[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E313-E314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 24, 2009

  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the 
Republican Leadership standards on member requests, I am submitting the 
following information for publication in the Congressional Record 
regarding requests I received as part of H.R. 1105, the Omnibus 
Appropriations Act of 2009.
  I received six projects in H.R. 1105. They include:
  $416,000 shared by FL, CA, and TX for the Florida Shellfish 
Aquaculture Project located at PO Box 89, Cedar Key, FL 32625. This 
request, funded through the Cooperative State Research Education and 
Extension Service, SRG account, will fund research needs for Florida's 
shellfish aquaculture industries. This project will address areas, such 
as genetics,

[[Page E314]]

product quality, health management, and species diversification, which 
warrant special attention in the years to come as well as immediate 
needs and concerns of the emergent clam farming industry, such as gear 
comparisons, specialization of harvesting equipment. This project will 
address these and other high priority needs by conducting applied 
multi-disciplinary research and demonstration projects involving 
partnerships with University of Florida researchers, extension faculty, 
and industry.
  $100,000 for the Levy County Sherriff's Office located at PO Drawer 
1719, Bronson, FL 32621. This request, funded through the Department of 
Justice, OJP Byrne Discretionary Grants account, will help the Levy 
County Multi-Jurisdictional Task Force facilitate illegal drug 
investigations in Levy County. The Levy County Multi-Jurisdictional 
Task Force was established due to ever increasing illegal drug 
activities in Levy County. Levy County is a rural farming community 
that covers approximately 1,137 square miles of land and 50 miles of 
coastline along the Gulf of Mexico. The drug related activities in this 
area have increased to the point that arrests have over doubled since 
the Task Force was established. Methamphetamine, Marijuana and Crack/
Cocaine are all drugs of choice within Levy County. In the last year 
alone, the Task Force conducted over 383 investigations that led to the 
apprehension of over 252 drug offenders, the seizure of 287.65 grams of 
powder or crack cocaine, 4.41 pounds of marijuana, 517 marijuana plants 
and 447.62 grams of other dangerous drugs.
  $400,000 for the Lake County Board of County Commissioners located at 
315 West Main St., P.O. Box 780, Tavares, FL 32778. This request, 
funded through the Department of Justice, COPS Law Enforcement 
Technology account, will be used for equipment and technology for the 
Emergency Operations Center in Lake County. Funding for this program 
will go towards an 800 Mhz radio system and for equipment and 
technology for the Emergency Operations Center of the County. An 800 
MHZ radio system will allow for the coordination of Lake County's 
police, fire, emergency medical services in emergency and disaster 
situations. The project would allow for portable radio communications 
across the county, which is currently not possible. Service will be 
provided to all county public agencies, 14 municipalities, 13 law 
enforcement agencies, 13 fire services, the County Emergency Medical 
Service, 5 Animal Service agencies and Emergency Management. 
Additionally, funding will allow for the acquisition of technology 
equipment for an Emergency Operations Center, so that emergency 
response and communication is improved through connectivity via 
computer systems, data system hardening and backup, satellite, video 
and teleconferencing, and remote incident command centers. Technology 
will enhance communication capabilities with links to various radio 
networks (ham operators) and call-center operations.
  $1,500,000 for the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge located at 
1502 S.E. Kings Bay Drive, Crystal River, FL 34429. This request, 
funded through the Fish and Wildlife Service, Land Acquisition account, 
will be used to acquire the Three Sisters Springs tract in Crystal 
River, Florida. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has an opportunity 
to acquire a 57 acre parcel known as Three Sisters Springs. This parcel 
would protect and enhance habitats used extensively by the federally 
endangered West Indian Manatee. Subject lands consist of 45 acres of 
uplands, 11 acres of wetlands (including and 8 acre fresh water lake 
filled by underground springs), and 1 acre of water bottoms (including 
three fresh water springs that are part of a system of approximately 30 
springs that feed the headwaters of the Crystal River). Each of the 
springs is designated by the State of Florida as 2nd Magnitude.
  $380,000 for the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners located 
at 110 N. Apopka Avenue, Inverness, FL 34450. This request, funded 
through the Transportation, Community and System Preservation account, 
will be used to eliminate water runoff from U.S. Highway 19. For this 
coastal area of the county, the watershed master plan was completed in 
2002. It identified an area of critical concern concerning water runoff 
from nearby development as well as U.S. Highway 19. The highway has 
been designated by the State for near term widening and does not 
include additional storm water catchments. This area, known as the 
Southfork area near Homosassa in Citrus County, drains into pristine 
wetlands. The county has recognized the need to capture and treat storm 
water runoff before it reaches these areas. The County, with matching 
funds from the regional water management district, has spent to date 
over $1,000,000 in acquiring land east of U.S. Highway 19 to act as a 
pre-catchment area. The County does not have sufficient funds to 
purchase the needed land west of U.S. Highway 19 and build the 
necessary structures for storm water treatment.
  $767,000 and $599,000 for the SubTropical Agricultural Research 
Station (STARS) located at 22271 Chinsegut Hill Road, Brooksville, FL 
34601. This request, funded through the Agricultural Research Service, 
Salaries and Expenses account, will be used for continued funding of 
the SubTropical Agricultural Research Station (Improved Cow-Beef 
Operations of Water Quality and Subtropical Beef Germplasm). The 
subtropical United States, including Florida, accounts for nearly 40 
percent of the nation's cow-calf herd. These funds will be used to 
conduct research to support the cattle industry of Florida and the 
southeast aimed at boosting efficiency, safety and environmental 
responsibility.

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