[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 106 (Wednesday, July 15, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN L. MICA

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 15, 2009

  Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership 
standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information 
regarding earmarks I received as part of the FY10 Energy and Water 
Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act Army Corps of 
Engineers, General Investigations Account Flagler Beach Shoreline 
Protection Project.
  I have received $233,000 in the FY10 Energy and Water Development and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The entity to receive funding for 
this project is Flagler County, 1769 East Moody Blvd, Bunnell, Fl 
32110. The FY 2010 funding will complete the feasibility study of the 
Flagler County shoreline which was begun with funding provided in FY 
2004.
  The shoreline of the City of Flagler Beach has experienced critical 
erosion that threatens State Road A1A, which serves as an emergency 
evacuation route. A1A was closed in Flagler Beach for the month of 
January, 2006 as the road was completely washed away due to erosion. 
The erosion also has caused a severe loss of public recreation 
opportunities and a degradation of environmental habitat. The beach is 
so narrow that the high tide line extends into the existing revetment, 
making it unsuitable as nesting habitat for sea turtles and almost 
unusable for recreational purposes. The City believes that restoration 
of the beach is a primary component of preserving safe passage along 
A1A while also providing public recreational opportunities and 
environmental habitat.
  Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Account, St. Johns Shoreline 
Protection Project.
  I have received $700,000 in the FY10 Energy and Water Development and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The entity to receive funding for 
this project is St. Johns County, 2740 Industry Center Road, St. 
Augustine, Fl 32084. Federal funding will allow the Army Corps of 
Engineers to complete the St. Johns feasibility study and proceed to 
preconstruction engineering and design. The study area will include all 
of St. Johns County, including the South Ponte Vedra Beach area.
  The shoreline of St. Johns has experienced significant erosion due to 
tropical storms and major hurricanes, particularly Hurricane Floyd of 
1999 and the Hurricanes of 2004. This project is currently authorized 
by the Water Resources Development Acts of 1986 and 1999, which seeks 
to lessen down drift shoreline impacts caused by the federal navigation 
channel at St. Augustine Inlet, and to provide strong damage protection 
to the shore. The Army Corps of Engineers will begin supplemental 
nourishment in 2010 due to the recent storm damages and the third 
Renourishment of the St. Augustine Beaches scheduled in 2010 will begin 
the design phase also this year. The approximately $700,000 dollar 
design and $15 million dollar construction project will require about 
$1.85 million from the County and $1.2 million from the State as a 
local match. This is a shore protection project with continuing 
Renourishment anticipated every five years. Federal assistance is 
necessary and in dire need to provide protection to the coastline.
  Department of Energy, Science Account Bethune-Cookman University STEM 
Research Lab.
  I have received $250,000 in the FY10 Energy and Water Development and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The entity to receive funding for 
this project is Bethune-Cookman, 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard, 
Daytona Beach, Fl 32114.
  Bethune-Cookman's School of Science, Engineering and Mathematics 
provides specialized training for students majoring in biology, 
chemistry, computer engineering, computer science, mathematics and 
physics. The School of Science, Engineering and Mathematics is housed 
in the Gross Science Hall which was built in 1948 and has not been 
renovated or upgraded since 1972. Much of the original classrooms, 
laboratories and equipment are still in use today. Federal funding will 
allow Bethune-Cookman to update and expand a 10,000 square foot wing of 
aging laboratories, classrooms and equipment in the Gross Science Hall. 
The upgrades are needed to accommodate the increasing numbers of 
students who are majoring in STEM fields at B-CU, provide these 
students with the educational benefits of up-to-date technology and 
modern equipment, and provide university students and faculty 
researchers with the technological capability to engage in research 
projects. The upgrades will include two ``clean'' labs, safe spaces for 
storage of chemicals, modern ventilation equipment, electronically 
enhanced lecture classrooms/theatres integrating computer, multimedia 
and network technology and ``ill'' feature technologies that help the 
environment and reduce energy costs.
  Army Corps of Engineers, O&M Account, Intracoastal Waterway, 
Jacksonville to Miami, Florida.
  Along with Representatives Crenshaw; Hastings; Klein; Kosmas; Meek; 
Ros-Lehtinen; Wasserman Schultz; and Wexler; I have received $4,500,000 
in the FY10 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act. The entity to receive funding for this project is 
the Florida Inland Navigation District, 1314 Marcinski Road, Jupiter, 
Fl 33477.
  The funds would be used to dredge the Intracoastal Waterway in two 
locations: Matanzas Inlet (St. Johns County) and in the vicinity of St. 
Augustine. In addition, funds will be used towards the 1) Restoration 
of Dredged Material Management Area in St. Johns County and 2) 
Construction of Dredged Material Management Area in Indian River 
County. Dredging the Intracoastal Waterway will allow for navigation of 
the channel by commercial and recreational vessels along the entire 
east coast of Florida. The project will restore protected freshwater 
wetlands. The Intracoastal Waterway in Florida annually transports over 
1.7 million tons of commercial cargo and over 500,000 recreational 
vessels; increases property values by up to $22.3 billion; and provides 
$16.2 billion in economic output that includes $4.8 billion in personal 
wages and 110,400 jobs. Studies have shown that these benefits would be 
reduced by over 50% if the waterway is not properly maintained.

                          ____________________