[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 110 (Friday, July 30, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1708-E1709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                            Tuesday 27, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2605) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, and for other 
     purposes.

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 2605, the FY 2000 
Energy and Water Appropriations Act. This $20 billion bill provides 
crucial funding to operate the Department of Energy ($15 billion), 
which includes funding for renewable energy research; the Bureau of 
Reclamation ($784 million); and the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) 
($4.2 billion), which builds flood control projects, including $999,000 
to build dune systems and horseshoe crab habitat along Delaware's 
fragile coastline. The ACOE is also responsible for keeping navigation 
channels clear, including the Delaware River channel. H.R. 2605 fully 
funds President Clinton's budget request for $16.5 million to deepen 
the Delaware River shipping channel from 40 feet to 45 feet--a project 
Congress approved in 1992. This funding compliments bipartisan support 
for $2 million for this project in Delaware's 1999 bond bill and other 
funding assistance from New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
  I have spent a considerable amount of time researching this project 
over the last year after concerns about its environmental impacts were 
brought to my attention. I have reserved judgment on this project until 
I was satisfied that these concerns had been addressed. I would like to 
take this opportunity to share with this body some of the conclusions 
from my research and advocate a course of action for how this project 
should proceed.
  One of the primary environmental issues that have been raised about 
the project is the impact of the project on water quality standards. 
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control 
(DNREC) analyzed ACOE's soil samples and discovered higher 
concentrations of heavy metals, which I term ``hot spots,'' at two 
bends in the river. One is located at the confluence of the Schuylkill 
and Delaware Rivers and will not be dredged as part of the project. The 
second spot is located north of Pea Patch Island. DNREC calculates that 
if this spot is

[[Page E1709]]

dredged properly, water quality standards will not be violated. DNREC 
and ACOE are coordinating to make sure this spot is properly dredged 
and disposed at the Killcohook site, where it will be confined and 
monitored.
  I have also raised concerns about the potential impacts of this 
project on the rate of erosion at Pea Patch Island, which threatens the 
structural soundness of one of Delaware's historic jewels--Fort 
Delaware. I have been a strong advocate of providing federal funds to 
repair the seawall protecting the island. In FY 1999, Congress provided 
$750,000 toward the repairs, and the ACOE has assured me the repairs 
will be made prior to the Delaware River Deepening Project.
  It is worth noting that ACOE is not alone in its determination that 
this project will have no significant impacts on the environment. The 
state environmental agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency, and 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have examined the record and 
independent reports others have produced and they concur with ACOE's 
conclusion. Combined together, these agencies, which have the proper 
expertise and authority to evaluate the impacts, present a compelling 
case. Therefore, I would find it difficult to disagree with their 
conclusion. Should DNREC or another agency determine that Delaware 
would suffer unjustifiable environmental impacts, I would be pleased to 
reexamine this issue.
  Finally, the ACOE figures underestimate the benefits to Delaware and 
the region, because ACOE's regulations prohibit them from taking into 
account business that ports along the Delaware River may take from 
other ports in the country. In fact, the Port of Wilmington is taking 
steps to compete for more business through its recent proposal to move 
its berth from the Christina River to the Delaware River. Even without 
this move, ACOE estimates that Delaware will gain over 300 jobs and 
$3.4 million in annual tax revenue. Other benefits to Delaware include 
$78 million in clean sand material that will be used for creation of 
wetlands at Kelly Island and Port Mahon. Furthermore, sand deposits 
placed along Delaware Bay beaches, such as Broadkill will provide storm 
damage protection against potential annual damages of $1.6 million each 
year. All these benefits are attributed to Delaware and Delaware's 
share of the cost is only $7 to $10 million. With estimated tax revenue 
increases from the project of $3.4 million a year, Delaware should 
recoup its cost in less than three years.
  I have given the Delaware River Deepening Project close scrutiny. 
Given the conservative reputation of the ACOE's economic figures, the 
overwhelming benefits of the project both to the region and to 
Delaware, the progress in protecting Pea Patch Island, the special 
attention being given to proper dredging and disposal of the ``hot 
spot,'' and the overwhelming conformity of opinion by the appropriate 
environmental agencies, I am satisfied that the economic and 
environmental justification is strong enough to move forward with 
funding the project in FY 2000. I also believe Delawareans should be 
given a strong voice in the future implementation of this project, 
particularly with the design and construction of the dredge disposal 
sites. Therefore, I am prepared to contact ACOE and the Environmental 
Protection Agency to encourage them to accommodate more public input 
into the process.
  Mr. Speaker, ACOE and the Environmental Protection Agency have 
expressed a willingness to work closer with citizen groups in actively 
informing them about the progress of the Delaware River Deepening 
Project to prevent misunderstandings. Although all the interested 
parties will not always agree on the correct course of action, each one 
plays a role that is essential to our democratic process and produces a 
better product in the end.
  As with all long-term government projects, the Delaware River 
Deepening Project must be monitored to maintain cost controls and 
compliance with environmental safeguards. I look forward to working 
with the House Transportation and Appropriations Committees in their 
oversight of this project.

                          ____________________