As the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies considers Members' fiscal year 2010 Appropriations requests, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss two very important projects I am requesting funding for in my Congressional District. I appreciate the opportunity to testify before the Subcommittee and I thank each Member for their previous support for projects in my District. I look forward to your continued support. While I am only providing additional information on two projects, all of the requests that I have submitted have considerable merit and I urge you to give them full and fair consideration.
The first project I am requesting funding for in fiscal year 2010 is the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Located in the Pocono Mountains of Monroe County Pennsylvania, Cherry Valley provides a habitat for more than 80 species of national or regional concern, including several plants and animals listed as either endangered or threatened. These species include the bog turtle and the bald eagle. Monroe County, however, is also one of the fastest growing counties in Pennsylvania and future development threatens the habitat of these rare species.
In 2004, I met with several concerned constituents to discuss ways to protect the natural habitat in Cherry Valley. Shortly after speaking with those individuals, Congressman Charlie Dent and I introduced H.R. 5232, the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge Study Act. This legislation authorized the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a study of Cherry Valley to determine if it should be included in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
On October 31, 2008, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its proposed study of the Cherry Valley area, which recommended the creation of a national wildlife refuge of 20,000 acres. Several months later, in December 2008, the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service approved the establishment of the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Cherry Valley became the third National Wildlife Refuge in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the first since 1972.
Rarely in my term of office have I seen such overwhelming support for a legislative endeavor as I have seen for the designation of a national wildlife refuge in Cherry Valley. Designation of the National Wildlife Refuge had bipartisan support from elected officials, landowners and businesses. Moreover, a number of local landowners have already put their land into easements and other conservation arrangements to protect the area. Designation of the national wildlife refuge will therefore help to coordinate these efforts and provide federal support for conservation of this important habitat.
For fiscal year 2010, I am respectfully requesting $3.497 million in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge. It is my understanding that the requested funds will be used for easement of 406 acres within the designated area to begin implementation of the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
The second project I am requesting funding for in fiscal year 2010 is the Shawnee Valley Preservation Project. The Shawnee Valley is located next to the Delaware River and borders the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is the largest natural area in the entire National Park System between Virginia and Maine. The park is the tenth most visited area in the National Park System with almost 5 million recreational visits each year.
The recreation area encompasses over 67,000 acres of mountain ridge, forest, and floodplain on both sides of the Delaware River in the State of New Jersey and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The recreation area itself was created naturally along a break through the Appalachian Mountains where the Delaware River passes through. Due to its unique location, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area provides many breath-taking views of the natural landscape.
Unfortunately, commercial and residential development is in danger of blocking one of the park's most important views. The Delaware Water Gap park boundary is very narrow in the area of Mosier's Knob within the Shawnee Valley. A viewshed analysis was conducted by the park and it determined that development would be visible both day and night along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. In addition, residential or commercial development in the Mosier's Knob area has the potential to negatively impact the water and environmental resources within the national park. Storm water run-off and an increase in potential flooding could have devastating effects on the delicate natural resources within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
For fiscal year 2010, I am respectfully requesting $3 million in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for the Shawnee Valley Preservation Project. It is my understanding these funds will be used to acquire and protect land that if it were to be developed, would cause harm to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area and the surrounding community.
In closing, I would like to thank all Members of the Subcommittee for allowing me to appear before you today. I look forward to working with you as the House considers appropriations for fiscal year 2010.
This one is near and dear to my heart because I love to kayak the Delaware River. The Water Gap area is beautiful, pristine and a hugley popular spot for canoers and kayakers. Preserving this treasure enriches us all.
WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (D-PA) explained his requests of funding for the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project, the Scranton Flood Control Project, and the Bloomsburg Flood Control Project in his appropriations requests for the 2010 fiscal year, as he testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development.
"Past floods have caused significant property and emotional damages for residents throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania," said Congressman Kanjorski. "But, we can prevent such destruction from happening again. Since I was elected to Congress, I have worked to secure funding to complete multiple flood control projects throughout the area so that people living behind improved levees can sleep soundly when it rains. I strongly encourage the Appropriations Committee to include funding for these projects, as well as my other requests, in the upcoming bill."
Congressman Kanjorski took one and a half years off from his private law practice before his election to Congress to serve as volunteer counsel and advocate for victims of the Agnes flood of 1972. He has continuously and diligently worked to see these local flood control projects through for the benefit all Northeastern Pennsylvanians.
The text of Congressman Kanjorski's statement for the Congressional Record on the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project, the Scranton Flood Control Project, and the Bloomsburg Flood Control Project follows:
STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN PAUL E. KANJORSKI
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT
APRIL 22, 2009
__________________________
As the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development considers Members' fiscal year 2010 Appropriations requests, I want to take this opportunity to discuss several critical flood control projects in my Congressional District. I appreciate the opportunity to testify before the Subcommittee and I would like to thank each Member for their previous support of projects in my District. While I am only providing additional information on three projects, all of the requests that I have submitted have considerable merit and I urge you to give them full and fair consideration.
