Moran Secures $6 Million for NoVA

Washington, D.C., October 1, 2009– Congressman Jim Moran, Virginia Democrat, voted yesterday to boost job creation and provide real solutions to our energy and water quality needs. The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act [H.R.3183] builds on the investments in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to move the nation toward independence and rebuild our infrastructure – major tenets of the long-term economic plan that President Obama laid out and this Congress approved.

“This bill provides a blueprint for addressing the nation’s long term energy and water requirements through technological innovation, scientific research and environmental conservation,” said Moran “In addition to short-term boosts like Cash for Clunkers, we need to invest in longer term economic solutions. This legislation does both: creating jobs in the short term, and making smart, targeted investments for the future.”

The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act invests in new technologies that will create the next generation of vehicles with improved fuel efficiency, better and cleaner engines and better batteries. It also helps modernize our electric grid by investing in “smart grid” and cyber security technologies that will ensure efficient and reliable delivery of electricity to American homes and businesses.

The bill increases funds for weatherization grants to help struggling families improve their homes’ energy efficiency and save hundreds of dollars annually in electricity and heating costs. It also invests in the water infrastructure needs of our communities to improve water quality and spur economic development after years of neglect.

It also invests in our national security to ensure the safety and reliability of our nuclear weapons and to secure nuclear weapons and materials abroad. Once approved by the Senate, the bill will go on to the President’s office to be signed into law.

“Investing in the future means taking tangible steps to modify our energy consumption and conserve precious natural resources for the benefit of our children and grandchildren,” said Moran. “It means scrutinizing the budget line by line and cutting ineffective or wasteful programs to get this country back on track towards fiscal responsibility.”

Below is a list of local projects Congressman Moran secured for Northern Virginia:

Oyster Recovery: Chesapeake Bay – $2 million to continue the Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration program that includes construction and spat oyster seeding, planting of disease tolerant spat and brood-stock oysters in locations that best foster oyster reproduction and health. 

National Water Research Program – $2.5 million to support the work of the national WateReuse Foundation’s research program headquartered in Alexandria.  Funds are directed toward research on chemical and microbiological safety of reclaimed and recycled water and reduce costs and improve efficiency of desalination, disposal of brine concentrates and reducing carbon foot print.

Center for Advanced Separation Technologies (CAST): Virginia Tech – $500,000 to support the development of commercial scale Microcel fine coal separation technology to remove fine coal from impoundment ponds at mining and electric utility sites.  This highly successful technology requires the refinement of advanced de-watering technologies to achieve commercial scale deployment.

Four Mile Run: Restoration – $150,000 to complete the study on more recent stream data and calculate the correct channel flow requirements.  Completion of the study will enable the jurisdictions to move forward with plans to restore the historic natural infrastructure, creating habitat for bird species, restoring natural stream channels, and removing fish blockages.  The study is being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the authority of Section 216, P.L. 91-611. 

Middle Potomac River: Potomac Gorge – $585,000 for a watershed assessment in the 11,500-square-mile Middle Potomac River Watershed of Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.  The project will assess the impacts of current and projected future human activities and influences on the rivers’ hydrology – including water withdrawals, dam operations, changes in watershed land use and development, and projected climate change – to determine how they might be balanced and mitigated to prevent water use conflicts and ecological degradation of the Potomac River over the next 50 to 100 years.  The study is being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under existing Water Resources Development Act authorities.

Middle Potomac River: Cameron Run/Holmes Run Restoration – $291,000 to complete the initial phase of a water resources study.  The watershed faces many water related issues including degraded fish and wildlife habitat, streams affected both by increased sedimentation and past efforts to channelize the lower portion of the watershed, poor water quality and flooding.  The Corps expertise on flooding and environmental restoration will provide a forum to build consensus and ensure an appropriate and environmentally sensitive solution is achieved.  The study is being conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under existing Water Resources Development Act authorities. 

www.moran.house.gov

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