Contact: Barbara Riley
Tuesday, September 26, 2006

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH) and John Sununu (R-NH), and Congressman Jeb Bradley (R-NH) today announced that the Army Corps of Engineers has restored $700,000 in federal funding for the Cocheco River dredging project. The funds are part of $3.8 million previously secured by the NH Congressional Delegation, of which a portion had been reprogrammed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Today’s action restores that total amount for the project, which began in 2004, to remove sand and silt from the bottom of the Cocheco River and deposit the material in a nearby disposal site operated by the City of Dover. Gregg, Sununu and Bradley are also adding to this commitment with $2 million in new funds that have been included in the Fiscal Year 2007 Energy and Water Senate Appropriations bill. This bill awaits action by the full Senate.

Senator Gregg, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated, “The City of Dover, its residents, and neighboring communities on the Seacoast will benefit greatly from the anticipated completion of the dredging of the Cocheco River. The project has been a priority for the local community for several years, and I am pleased that the Army Corps has restored this critical funding that is necessary to finish this project. Combined with the new funds we are working to secure, the City of Dover can finally focus on the tremendous community and economic benefit that will be provided by the dredging of the Cocheco River.”

Senator Sununu stated, “Full dredging of the Cocheco River is an essential component of a locally-driven effort to generate economic development in Dover’s downtown waterfront area. A long-term priority for City officials and residents, dredging will also contribute to improved safety conditions by making the river more navigable. The decision to restore these resources marks a significant development in helping to move this project closer to completion.”

First District Congressman Jeb Bradley stated, “The completion of the Cocheco River dredging project is important for local commerce and safe navigation on the waterway. I am pleased that the Army Corps of Engineers has restored this funding for the project, which has been a priority for the Greater Dover community for quite some time. The New Hampshire Congressional Delegation remains committed to ensuring that this project is finished.”

Dover Mayor Scott Myers stated, “I'm very pleased to hear of the reprogramming of $700,00 in funding back to the Cochecho River Project. As the city of Dover moves forward with it's waterfront development, the completion of the river dredging remains an integral component. On behalf of the City, my sincere thanks to Senators Gregg and Sununu, Congressman Bradley and the Army Corps of Engineers for working together to make this happen.”

Ted Diers, Program Manager for the NH Coastal Program said, “The reprogramming of these funds by the Army Corps of Engineers will enable the project, which has been in the works for a number of years, to finally be completed. Were it not for the offices of Gregg, Sununu, and Bradley, these funds would not have become available.”

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