Army Corps of Engineers projects in West Virginia
WASHINGTON – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins (R-W.Va.) has secured full funding for construction and maintenance projects for six lakes and rivers in West Virginia, as well as the Appalachian Regional Commission.
The water projects are fully funded in the Fiscal Year 2017 Energy & Water Appropriations bill, which the House Appropriations Committee passed late Tuesday. The bill funds the Army Corps of Engineers at $6.1 billion, $1.5 billion more than President Obama requested and $100 million more than the current fiscal year.
That will provide full funding for the Army Corps’ projects in West Virginia:
$8.9 million for Kanawha River Locks and Dams operation and maintenance
$4 million for Bluestone Lake construction
$2 million for Bluestone Lake operation and maintenance
$2.7 million for Summersville Lake operation and maintenance
$2.6 million for East Lynn Lake operation and maintenance
$2.2 million for R.D. Bailey Lake operation and maintenance
$1.4 million for Beech Fork Lake operation and maintenance
“The Army Corps of Engineers and the Appalachian Regional Commission both provide crucial funding for projects in West Virginia, and I am proud to fight for the funding they need to serve our state. These lakes and dams provide important tourism opportunities and support local economies, and they deserve to be properly funded and maintained. The ARC improves the quality of life for thousands of West Virginians by investing in water, sewer and other infrastructure projects. I will continue to ensure that West Virginia gets the federal resources it needs to maintain our water infrastructure and invest in our communities,” Rep. Jenkins said.
The Appalachian Regional Commission receives $146 million, $26 million more than the president’s request. High-speed broadband deployment in distressed Central Appalachian counties hurt by the downturn in coal will receive $10 million, while $50 million will be invested in economically distressed coal counties, including job retraining and economic redevelopment.
Other priorities in the bill include:
Increased funds for fossil energy technologies and research:
$645 million for research and development for fossil energy technologies, including coal and natural gas.
That includes $53 million for the National Energy Technology Laboratory coal research and development program, which the president wanted to cut by $18 million.
Prohibiting changes to federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, including changes to the definition of fill material and discharge of fill material.
