ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS APPROVES SENATOR COLLINS’ REQUEST TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN SCARBOROUGH RIVER DREDGING PROJECT

WASHINGTON, DC—The Army Corps of Engineers has approved Senator Susan Collins' request to immediately begin a dredging project on the Scarborough River to address the deteriorating shoaling conditions that pose a hazard to fishermen and other vessels that enter and exit the river. While Senator Collins requested funds for the project in fiscal year 2005, the spending bill has been held up in Congress. Therefore, Senator Collins requested that funds be made immediately available for the project to begin as quickly as possible. Specifically, she requested that already existing funds be redirected to complete the important project.

In a letter to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works John Paul Woodley, Senator Collins explained that it is important to address this issue as quickly as possible. "Large amounts of sand at the mouth of the Scarborough River are making it difficult for fishermen to enter and exit the river. In addition, the diversion of water around the sand bars at the mouth of the river is contributing to dune erosion. Officials in the New England District of the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as state and local officials, have determined that the Scarborough River must be dredged…in order to maintain its function as a viable navigation channel," wrote Senator Collins.

She further wrote, "Given the importance of the Scarborough River as a federal navigation channel, I believe it is imperative that the Army Corps provide for the immediate dredging of this project."

In response to Senator Collins' request, the Army Corps of Engineers has said that it will begin the bidding process for work on the project by next week, with the actual work being done within the next two months.

Senator Collins is a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which oversees the Army Corps of Engineers.

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