implement infrastructure solutions and help raise the grades. * A brand new website (same URL http://www.asce.org/reportcard) that will assist average citizens make the connection between the national problems with infrastructure, and what they can do in their own communities.
The entire book is available as a free download from the website.
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AGC Federal Contractors Conference to be Held April 27-30, Washington, DC
Registration has now been activated for AGC's Federal Contractors Conference, and can be accessed through the new website: www.agc.org/fedcon.
The Federal Contractors Conference is the only national event where AGC contractors and Federal agency personnel can meet and review procurement and contracting issues from around the United States. This year will include meetings with USACE, NAVFAC, USAF, GSA, and OBO, the AGC Federal Owners Advisory Council, as well as a day of visits to Capitol Hill to discuss increased infrastructure investment and ensuring fair federal contracting opportunities, among other issues.
Sponsorships are also still available and function as a great way to increase your company's brand awareness, create positive public relations, and gain recognition as a key player in federal contracting and procurement.
For more information, contact Marco Giamberardino at (703) 837-5325 or giamberm@agc.org. | |
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Sincerely,
Brian Pallasch and Marco Giamberardino
Co-Chairs
Water Resources Coalition |
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