[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 141 (Tuesday, October 31, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY'S STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT

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                            HON. BOB FRANKS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 31, 2000

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding a 
matter of great importance to my district and the entire State of New 
Jersey. My home state is confronted with an array of complex challenges 
related to the environment and economic development. However, one issue 
in particular, the over development of land, had become especially 
concerning because of the impact it is having on our watersheds and 
floodplains, as well as its resulting impact on economic activity.
  As many of my colleagues already know, this past August vast parts of 
northern New Jersey were devastated by flooding caused by severe 
rainfall. The resulting natural disaster threatened countless homes, 
bridges and roads, not to mention the health, safety and welfare of 
area residents. The total figure for damages in Sussex and Morris 
Counties has been estimated at over $50 million, and area residents are 
still fighting to restore some degree of normalcy to their lives.
  While the threat of future floods continues to plague the region, one 
New Jersey institution is taking concrete steps to prevent another 
catastrophe. The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) has been 
studying the challenges posed by flooding and stormwater flows for some 
time, and is interested in forming a multi-agency federal partnership 
to continue this important research.
  NJIT is one of our state's premier research institutions and is 
uniquely equipped to carry out this critical stormwater research. The 
university has a long and distinguished tradition of responding to 
difficult public-policy challenges such as environmental emissions 
standards, aircraft noise, traffic congestion and alternative energy. 
More broadly, NJIT has demonstrated an institutional ability to direct 
its intellectual resources to the examination of problems beyond 
academia, and its commitment to research allows it to serve as a 
resource for unbiased technological information and analysis.
  An excellent opportunity for NJIT to partner with the federal 
government and solve the difficult problem of flood control has 
presented itself in the 2000 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). At 
my request, the final version of this important legislation includes a 
provision directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop and 
implement a stormwater flood control project in New Jersey and report 
back to Congress within three years on its progress. While the Corps of 
Engineers is familiar with this problem at the national level, it does 
not have the firsthand knowledge and experience in New Jersey that NJIT 
has accrued in its 119 years of service to the people of my district 
and state. Including NJIT's expertise and experience in this research 
effort is a logical step and would greatly benefit the Army Corps, as 
well as significantly improve the project's chances of success.
  Therefore, I urge the New York District of the Corps of Engineers to 
work closely with my office and NJIT to ensure the universities full 
participation in this study. By working together, we can create a nexus 
between the considerable flood control expertise of the Army Corps and 
NJIT, and finally solve this difficult problem for the people of New 
Jersey. I hope my colleagues will support my efforts in this regard.

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