WATER: Project Backers Of All Stripes Push For Increase In Stimulus Cash

Katherine Boyle, E&E reporter

Members of Congress and other stakeholders yesterday blasted funding levels for water infrastructure projects in the House stimulus proposal.

"It's a pathetic amount of money just to begin to deal with the problem of our deferred maintenance," said Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.). "This bill is not even near what we need for our short-term needs, and it does not even begin to address long-term needs."

The legislation contains $11.8 billion for water and wastewater projects, including a $6 billion injection of cash for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, a low-interest wastewater loan program that helps states construct water treatment facilities. It also provides $2 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

Another $19 billion would go toward clean water, flood control and environmental restoration around the nation's waterways, while $1.5 billion would help fund $3.8 billion in grants and loans for rural communities that need to install or upgrade wastewater and drinking water treatment systems (E&E Daily, Jan. 16).

Marian Orfeo, president of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, lauded the funding as an important first step but said Congress could go much further.

"A stronger infrastructure-based recovery package would create much-needed jobs in the construction industry, which currently has an unemployment rate of over 15 percent," she said. Orfeo noted NACWA members have more than $17 billion of ready-to-go wastewater projects that could be funded through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. U.S. EPA estimates communities will be short $388 billion over the next 20 years as they try to meet their water infrastructure needs.

NACWA is asking Congress to provide between $20 billion and $40 billion for drinking water and wastewater initiatives in the stimulus package. Orfeo also pushed members to consider providing grants to communities facing economic hardships, rather than loans they might have trouble repaying.

Robert Bendick, director of government relations for the Nature Conservancy, said more funding also is needed for environmental restoration projects in vulnerable areas like the Florida Everglades, coastal Louisiana and the upper Mississippi River. The conservancy is asking Congress to direct one-third of the Army Corp's stimulus package allocation to ecosystem restoration initiatives.

Money also should go toward green agricultural infrastructure, in an effort to keep excess nutrients out of waterways, Bendick said.

Some ecosystem restoration projects should be initiated with flood control in mind, according to Larry Larson, the executive director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers. Larson emphasized the importance of funding structural projects like levees, floodwalls, stormwater systems and dams. He also said Congress should fund green infrastructure with an eye toward mitigating the effects of climate change and increased urbanization.

Commerce
James Weakley, president of the Lake Carriers' Association, told members they should consider increasing funding for maritime commerce.

"Our national security interests, both economic and military, depend on our ability to move our natural resources to our manufacturing centers of economic activity," he said. Weakley said shipping on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway saves customers $3.6 billion per year and is the most environmentally friendly form of transportation.
Like Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), Weakley pushed for the construction of a second lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The operation would take 1.5 million man-hours and help an economically depressed area, he said.

"If $125 million of the $490 million needed to build the lock is appropriated by mid-February, I believe the corps can begin signing contracts and obligating money by April," Weakley said. "Physical construction on the project will begin by this July."

The U.S. Coast Guard's icebreaking mission also is in need of funding, Weakley said, adding that a dearth of funding for additional icebreakers has slowed commerce and caused accidents. He suggested members provide money for the Coast Guard to build an additional icebreaker in the recovery package.

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, also said the Coast Guard needs additional funding. "I've been pushing very hard to make sure they have equipment," he said. "Hopefully the new administration can address that and ensure important shipping routes are safe during the ice season."

States, feds pledge quick action on projects
Members on both sides of the aisle said current funding levels in the economic stimulus package barely make a dent in the backlog of water projects across the nation. They also criticized suggestions by the Congressional Budget Office saying states would not be able to spend additional money quickly enough to jumpstart the economy.

"We're going to nail down today the ability of the states to meet deadlines and create opportunities for jobs," Oberstar said. Witnesses including Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D) promised states would cut through red tape to get projects online quickly.
A memo released by President Barack Obama's office yesterday noted CBO's report does not reflect the extraordinary steps being taken to invest quickly and effectively, including setting and shortening deadlines and focusing on ready-to-go projects.
Oberstar said he would ensure the executive branch follows through on its promises to speed up the federal bureaucracy. "Believe me, this committee is going to keep a blowtorch on their behinds," he said.