Thursday,
April 19, 2007
House Adopts Key Corps Of
Engineers Reform
Source: American Rivers
This planning manual, known as the Principles and Guidelines or P&G, has not been updated in almost 25 years and is woefully out of date. The current guidelines promote the destruction of storm-tempering wetlands, allow the Corps to build projects that encourage development in high risk areas, and fail to adequately address potential loss of life. They even allow the Corps to count economic benefits from draining wetlands. Calls for updating the P&G have come from the National Academy of Public Administration, National Academy of Sciences, and blue ribbon interagency panels.
Melissa Samet, Senior Director for Water Resources at American Rivers offered the following statement:
“The House has taken a critical step forward in adopting Congressman Blumenauer’s amendment. The Corps’ outdated guidelines lead to archaic, poorly planned projects that destroy rivers and wetlands, waste tax dollars, and fail to protect communities. As the nation saw in New Orleans, poorly planned projects can have devastating consequences.”
“We commend Congressmen Blumenauer, Welch and Petri, along with Chairman Oberstar for ensuring this important improvement to the bill today.”
“With both the House and Senate now pulling in the same direction, the Corps’ planning guidelines will finally be propelled into the 21st century. Communities, the environment, and the taxpayers will all benefit.”
“Finishing the job of modernizing the Corps now rests with the Senate, which is poised to take up its own version of the Water Resources Development Act. The Senate bill currently includes additional critical reforms, including requiring meaningful independent review of Corps project planning and dramatically improving the Corps’ mitigation practices.”
Melissa Samet is available for interview. Please contact either Garrett Russo (202) 423-9494 or Brad DeVries (202) 243-7023 for booking.
Contact:
Brad DeVries, American Rivers, (202) 243-7023