President’s 2020 Budget: $210.6 Million requested for Pittsburgh District

Published March 14, 2019
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers informed Congress this week that its flood risk management efforts in the Upper Ohio River Basin in fiscal year 2018 prevented an estimated $1.11 billion in flood damages in real dollars.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District reports that the President’s Fiscal Year 2020 Budget includes $210.6 million in new federal funding for the district’s civil works program.

PITTSBURGH –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District reports that the President’s Fiscal Year 2020 Budget includes $210.6 million in new federal funding for the district’s civil works program.

This is part of the $4.8 billion in discretionary funding for the Army Corps civil works program worldwide. The proposed funding will help improve the reliability of the region’s inland waterways navigation system, enhance the environment, and reduce the risk of flooding in the Upper Ohio River Valley.

The FY20 budget provides $41 million for operation and maintenance of the Pittsburgh District’s 16 flood risk management reservoirs. The reservoirs provide additional flows that improve downstream water quality and ensure adequate depths for commercial river navigation. More than six million people visit the district’s lakes each year for recreation.

Also included in the budget is $57.8 million in operations and maintenance funds to provide reliable navigation on the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers. This includes $33.7 million for the Ohio River navigation system; $16.9 million for the Monongahela River and $7.2 million for the Allegheny. The use of the area’s three rivers to transport bulk commodities significantly reduces pollution and the wear and tear on roadways.

The $111 million designated for the Lower Monongahela River Project allows Pittsburgh district to complete the ongoing construction of the locks at Charleroi, Pennsylvania; finish dredging along the Monongahela; and facilitate the removal of Locks and Dam 3 at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania.

The budget also provides funding for the district’s three federally maintained local flood protection projects. The project at Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania received $862,000; the project at Elkins, West Virginia received $25,000; and, the project at Johnstown, Pennsylvania received $21,000.  

The Budget also proposes to return responsibility for management of the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) back to the Department of Energy (DOE).  The Army Corps would continue to perform cleanup of FUSRAP sites on a reimbursable basis with DOE.  This proposal would enable DOE to consider a broader range of federal cleanup efforts in prioritizing work each year, thereby increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of Federal cleanup efforts.  For these reasons, no funds are included in the Army's Civil Works Budget for FUSRAP.

The change in the funding agency will have no impact on the Shallow Land Disposal Area site remediation in Parks Township, Pennsylvania.  It will continue to proceed through the contract execution progress as scheduled.

To view the entire FY 2020 Civil Works budget visit http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Budget.aspx, under the heading Program Budget: Press Books.

Pittsburgh District’s 26,000 square miles include portions of western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, eastern Ohio, western Maryland and southwestern New York. Our jurisdiction includes more than 328 miles of navigable waterways, 23 navigation locks and dams, 16 multi-purpose reservoirs, 42 local flood protection projects and other projects to protect and enhance the nation’s water resources, infrastructure and environment.

The district’s additional missions include water supply, emergency response, and regulation of the Clean Water Act. The Corps often partners with local communities to improve water supply, sanitary sewer and storm water infrastructure. During disasters, the district manages the nation’s emergency power contract which provides temporary power to downed critical infrastructure. District personnel deploy overseas to help build, manage and administer water resource infrastructure projects in Afghanistan.

 For media inquiries, contact the Public Affairs Office at 412-395-7500 or email: celrp-pa@usace.army.mil.

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