The Army Corps of Engineers will receive $4 billion in federal stimulus funds but has identified more than $12 billion in projects, according to U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, who met this week with a corps general in Washington.
"Those figures are nationwide," he said. "The corps has prioritized how it feels those funds should be expended, but they were not yet able to share those details with me."
Mr. Broun, a Republican whose 10th Congressional District includes Columbia County and part of Richmond County, met with Maj. Gen. Merdith W.B. "Bo" Temple, the corps' deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations, to ask about project priorities in the corps' Savannah District, which includes Thurmond Lake and Augusta.
Local projects on the priority list include $22 million in renovations to New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam, a 72-year-old structure near Augusta.
Congress authorized the repairs in 2000, and design work has been completed for a fish-passage structure that will accompany the renovation. But the project was never fully funded.
Mr. Broun said he is pressing for funds for the New Savannah Bluff project and has asked for funding for efforts to modernize water management programs in Thurmond and other upstream reservoirs.
Also present at the meeting was Col. Ed Kertis, the Savannah District commander, who has met several times with residents angry about the economic consequences of low lake levels.
"I talked with both of them about management of the entire Savannah River basin," Mr. Broun said, adding he hopes a better plan can be devised that gives more consideration to human needs, rather than the needs of fish.
Another project discussed was a proposal to dredge portions of the Savannah River to accommodate barges that would be needed to deliver components of two new reactors planned for construction at Plant Vogtle in Burke County.
Southern Nuclear Operating Co. has notified the corps that dredging will be needed in portions of the channel between the port of Savannah and the plant site in Burke County, 116 miles upstream.
Mr. Broun said the corps likely cannot use stimulus money for that project.
Three possible alternatives, he said, would be to have Southern Nuclear finance the project; have Southern Nuclear finance the project and then seek federal reimbursement; or wait for the corps to secure funds through regular budgeting avenues.
Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119 or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Well, I hope the lock and dam is fixed. At least we would see something direct and needed done in the local area with my great grandchildren's money.
I thought Broun was against earmarks?
Paul Broun is a media [filtered word]. Lock and Damn is not even in his district.
Repair the lock and dam, plus dredge the river. Make it a safer trip to the ocean. Giving us a safer ocean access without having to worry about running aground in the middle of the river would be great. Watch the Augusta marina expand tremendously if you take these measures.
There was no mention of the oxygen system for clark hill that is not fully funded yet. By the way, does anyone know the status of that system, which is to be installed around parksville. We do not need another summer of killing the bait fish and big fish at russell dam via the pump back system.
ColCo, this is not earmark money.
The problem that I have is that Mr. Broun called the President a Marxist yet he is taking the money. The concern that I have is, is this not double talking. The article states that he is pressing for more money. The bill seems to have already taken form for the area without his assistance. My point is that Mr. Broun should show me what you working for for the area you represent that is not already given.
and swollen belly, fly invested children are dropping like rain due to starvation..i mean, i know we can't see it (other than tv and mags),but it's happening right now.
Bigfoot, I don't know if this is the same oxygenation system you are talking about but one goes online in 2010. I believe this one is near the dam and intended to up the oxygen level in the deep water in that area and the river below.
Give money to the corps is like throwing it down the drain.
The headline got me excited. I thought the 4B was going to tearing them down
Why would it be a good use of taxpayer dollars for the Corps to dredge the river for a one-time use by Southern?