Washington, DC—Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which includes language submitted by U.S. Representative John Rose to authorize environmental infrastructure projects in Trousdale, Macon, and Sumner counties and the cities of Carthage and Portland. These projects will help these growing communities adapt their water infrastructure to meet the needs of increasing demand.
Congress has approved WRDA legislation every two years since 2014 to authorize water resources infrastructure projects carried out by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). This year, the bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives will include authorizations for a project to expand Trousdale County’s water lines to meet the increasing need for drinking water in surrounding counties like Sumner and Macon, a project to upgrade Carthage’s water and sewer lines, some of which are more than seventy years old, and a project to upgrade Portland’s existing PVC pipe with 12” ductile iron, as well as installing a new 12” ductile pipe in conjunction with other ongoing water projects in Portland.
More information on WRDA can be found on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s website here including the full text of the bill.
U.S. Representative John Rose released the following statement:
“Authorizing these projects ensures that our growing communities in Middle Tennessee have the infrastructure in place to continue to thrive. Coordination between our local communities, elected officials, and the federal government is what made this possible. I am extremely proud to shepherd these projects through the House and am hopeful that the bill will pass the Senate and be signed into law soon.”
Background:
The Water Resources Development Act assists communities with problems associated with water supply and distribution, wastewater collections and treatment, surface water protection, as well as environmental restoration. Aging infrastructure, in some cases dating back to the early twentieth century, is failing or is at risk of failure and is hindering the continued development of the Tennessee & Cumberland River basins.
The Nashville District has been working within the Tennessee & Cumberland River basins for several years, listening to the issues facing communities from water supply to failing sewer systems. The Corps has also worked with communities as the requirements of the Clean Water Act Tiers II & III take effect on issues such as mandates to separate sanitary sewers from stormwater and non-point sources of pollution. Smaller communities throughout the south are looking for assistance (both expertise and funding) with these technical issues.
The Corps of Engineers has existing authorities to address various Environmental Infrastructure issues. The Corps can provide technical, planning, and design assistance to communities looking for organization, prioritization, and cost estimating assistance and construction. After authorization, Environmental Infrastructure projects are still subject to the appropriations process before being funded.
Non-Federal sponsors are responsible for 25% of the project cost. The Federal government will pay for the other 75% up to the Federal per-project limit.
Environmental Infrastructure projects are authorized for specific municipalities. Various authorities and subsequent amendments have included many of the communities within the Nashville District. Communities not currently included in the environmental infrastructure authorization would need to be specifically authorized.
U.S. Representative John Rose is currently serving his second term representing Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District and resides in Cookeville with his wife, Chelsea, and their two sons, Guy and Sam. The Sixth District includes Cannon, Clay, Coffee, Cumberland, DeKalb, Fentress, Jackson, Macon, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, White, and Wilson counties as well as portions of Cheatham and Van Buren counties. Representative Rose is an eighth-generation farmer, small business owner, and attorney, and currently serves on the House Financial Services Committee.
Original source can be found here.
