STATEMENT OF GEORGE GRUGETT
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY FLOOD CONTROL ASSOCIATION
MAY 16, 2000

Chairman Voinovich and members of the Committee. Thank you for letting me come before you today to discuss some matters very important to the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association, the people of the Lower Mississippi Valley, and the Nation as a whole. The Corps Civil Works program, processes and management structure have come under a well-financed and well-orchestrated attack by a group of organizations and agencies. These groups have little understanding of the role civil works projects across the Nation has played in the protection of citizens and property, and the better standards of living that would not have been possible without their construction. If these groups are successful in their efforts, we will continue to suffer irreparable damage from the devastating floods that regularly keep many parts of the Nation from making economic progress. Of particular interest to residents of the Lower Mississippi Valley is the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project. Although this project is regional in scope, I believe it serves to demonstrate a national issue. Before the MR&T; Project, floods regularly devastated the Lower Valley, killed hundreds of residents, flooded millions of acres, and kept the region in a state of poverty with poor health and living conditions. Because of the 1927 Flood, recognized as one of the great natural disasters ever to occur in the United States, the MR&T; Project was implemented to protect this area from ever having to suffer another such disaster. With the MR&T; Project, the region has become economically stable, and although it still needs to make strides economically, contributes greatly to the economy of the Nation. However, the job isn't complete. Today, $4.6 billion remains to be constructed on a project begun many years ago, and because of inflation, lack of funding, and environmental and structural modifications, the completion date has slipped 31 years over the past 20 years. Because of low and declining investment levels, we are actually getting further away from completion!

Although many areas of the Nation are protected from major floods, there are still very important portions of other projects that, although authorized by the Congress, remain uncompleted. Indeed, there is a large backlog of authorized, uncompleted or unstarted projects nationwide that are not being financed. Without these projects, we are losing benefits and economic efficiencies that can never be recouped. Proposals that are being pushed by environmental groups and the Administration will put unparalleled new environmental restrictions on all civil works projects. This will not only further stifle completion of the projects, but will jeopardize the needed maintenance of existing features. We cannot risk the lives of the citizens and the billions in property protected by these projects.

Some of the current proposals that greatly concern us include:

1) A draft policy that the Council on Environmental Quality is circulating within the Administration, entitled, "Enhanced Protection of Wetlands and Water Resources". The proposal calls for a review of all Corps policies and possible changes to the current Principles and Guidelines for Water Resource Planning, likely imposing much stricter environmental standards. We are greatly concerned about the following possible impacts and implications of this proposed policy:

-- This proposed policy will halt all structural flood control projects because it is impossible to have structural flood control that does not impact wetlands.

-- It will stop all maintenance of existing flood control channels and navigation projects as well as raising of the main line Mississippi River Levees.

-- The draft directive not only targets Federal flood control, but port authorities, navigation, drainage projects, and private development activities.

2) In a move perhaps related to the CEQ initiative, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is pushing for a comprehensive environmentally-focused review of the MR&T; Project calling for implementation of non-structural flood control measures that would create so-called New Directions for the MR&T; Project.

3) The Administration has submitted its version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to Congress. There is no request for authorization for any flood control, navigation, or harbors project in the bill. Instead, there is increased funding for the environmental project for the Florida Everglades. We have no objection to a balanced approach to protecting the environment, but we cannot continue to risk the lives of people and billions in property with such a one-sided approach. Also, the bill would increase cost sharing for structural flood control from 35 percent to 50 percent. The Lower Valley already suffers economic problems and simply cannot bear any more project costs. I am sure the same is true of other areas in the Nation.

We think that the current Principles and Guidelines for Water Resource Planning have served the Nation well and provide a balanced approach. We do not object to, in fact we have always recommended, a balanced approach to addressing the needs and opportunities related to water projects, including environmental concerns. However, there must be a process that continues to recognize economic growth, and standard of living while maintaining high envrionmental standards.

Another broad concern is the apparent shift from the proven concepts of structural flood control to unproven concepts. While we think that non-structural solutions can be part of an overall plan, it is wishful thinking to believe that such methods can completely solve flooding problems. In the case of areas that can be impacted by major flood events, this approach alone is too risky to citizens and property.

In conclusion, I request that you reject these proposed changes. This is in the best interest of millions of citizens whose very lives, as well as their livelihoods, depend on a sound, balanced approach to solving water resource problems. Such an approach is already in place with current guidelines and the Corps management structure. We need the national will and determination to face them. The Nation's future depends on it. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.