WRDA CRAMMED THROUGH HOUSE, INCLUDES MODEST CORPS REFORM MEASURES Yesterday, the House overwhelmingly passed its version of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000, the omnibus legislation that authorized Corps of Engineers water projects. The Senate's version was passed on September 25th. Both versions of the bill contain $1.4 billion to restore the Florida Everglades Ecosystem (the main push for passing WRDA in the 106th Congress), but fell short of expectations of Corps Reform advocates in its failure to include significant reform measures. House leadership shepherded the mammoth legislation to the House floor without going through the normal review process. The bill was never made available to the public nor debated in Committee or on the House floor. The closed ruling prevented Representatives from offering several reform amendments. The current WRDA version, now on its way to House-Senate conference, contains a pilot program for independent review and post-project monitoring, increased stakeholder involvement if found "appropriate," and an investigation into the effectiveness of full concurrent mitigation of adverse environmental impacts. To view a copy of the final legislation, visit http://thomas.loc.gov and search for S. 2796. For more information on necessary reforms, visit American Rivers' Corps Reform page at http://www.amrivers.org/template2.asp?cat=2&page=267&id=225&filter=- NO REFORM AMENDMENTS ALLOWED TO BE OFFERED TO HOUSE WRDA House leadership prevented meaningful debate of WRDA and decided on a closed ruling to prevent several Corps reform amendments from being offered. Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Mark Sanford (R-SC) were prepared to offer several amendments calling for independent review of large or controversial Corps projects, increased stakeholder involvement in project planning, full and concurrent mitigation of project impacts to the environment, and increased benefit-cost ratio used to justify projects. Last month, Senate leadership thwarted efforts by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) to offer similar amendments. The legislation does include language to authorize a study of the feasibility of incorporating independent review, but failed to make real strides towards reform for the rogue agency. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Bob Smith (R-NH) also agreed to hold hearing on a comprehensive Corps Reform Bill to be introduced by Senator Feingold next year. More information about specific reforms for the Corps, visit http://www.amrivers.org/template2.asp?cat=2&page=267&id=225&filter=- TAKE ACTION! ENCOURAGE CONGRESS TO REMOVE ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL SECTIONS IN WRDA! Call/email Representatives Shuster (R-PA) and Oberstar (D-MI) and Senators Bob Smith (R-NH) and Baucus (D-MT) to oppose Sec.225 and Sec. 220, which would allow the corps to rehabilitate dams without environmental consideration, and create a preference for mitigation banks over site-specific mitigation for Army Corps civil works projects, respectfully. Ask that these ard other controversial provisions be removed in the House-Senate conference. Take action! Visit www.americanrivers.org/takeaction and click on "Help Stop the Army Corps From Rehabilitating Dams Without Environmental Consideration!" to email House and Senate leadership. Bud Shuster (R-9th PA) 202-225-2431 Sherwood Boehlert (R-23rd NY) 202-225-3665 James Oberstar (D-8th MN) 202-225-6211 Robert Borski (D-3rd PA) 202-225-8251 CONGRESS IN ITS FINAL WEEKS STILL SEEKING CO-SPONSORS TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR REFORM. TAKE ACTION NOW! Representative Ron Kind (D-WI), along with Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), introduced H.R. 4879, the Corps of Engineers Reform Act of 2000. This important piece of legislation would require independent review of large Corps projects, concurrent mitigation, and evaluation of economic and environmental results of constructed projects and would increase public involvement in project planning. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! Encourage your Representative to cosponsor the Army Corps of Engineers Reform Act of 2000 and to support Corps reform measures in WRDA 2000. Call the Congressional switchboard for your members phone number at 202-224-3121. For more information, visit our Corps Reform page at http://www.amrivers.org/template2.asp?cat=2&page=267&id=225&filter=- To view the legislation, visit http://thomas.loc.gov and search for H.R. 4879. CONTROVERSIAL MISSISSIPPI AND ILLINOIS LOCK-EPANSION STUDY DELAYED The Corps is going back to the drawing board as it reviews a controversial $1 billion lock-expansion project because of lower forecasts for barge traffic on the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. The corps' decision to incorporate new traffic figures into its analysis will delay the corps' 7-year, $54 million study by at least another year. CORPS' EXPANDING ENVIRONMENTAL MISSION The current Water Resources Development Act, which authorizes $6 billion in new projects, expands the Corps' environmental mission by authorizing a score of restoration projects throughout the country including: Lower Columbia Estuary ($40 million); Ohio River restoration ($307 million); Upper Mississippi sediment and nutrient reduction study; Missouri River Restoration ($260); Everglades Restoration 1st phase ($1.4 billion); Clear Creek non-structural flood control; Illinois Basin restoration ($100 million); Florida Keys water quality ($100 million); Jackson Hole, WY ($52 million); Upper Newport Bay, CA ($32 million); Tres Rios, AZ ($99 million); Wolf River, TN ($11 million); Duwamish/Green, WA ($116 million); and Stillagumaish River Basin, WA ($24 million). WRDA also authorizes 20 new restoration programs to be implemented under the Corps' continuing authorities (section 1135 and 206). Projects are in Colorado (2), Florida (3), Illinois (1), Michigan (1), Nebraska (2), New York (6), Ohio (1), Oregon (3) and Pennsylvania (1). To learn more about the Corps' environmental mission, visit American Rivers' Corps Reform page at http://www.amrivers.org/template2.asp?cat=2&page=267&id=225&filter=-
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