Letter to Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Chair of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee and Rep. Mike Simpson, Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee - Napolitano & Sánchez Request Over $100 Million for Dam Safety Projects, Including Whittier Narrows

Letter

Dear Chairwoman Kaptur and Ranking Member Simpson:

We write to respectfully request that the Committee provide the FY2019 enacted level of $100,405,000 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Account, Dam Safety and Seepage/Stability Correction Program. This Program makes critical repairs to Army Corps dams in order to provide much needed flood protection to protect human life, economic prosperity and our natural resources.

Projects such as the Whittier Narrows Dam, CA, which has been recognized as one of the most critical dam safety projects in the nation, could compete for funding in this account. Whittier Narrows Dam was downgraded to Dam Safety Action Classification-1 (DSAC-1) due to recently identified flood risk concerns and the large population of downstream residents. The human and economic impact of possible dam failure due to potential seepage and hydrologic issues is unacceptable. The Corps has completed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Modification Study and is ready to start design and construction.

We thank you for your commitment in FY2019 to the Dam Safety and Seepage/Stability Correction Program and we ask that you provide the same level of funding in FY2020. Thank you for your consideration of our request.

Sincerely,