Environmental Defense Applauds Smith's Army Corps Reform Bill

Contact: Scott Faber 202 387-3500

David Cherry 202 387-3500

Environmental Defense today applauded Senators Bob Smith (R-NH), John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) for introducing landmark legislation to reform the scandal-plagued U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The legislation would subject large Corps dams and levees to independent review and force local project boosters to contribute more to project construction funds. The bill would also force barge interests to share the cost of running waterways with little or no barge traffic. In addition, the bill would prioritize and reduce the Corps’ growing $52 billion backlog of authorized projects.

“Dozens of economically questionable and environmentally unacceptable Army Corps projects waste scarce funds that could instead be used to meet pressing water resource needs such as restoring the Everglades and other wetlands around the nation,” said Environmental Defense water resources specialist Scott Faber. “By subjecting projects to greater scrutiny and requiring local boosters to pay their fair share, the Smith-McCain-Feingold bill will clear the way for projects that make economic and environmental sense.”

Last year, the Army’s Inspector General concluded that the Corps exaggerated the benefits of longer locks on the Mississippi River, triggering calls for reform and leading to studies now being conducted by the National Academy of Sciences and the General Accounting Office. Since then, questionable Corps projects have received heightened scrutiny, including projects to deepen the Delaware and Columbia rivers and flood control projects slated for the Lower Mississippi River Valley.

“The destruction of habitat by levees, dams and channelization projects constructed by the Corps is a leading reason why freshwater species are vanishing five times faster than mammals and birds,” Faber said. “With so many freshwater species already in trouble, the Corps should not continue to destroy rivers and wetlands, especially in cases where there is little or no economic return.”