$24M to aid area beaches, dredging
House may act on massive spending bill today, and send it to President Bush
By Vicky Eckenrode
Staff Writer
vicky.eckenrode@starnewsonline.com
The coastal area is positioned to receive about $24 million for beach nourishment and dredging projects in the massive federal spending bill Congress is debating in its final hours before adjourning for the year.
The Senate on Tuesday night approved the $516 billion omnibus spending bill that funds most federal agencies and includes the money for Wilmington-area projects.
The House voted for it Monday night and would have to approve it again today because the Senate added another $70 billion for funding in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill would then be sent to President Bush for his signature.
The local money for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects includes more than $3.7 million for Wilmington Harbor deepening and $378,000 for sand restoration at the Brunswick area beaches.
The spending bill also includes nearly $5.5 million for dredging in the Intracoastal Waterway.
"We have got a great Christmas present for Southeastern North Carolina," said Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C. "The money is an astounding amount, especially when you consider the money that's included for the Wilmington Harbor, beach renourishment and for the deepening of our inlets."
He said it has been an intense fight to fund the inlet and waterway projects, particularly against the backdrop of the overall budget fights in Washington this year.
McIntyre pointed out that the beach restoration requests for Wilmington and other coastal areas have been left out of the Bush administration's recent budget proposals.
Local spending projects also have come under scrutiny this year as the new Democratic-controlled Congress vowed to tighten down on earmarks as pet projects for lawmakers to take home to their constituents.
McIntyre said lawmakers were under pressure to show a wider relevance for any type of special project request.
"This year, to get these fundings you have to show there is a regional or national significance," he said, adding that he argued on the safety and business benefits of maintaining and deepening the waterways. "There's clearly a regional impact economically that in turn has a national impact when you consider the intracoastal water and the coastline is an environmental treasure."
