FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 20, 2013
GOV. SCOTT ANNOUNCES $40 MILLION COMMITMENT TO SPEED UP CRITICAL WATER TREATMENT PROJECT
~Calls on Federal Government to Fund $1.6 Billion in Owed Projects~
MARTIN
COUNTY –
Today, Governor Rick Scott, along with several members of the Florida
Legislature, announced a $40 million commitment to speed up completion of the
C-44 Storm Water Treatment Area project, which will cut the project time in
half. The project will clean diverted water from Lake Okeechobee and storm
water runoff year-round. The Governor also called on the federal government to
meet its obligations in maintaining the federally operated Lake Okeechobee dike
system and fulfilling its cost-share obligations to the State of Florida for
environmental projects. To view the Governor’s letter to the Army Corps of
Engineers click HERE.
Governor
Scott said, “We’re here because the Corps is not maintaining the Lake
Okeechobee dike system and they’re not fulfilling their financial commitment to
Florida. Florida families are paying the price for federal inaction.
Despite federal inaction, we are speeding up solutions because Florida’s
families and the environment can’t wait any longer.
“We
need federal action immediately, but Florida will not stand by and do nothing
while we wait on Washington. Today, I’m announcing a $40 million commitment to
fully fund the C-44 Storm Water Treatment Area project, which will divert
harmful water away from the St. Lucie River and clean it. I will include this
$40 million in my upcoming fiscal year budget request. This $40 million
investment in the C-44 STA project will reduce the time needed to complete this
project by half.”
The
Governor made the announcement during a tour of the S-80 Control Structure
where he was joined by Senator Joe Negron, Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto,
Representative Gayle Harrell, Representative MaryLynn Magar, Army Corps of
Engineers Colonel Alan Dodd, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary
Herschel Vinyard, Ernie Barnett of the South Florida Water Management District
(SFWMD) and a number of local elected officials.
Senator
Joe Negron said “I want to thank Governor Rick Scott for his commitment to
families in the region. Each and every step we take in cleaning polluted water
and keeping it out of our estuaries is another positive step forward for
families that rely on our area’s natural treasurers for their livelihoods. I
look forward to working with the Governor as well as my colleagues in the
Legislature to deliver on this $40 million commitment.”
During
the tour, Governor Scott called on the federal government to get engaged and
honor their responsibilities to South Florida. While the State of Florida has
invested $2.5 billion in South Florida environmental projects, the federal
government, which agreed to a 50-50 cost share, is approximately $1.6 billion
behind in funding for projects. Moreover, Congress has yet to authorize critical
projects for construction that would help mitigate damage to the region,
including the C-43 reservoir project which would store water on the Westside of
Lake Okeechobee until it could be incrementally released back into the
Caloosahatchee River and Florida’s estuaries to avoid additional
impacts.
Senator
Lizbeth Benacquisto said, “I want to applaud Governor Scott for his leadership
in fighting for families in the area. This $40 million commitment is a good
step forward toward improving the St. Lucie River and a model I hope we can
replicate as we work to tackle these same ecological impacts to help restore
the Caloosahatchee.”
Representative
Gayle Harrell said, “The Governor’s $40 million commitment to this storm water
treatment project means we’ll end delays and get this project completed on a
much more reasonable timeline. This endeavor requires the focus and investments
of our leaders, and the Governor has demonstrated his commitment to families in
the region with these dollars. Had we waited for the federal government to make
good on their promises, this project may have taken a lot longer.”
Representative
MaryLynn Magar said, “I want to thank Governor Scott and the South Florida
Water Management District for their efforts in restoring area waterways. The
state has done a good job in making important investments in projects that
mitigate damage to our waterways, but because we lack of a good federal
partner, we have to do that much more in revitalizing our waterways. The
Governor’s $40 million commitment to the storm water treatment area project is
an example of what’s right in government.”
Representative
Debbie Mayfield said, “Too many families are feeling the effects of the Corps’
decision to dump bad water into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers – and I
applaud the Governor for taking positive steps to support the region. This $40
million in funding will be used to clean water year-round, which is critical to
restoring the region’s environment and supporting the economy.”
Additional
Measures
Governor
Scott said, “We are also taking action right now. The South Florida Water
Management District took prudent measures by entering into emergency contracts
to store water on state and private lands to reduce impacts on the St. Lucie
and Caloosahatchee rivers.”
Just
last week, the SFWMD Board voted to move forward with a suite of projects
outlined in the Central Everglades Planning Project to help provide a lasting
solution to this problem. Now the State is waiting on the Corps and Congress to
provide final approval. Within a month the SFWMD will enter into the first
contract for the design of the C-44 STA.
Additionally,
this year Governor Rick Scott signed into
law HB 7065, which provides $32 million, annually, in state funding for the
Governor’s $880 million long-term Everglades water quality restoration plan.
The $32 million annual appropriation is an historic step forward in restoring
America’s Everglades by improving water quality and water flow. This set of
projects will ensure that water flowing into the Everglades meets the state’s
stringent water quality standards.
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