Maryland

Van Hollen Secures Maryland Priorities in Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Package Passed by Senate Today | U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland

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July 28, 2022

As we speak, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the Senate passage of the Water Assets Growth Act of 2022 (S. 4136) together with key priorities he labored to safe within the laws for Maryland. The laws as a complete authorizes much-needed investments in our nation’s water infrastructure together with to assist clear consuming water and wholesome communities, enhance our surroundings, and strengthen our economic system. For Maryland, the invoice consists of key sources to make sure our transport channels and different waterways stay clear and accessible for navigation, assist native water infrastructure initiatives, and fund Chesapeake Bay watershed environmental restoration, amongst others.

“Investing in our water infrastructure – from protecting Maryland’s ports and waterways navigable to defending entry to wash water – is crucial to the well being of Maryland’s residents and economic system,” stated Senator Van Hollen. “This bipartisan package deal unlocks extra sources for Maryland to assist strengthen our provide chains, advance native consuming water and wastewater system enchancment efforts, and clear up the Chesapeake. I’ll proceed working to push this laws – and these vital wins for Maryland – throughout the end line.”

Senator Van Hollen fought to incorporate provisions inside this laws to:

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Require the Military Corps of Engineers to prioritize the dredging of shallower waterways. In complete, Maryland has 62 “shallow draft channels,” that are waterways no deeper than 16 toes that connect with a bay or ocean. As of January 2022, of the highest 16 precedence shallow draft channels in Maryland there are 10 that haven’t been dredged in over 10 years – six have been final dredged within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineties. Many of those channels serve small marinas in Southern Maryland and on the Jap Shore. Senator Van Hollen secured language requiring the Military Corps to develop new rating standards inside 180 days of the invoice’s enactment to make sure smaller waterways usually are not missed for dredging.

Enable the Military Corps to offer assist for non-federal initiatives within the Chesapeake Bay Basin states. This language expands the Military Corps’ potential to assist non-federal water infrastructure initiatives within the Chesapeake Bay basin states comparable to stabilizing eroding streambanks, wastewater remedy, and stormwater and drainage programs. By permitting the Military Corps to offer assist in these instances, native communities can modernize water infrastructure programs that present clear water to households and preserve air pollution out of the Bay watershed.

o   For instance, the City of Boonsboro in Washington County, MD has a leaking reservoir that if not repaired might trigger “a public well being disaster.” Increasing the Military Corps’ potential to help with venture like this may assist preserve water service for residents and guarantee public security.

Advance environmental justice by focusing sources on clear water and local weather resilience initiatives in underserved communities.Senator Van Hollen fought for provisions that give the Military Corps elevated capability to offer options to pervasive environmental injustices that plague the nation’s most susceptible communities. Particularly, the invoice authorizes the Military Corps to hold out initiatives for the safety and restoration of coastal shorelines and riverbanks at a decreased native price share of 10 p.c from 50 p.c for initiatives that profit economically deprived communities; and encourages the Corps to recruit new staff from underserved communities.

This laws additionally supplies for Maryland:

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  • $100,000,000 for water, wastewater, and different environmental infrastructure initiatives throughout the state. Native communities could have the chance to request these funds to assist varied water infrastructure wants vital to them.
  • Authorization of a feasibility examine for flood danger administration initiatives in Ellicott Metropolis and Howard County to make sure the Military Corps stays engaged in ongoing native efforts.
  • Language urging the expedited completion of flood danger administration initiatives in Cumberland, and rewatering for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.

Broadly, the Water Assets Growth Act of 2022:

Invests in our Nation’s Ports and Waterways. The Corps’ efforts to maintain transport channels navigable are important to our economic system. Over 99 p.c of U.S. abroad commerce quantity strikes by way of coastal channels that the Corps maintains. 

  • This invoice facilitates the well timed completion of much-needed enhancements to the nation’s inland waterways system by lowering the pressure on the Inland Waterways Belief Fund.
  • It addresses the harbor deepening and upkeep wants of commercially important ports, sustaining their competitiveness and supporting world provide chains.
  • The invoice additionally authorizes new avenues for the supply of help to underserved group harbors which are crucial to native and regional economies.

Improves Inland and Coastal Resilience and Restores Ecosystems.Excessive climate occasions trigger flooding that some communities are ill-prepared to resist. Corps initiatives assist mitigate the worst of those impacts. 

  • This laws allows crucial investments within the safety and restoration of shorelines and riverbanks from erosion and different damaging forces.
  • It authorizes the Corps to change shore safety initiatives throughout the efficiency of emergency restoration actions to extend resiliency.
  • It streamlines the implementation of shoreline safety and restoration initiatives to assist communities most susceptible to coastal storms. The invoice allows communities to companion with the Corps to develop water sources initiatives that immediately handle dangers of utmost climate.
  • The invoice helps the flexibility of states and localities to plan for, and reply to, water sources challenges.
  • The invoice authorizes the Corps to do important work to mitigate the affect of repetitive drought situations and preserve water provides.

 



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