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Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendment

Date: Dec. 13, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Environment


FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT AMENDMENT -- (Extensions of Remarks - December 13, 2005)

* Ms. DELAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3963, to reauthorize the Long Island Sound Restoration Act through 2010.

* The Long Island Sound is a 16,000 square foot estuary that is home to 10 percent of the Nation's population. The Sound provides $6 billion to the Connecticut and New York economies through recreational activities, commercial boating and fishing, and trade. The New Haven, Bridgeport, and New London ports bring national and international trade to our region, and this valuable economic and environmental resource must be protected. Reauthorizing LISRA will enable us to do that.

* One of the greatest threats to the Long Island Sound is excessive nitrogen loading that causes hypoxia or low dissolved oxygen in the water that reduces the amount of healthy habitat necessary to support fish and shellfish. This is a problem that can be combated by upgrading sewage treatment plants to remove nitrogen from waste water, and Connecticut, New York, and the Environmental Protection Agency have committed to reducing nitrogen levels in the Sound by over 50 percent by 2014. This strong commitment, however, costs money, and cannot be accomplished without the reauthorization of LISRA.

* Through 2004, Connecticut received $7.8 million in federal funding to assist in nitrogen cleanup, and it expects to receive an additional $1.9 million for 2005. Connecticut has invested over $150 million of its own money to upgrade sewage treatment plants, and will continue to do so with the help of LISRA. Six communities in my district--Ansonia, Derby, Naugatuck, New Haven, Waterbury, and West Haven--have benefited from LISRA funding, but they cannot complete these much needed upgrades without federal help.

* Mr. Speaker, the Long Island Sound is a unique body of water--one of our most precious natural resources--and it must be protected. I urge the passage of this bill.

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