05.02.16

Sullivan Secures Victories for Alaska’s Water Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) thanked members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for approving the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA), which includes several key provisions vital to Alaska’s water and infrastructure future, and encourages the development of a future deep-water Arctic port. 

Under a provision secured by Senator Sullivan in WRDA 2016, a new water infrastructure grant program for small and disadvantaged communities is authorized at $230 million for fiscal year 2017, and $300 million for fiscal years 2018 through 2021, for a total of $1.4 billion over five years. There are still dozens of communities in Alaska without running water or wastewater treatment facilities. 

“Our nation’s outdated and crumbling water and wastewater infrastructure is a huge concern for communities all across our country,” said Senator Sullivan. “For Alaska, investment in such infrastructure is crucial. More than 3,300 rural Alaska homes lack running water and a flush toilet, which leads to serious health issues. This is unacceptable. One of my top priorities has been to ensure that the federal government realizes its responsibilities to provide basic infrastructure for its citizens. That’s what this bill does, and I’m grateful that my colleagues on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee agree.” 

"On behalf of AFN, I want to thank Senator Sullivan for his efforts to support safe water in our villages and in other communities in our country like Flint,” said Julie Kitka, president of the Alaska Federation of Natives. “We are glad that the citizens of Flint are getting federal resources to help in that terrible situation. We are also very grateful Senator Sullivan listened to our concerns and acted quickly."

Additionally, WRDA 2016 includes the following priorities for Alaska:  

  • Arctic Deep?Draft Port: The bill instructs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in carrying out the study of the feasibility of the Arctic deep draft port, to consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense to identify national security benefits associated with an Arctic deep draft port and use that as a basis for determining feasibility. Last year, the Army Corps paused the feasibility study of an Arctic deep draft port due to the economic loss of Shell’s withdrawal from the Chukchi Sea. This provision encourages the Army Corps to justify an Arctic port based on metrics beyond economics.  
  • Construction authorization for Little Diomede Harbor. 
  • Construction authorization for Craig Harbor.
  • Authorizes the Army Corps to maintain harbors of refuge, which benefit communities such as Elfin Cove, which has experienced shoaling in its entrance channels presenting challenges to safe navigation. 
  • Removes federal interests in a portion of land adjacent to Valdez Harbor, allowing local development of this property. 
  • Extends the Army Corps’ responsibility for operations and maintenance for the Lowell Creek Flood Diversion System in Seward. 
  • Allows regional benefits to be taken into account when justifying the feasibility of small, remote, subsistence harbor projects.
  • Extends the 10% set aside from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for emerging harbors through 2025. Emerging harbors are those transiting less than one million tons of cargo annually. 
  • Allows Alaska Native Corporations to develop water infrastructure projects as non-federal sponsors.

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