PITTSBURGH –The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, Pittsburgh District, reports that the President’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget
includes $157.9 million in new federal funding for the district’s civil works program.
This is part of the $4.6 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. Additionally,
Pittsburgh District reservoirs joined the Corps’ regional system of dams and
levees to help preserve water quality and quantity during the drought-like
conditions last year.
The FY17 budget provides $26.0 million for operation and maintenance of these
16 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 $56.9 million in operations and maintenance funds to
provide reliable navigation on the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers. This
includes $34 million for the Ohio River navigation system; $17.9 million for
the Monongahela River and $5 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. Nearly 44,500 loaded barges carrying more than 67
million tons of material passed through district locks and kept the equivalent
of 2.6 million semi-trucks off the region’s roads.
The East
Branch Clarion River Lake Dam Safety Project in Elk County, Pa. is slated to
receive $56.25 million. The Corps lowered water levels at East Branch in 2008
when it was confirmed there was high risk for internal erosion of the dam. The FY17
budget will be used to continue the construction contract awarded in August
2014 to permanently
address seepage-related concerns at the dam. The work includes
construction of a 2,100-foot long, 260-foot deep concrete cutoff wall within
the existing earthen dam.
The FY17 budget also includes $18 million for the Shallow Land Disposal Area
in Armstrong County, Pa., for the continued clean up of radiological waste
materials at the site.
A list of projects and proposed funds is available at the Army Corps of
Engineers’ web site at 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.
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For media inquiries, contact the Public Affairs Office at
412-395-7500 or email: celrp-pa@usace.army.mil.
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