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Rahall secures $1.5 million for the Southern West Virginia Environmental Infrastructure Program.
07/10/08Rahall (D-WV) secured approval by the full House Appropriations Committee of $3.26 million in the Fiscal Year 2009 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill for Army Corps of Engineers projects in southern West Virginia, including $1.5 million for the Southern West Virginia Environmental Infrastructure Program.
"Flooding is a serious concern in southern West Virginia, making water infrastructure projects one of my top priorities," Rahall said. "The funding in this bill, which I requested, will help to ensure that the Army Corps can move forward with construction projects that can help to protect our homes and families from dangerous flooding."
The Southern West Virginia Environmental Infrastructure Program, put in place by Rahall more than a decade ago, is a crucial component of the Army Corps’ water projects in southern West Virginia. Rahall’s $1.5 million will allow the Army Corps to continue the many storm water, wastewater, surface water protection, and environmental restoration projects under the program.
Rahall also secured $200,000 for the Upper Guyandotte River flood control project, $60,000 for the Spring Valley/Krouts Creek flood investigations, and $1.5 million for Greenbrier River Basin flood control project.
“This funding will help to advance efforts needed to ensure protection of homes, businesses and lives and provide peace of mind to families along the flood zones,” said Rahall.
The Fiscal Year 2009 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill must next receive approval of the full U.S. House of Representatives. It would then be sent to a conference committee to iron out differences between House-passed and Senate-passed versions of the bill. Once the conference report receives final approval of both bodies, it would be sent to the White House to be signed into law.
The bill also included $9.41 million in operations and management funding, supported by Congressman Rahall, for the following ongoing projects in southern West Virginia: $1.399 million for Beech Fork Lake, $1.433 million for Bluestone Lake, $1.942 million for East Lynn Lake, $2.694 million for RD Bailey Lake, and $1.942 million for Summersville Lake. Additionally, Rahall supported $12 million for the Bluestone Lake Dam safety measures that were included in the bill.