[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 104 (Monday, July 13, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1741-E1742]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 13, 2009

  Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership 
standards, I am submitting the following information regarding projects 
I received funding for as part of H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water 
Development Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2010.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
  Bill Number: H.R. 3183
  Agency: Department of Energy
  Account: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: The City of Grand Rapids
  Address of Requesting Entity: 300 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 
49503
  Description of Request: This bill provides $250,000 for the City of 
Grand Rapids to purchase and install an estimated 400 solar panels on 
the roofs of several City buildings to demonstrate the benefits of 
onsite solar panels. This funding is a valuable use of taxpayer money 
because the panels will help reduce the city's energy consumption and 
dependency on the national grid by drawing from a localized energy 
source. Approximately three-quarters of the funding will be used to 
purchase the solar panels, and approximately one-quarter of the funding 
will be applied to the installation of the panels. This project is of 
national significance and a good use of taxpayer dollars because it 
will support local ``green'' jobs and promote more widespread 
commercial use of solar technology whose value is proven, but whose 
cost must become more competitive with conventional sources of energy.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
  Bill Number: H.R. 3183
  Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  Account: Construction
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  Address of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Engineer District, Chicago, 
111 North Canal Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606
  Description of Request: This bill provides $7,575,000 for the Chicago 
Sanitary and Ship Canal Dispersal Barrier. This funding is a valuable 
use of taxpayer money because, historically, the Great Lakes and the 
Mississippi River were separated naturally by a landmass. However, 
since the completion of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, aquatic 
species can move freely between the two water systems. A temporary 
dispersal barrier (Barrier I) has been operating for nearly 7 years, 
and construction of a permanent barrier (Barrier IIA) will be completed 
this year.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
  Bill Number: H.R. 3183
  Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  Account: Construction
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  Address of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Engineer District, Chicago, 
111 North Canal Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606
  Description of Request: This bill provides $3,200,000 for the Great 
Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration program. The Great Lakes 
sustain a nationally and internationally significant fishery that has 
been degraded by habitat losses, contamination, and invasive species. 
This funding is a valuable use of taxpayer money because under this 
program, the Corps will coordinate with other Federal, State, and local 
agencies and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to plan, implement, and 
evaluate projects supporting the restoration of the fishery, ecosystem, 
and beneficial uses of the Great Lakes. A range of aquatic habitat 
restoration projects can be done under this program including riparian 
habitat and wetland restoration, dam removal to reestablish free 
flowing tributaries, fish passages, and erosion and sedimentation 
control. This program is an important component of the Great Lakes 
Strategy developed by the U.S. Policy Committee in 2000 as well as the 
2005 Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers
  Bill Number: H.R. 3183
  Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  Account: Investigations
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  Address of Requesting Entity: U.S. Army Engineer District, Chicago, 
111 North Canal Street, Suite 600, Chicago, IL 60606
  Description of Request: This bill provides $4,000,000 for technical 
assistance to Remedial Action Plans (RAP) Committees. This funding is a 
valuable use of taxpayer money because, under the 1987 Great Lakes 
Water Quality Agreement, the United States and Canada agreed to develop 
remedial action plans for each of the 43 internationally recognized 
Areas of Concern (26 U.S. sites and 5 shared U.S. and Canadian sites). 
RAPs embody a comprehensive ecosystem approach to restoring and 
protecting beneficial uses and to identifying specific actions to 
resolve pollution problems. This Corps of Engineers program authorizes 
the Corps to provide technical support to states and local 
organizations in the development and implementation of RAPs.

[[Page E1742]]

The Corps' expertise in dredging and sediment management is valuable 
for the planning and designing of contaminated sediment cleanups. State 
and local agencies from 25 RAPs in Indiana (Grand Calumet River), Ohio 
(Black, Maumee and Cuyahoga Rivers), New York (Buffalo River, Eighteen 
Mile Creek, Rochester Embayment and St. Lawrence River), Michigan (Deer 
Lake, Torch Lake, Muskegon Lake and White Lake; River Raisin, Rouge, 
Saginaw, St. Marys, St. Clair, Detroit, and Clinton Rivers), Minnesota 
(St. Louis River), Wisconsin (Milwaukee Bay, Menominee, Sheboygan, and 
Fox Rivers), and Pennsylvania (Presque Isle Bay) have requested 
funding.

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