06.27.13

Murkowski Addresses Alaska Infrastructure Needs, Saves Money

Appropriations Efforts Reap Port, Waterpower and Road Support

WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Lisa Murkowski made sure that Alaska’s road, port and energy priorities were reflected in the FY2014 Energy and Water Appropriations bill – while working with her E&W Appropriations Subcommittee colleagues to make sure the measure is $1.96 billion below last year’s total – before it passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee today.  Additionally, in an effort to find an ‘offset’ for the expenses these projects represent, Murkowski found $20 million within the Budget Technologies Program.

“Alaska has more coastline to cover and more undeveloped terrain than any state in the union; where other states are renovating their infrastructure, we are often trying to complete roads, bridges and ports for the first time and receive the support the other states now take for granted,” said Murkowski. “This bill will also help our state get closer to reaching our energy development potential through hydropower innovations.”

A month after Senator Murkowski worked to see many of Alaska’s coastal and river projects were included in the Water Resource Development Act – including a groundbreaking arrangement to give the Army Corps of Engineers the ability to partner with non-federal public entities on deep draft ports – she made sure other energy and water work were supported.

Corps of Engineers Operations and Management Funding

(Dredging, construction work, engineering, dams, etc)

 

  • Anchorage Harbor (9.43M)
  • Chena River Lakes (2.921M)
  • Cook Inlet Shoals (6.188M)
  • Dillingham Harbor (1.08M)
  • Homer Harbor (487K)
  • Lowell Creek Tunnel (150K)
  • Ninilchik Harbor (400K)
  • Nome Harbor (1.244M)
  • Project Condition Surveys in AK (853K)
  • Small, Remote, and Subsistence Harbors nation-wide (30M)

Corps of Engineers General Investigations Funding: 

Also:

  • Department of Energy Water Power Program: $59 million for the Water Power Program -- $43.5 million for marine and hydrokinetic work; $15.5 million for conventional hydropower.
  • Department of Energy Consolidated Nuclear Waste Storage Pilot Program: Alloting resources for the Department of Energy to support the Nuclear Waste Fund for one or more consolidated storage sites for spent nuclear fuel and high level nuclear waste.
  • Denali Commission: $10 million for its infrastructure work statewide, and the completion of a personnel report by the Denali Commission and other Regional Commissions.

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