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Energy, water bill contains millions for Alaska

By Cordova Times Staff

Millions of dollars in appropriations for Alaska projects, including natural gas transportation, the Denali Commission and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers programs, are included in H.R. 2028, which passed in the U.S. House on May 1.

The legislation also would bar the Army Corps of Engineers from implementing its proposal to redefine the term "navigable waters" for the purpose of expanding which bodies of water are subject to Clean Water Act permit requirements.

H.R. 2028 now moves to the U.S. Senate, which has its own package of appropriations bills upcoming.

The fiscal year 2016 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, which passed 240-177, would provide $35.4 billion in fiscal year 2016 spending: $29 billion for the Department of Energy and $5.6 billion for the Corps of Engineers.

For Alaskan communities, said Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, the legislation represents much needed funding for continued operations and maintenance of the state's harbors and ports, many of which require constant dredging.

Of particular interest to Alaska, Young said, H.R. 2028 would restore funding for the now closed Office of the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects. The bill would appropriate $1 million for the office authorized by Congress to assist in permitting for a pipeline.

The bill would also bar funds from being used in several specific areas, including the Corps from implementing its proposal to redefine the term "navigable waters" to expand the list of waters subject to Clean Water Act permit requirements.

Funds could not be used for implementing the National Ocean Policy's coastal and marine spatial planning and ecosystem-based management, to enforce a ban on firearms on Corps land as long as passion of the firearm complies with state law, or to modify the definition of "fill material" or actions constituting "the discharge of fill material," said Young.

The bill includes appropriations of $10 million for the Denali Commission, $23.75 million for the Corps Continuing Authorities Program, which undertakes small localized projects without the lengthy study and authorization process typical of larger Corps projects.

Funding for 10 Corps operations and maintenance projects include Port of Anchorage, $11.9 million; Chena River Lakes, $3.6 million; Chignik Harbor, $400,000; Dillingham Harbor, $1.2 million; Homer Harbor, $462,000; Thomas Basin, Ketchikan, $334,000; Lowell Creek Tunnel, $2.29 million; Ninilchik Harbor, $345,000; Nome Harbor, $1.55 million, and Saint Paul Harbor, $4 million.

Also included is funding for four Corps studies: Craig Harbor, $535,000; Kotzebue Small Boat Harbor, $700,000; Perryville Harbor, $700,000, and Saint George Harbor improvement, $700,000.