“I don’t get it,” said Rehberg, a member of the Subcommittee, in the hearing. “BOR claims the President’s budget focuses on water projects that maintain existing structures, restore current systems, and promote new water development.  However, though the St. Mary project qualifies for all three, the Administration is once again ignoring the issue.  It appears it’s going to take some different approaches to actually get results.”

Last year, Rehberg helped authorize $153 million in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) for the Army Corps of Engineers to rehabilitate and construct the St. Mary project though the project had formerly been directed by BOR.  Today, Commissioner Johnson confirmed that the BOR and Army Corps of Engineers have the authority and would be willing to work together to get the project finished.

          “BOR was dragging its feet on St. Mary,” added Rehberg.  “In response, Congress took the initiative and authorized funds in WRDA and effectively asked the Corps of Engineers to pick up BOR’s slack.  Now, BOR and the Corps need to put their heads together and come up with some solutions to move this project forward and I’m glad to see Commissioner Johnson appears willing to do so.”