[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 1, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2857-E2858]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 1, 2009

  Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the Republican Leadership 
standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information 
regarding earmarks I received as part of the Interior Appropriations 
Act, 2010, H.R. 2996.
  Congressman Rodney Alexander
  H.R. 2996
  STAG
  City of Monroe, Louisiana
  Monroe Wastewater Treatment System--$500,000. Portions of the 
wastewater collection system were constructed in the 1920s and

[[Page E2858]]

1930s and are in severe state of deterioration. Even with maintenance, 
breaks have developed along the pipeline and in manholes. These breaks 
allow excess rainwater and groundwater to enter the collection system 
adding extreme pressure to an overtaxed system resulting in Sanitary 
Sewer Overflows, SSOs, which are violations of the Clean Water Act. The 
City has entered into a Consent Decree with the Environmental 
Protection Agency, EPA, that requires the City to pay a fine of 
$235,000 and implement of a costly sewer rehabilitation program to 
eliminate SSOs within 11.5 years. The cost of this program is estimated 
to cost over $150 million. To date the City of Monroe has spent $110 
million toward this goal, implementing many of the projects needed to 
upgrade its wastewater treatment system as mandated by the Consent 
Decree. This effort has put a severe financial strain on the City's 
resources limiting chances to fuel economic growth in areas of the 
City. Funding assistance from the federal government is imperative if 
the City is to meet the remaining requirements of the EPA Consent 
Decree, in particular, rehabilitation and general I/I abatement work, 
SSO corrective action.

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