The first project I am requesting funding for in fiscal year 2010 is the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project. As you may know, the Susquehanna River is one of the most flood prone rivers in the country. In 1972, Hurricane Agnes caused massive flooding in the Susquehanna River devastating residents, homes and businesses in Northeastern Pennsylvania and causing over $1 billion in damages ($4 billion by today's standards). Over 25,000 homes and nearly 3,000 businesses were damaged or ruined and more than 60,000 residents were left without employment.
In response, when Congress passed the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, it authorized the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project. Over the past twenty years, I have worked to secure funding to complete this project.
Structurally speaking, the goal of this project is to protect 50 communities in 5 counties in a 60-mile stretch along the Susquehanna River from another Hurricane Agnes-level flood. The flood control system itself is actually four contiguous existing federal projects functioning as one large flood control system protecting the Wyoming Valley, including the City of Wilkes-Barre, which is one of the largest cities in my Congressional District. In total, the levees alone extend for approximately 15 miles. All told, the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project is one of the largest flood control projects in the country.
Furthermore, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently determined that Solomon Creek, a neighboring waterway in the City of Wilkes-Barre, is hydrologically linked to the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project. At my request, Solomon Creek was included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 and officially became part of the existing authorization. The addition of Solomon Creek has increased the overall project cost by more than $50 million.
From fiscal year 1995 to fiscal year 2005, the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project was included as a line item in the President's budget. Unfortunately, in 2006, the Bush Administration removed this project from the President's budget. The decision to remove this regionally important project from the President's budget has significantly slowed its progress. As a result, I have written to Office of Management and Budget Director Orszag requesting that this project be included in the President's fiscal year 2010 budget.
For fiscal year 2010, I am respectfully requesting $12.64 million for the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project in the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill. It is my understanding that the requested funds will be used for continued construction of concrete spillways and continuation of the necessary design work for flood protection at Solomon Creek. The existing authorization is sufficient to meet this request.
The second project I am requesting funding for is the Scranton Flood Control Project. The Lackawanna River runs through the City of Scranton, which is the most populous city in my Congressional District. The City of Scranton and its surrounding communities became part of my Congressional District in 2002 and the Scranton Flood Control Project was already underway. This project will provide 100-year flood protection for the areas hardest hit by flooding.
The city and its surrounding communities have experienced major flooding during almost every major rain event since 1942. The damage caused over the years has hampered economic development, discouraged businesses from locating to the area and caused the value of homes to drop significantly. A project valued at nearly $100 million to renovate a blighted former lace factory into apartment units, a healthcare facility and commercial businesses has been delayed by the lack of flood protection.
When I requested funding for this project in fiscal year 2009, it was my understanding that it would be completed by 2010. The new rules and regulations the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers adopted after Hurricane Katrina have increased the cost of the Scranton Flood Control Project significantly. The increase of Operational and Management easements and replacement of free board determinations with risk and uncertainty analyses have added millions of dollars to the overall project cost.
Hurricane Katrina was no doubt a devastating storm but from my perspective, applying a one-size-fits-all approach to flood control projects will only hurt residents seeking flood protection. If the new Corps rules and regulations are applied throughout the country, it will disproportionately impact small and rural communities. The City of Scranton is a financially distressed city and without additional support from the federal government to meet the new requirements, the city may never receive the flood protection it rightly deserves.
For fiscal year 2010, I am respectfully requesting $10.571 million in the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill for the Scranton Flood Control Project. It is my understanding that the requested funds will be used to complete general project construction and modify existing structures to meet new Corps rules and regulations. The existing authorization is sufficient to meet this request.
Finally, I am asking that the Subcommittee include funding for the Bloomsburg Flood Control Project. For over sixty years, the people of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, have been seeking assistance from the federal government to protect their homes from flooding. The Susquehanna River forms the southern boundary of the Town of Bloomsburg and is the most prominent drainage feature, draining an area of 10,576 square miles. Fishing Creek forms the northern and western boundaries of the Town and drains an area of 385 square miles. Because of its location against these two waterways, the Town of Bloomsburg, with a population of only 12,000 people, is subject to severe flooding from both the Susquehanna River as well as Fishing Creek.
More than 400 homes and 7 companies employing 1,200 people are affected by periodic flooding. Not only have recent floods caused millions of dollars in damage, but they have also curtailed future economic investment by the Town's two largest employers. Both companies have threatened to leave the area if flood protection is not provided in the foreseeable future. This project is strongly supported by the Town of Bloomsburg, the local businesses and homeowners, the Columbia County Commissioners, the local State Representative and State Senator and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
For fiscal year 2010, I am respectfully requesting $375,000 in the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill for the Bloomsburg Flood Control Project. It is my understanding that the funds would be used to initiate the design plans and specifications.
In closing, I would again like to thank each Member of the Subcommittee for their support of projects in my Congressional District. I look forward to working with the Subcommittee as the House considers appropriations for fiscal year 2010.
