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Press Release: December 20, 2007

Congressman John W. Olver
1111 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2101

Tel: 202-225-5335
Fax: 202-226-1224

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OLVER ANNOUNCES FINAL CONGRESSIONAL CLEARANCE OF OVER $2 MILLION FOR UMASS - AMHERST PROJECTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman John W. Olver (D-1st District) announced today that the fiscal year 2008 omnibus appropriations bill approved by Congress last night includes in excess of $2 million in federal funding for several UMass - Amherst projects.

Congressman Olver is a member of the Appropriations Committee and worked to include the funding in the omnibus spending legislation. The omnibus represents 11 annual appropriations bills pulled together into one package. The bill will fund most of the federal government’s domestic activities in 2008.

The UMass projects and their included dollar amounts are:

$196,000 for Landscape Connectivity Study

This funding will be used to create maps and scenario-testing software, for use by Massachusetts state and local highway departments to mitigate environmental impact of new roads and help inform the design of new roads away from environmentally sensitive areas. Using the resulting data, UMass will partner with the Nature Conservancy to develop a comprehensive analysis of areas where connections must be protected or restored to support the Commonwealth’s biodiversity.

"We live in an interconnected world. It is critically important that we look at the complete picture to determine how our roads impact our environment," Congressman Olver said.

Loring Schwarz, Acting (MA) Sate Director of The Nature Conservancy added: "As our communities grow, it is essential to assess the impact of transportation infrastructure on the rivers, wetlands and forests that connect our natural areas. A landscape well-connected by ecologically friendly stream and road crossings benefits both people and wildlife. We are grateful to Congressman Olver for his leadership."

$1.968 million for the Integrated Sciences Building

This funding will go toward the construction of the Integrated Sciences Building (ISB). The ISB will provide UMass Amherst faculty and students with a state-of-the-art science facility where both instruction and research in the chemical and biological sciences can be conducted effectively. As such, the facility will contribute immensely to the institution’s mission of teaching and research. It will also enhance the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute, the research collaboration between the UMass Amherst and Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

"The expected benefits of the Integrated Science Building are immense," said Olver. "It will provide essential science education for undergraduates, enhancing the workforce of the state and region. In addition, the research conducted here will have a substantial impact on regional economic development in the area of biotechnology."

$196,800 for Renewable Energy Economy Expansion Project

Umass’ Political Economy Research Institute will use these funds to research and define policy options for a national infrastructure that dramatically decreases reliance on fossil fuels, through development of renewable energy sources and conservation initiatives, in such a way as to maximize employment levels and positively shift our trade imbalance.

$313,020 for Safe Seafood research

This funding will support the Safe Seafood Project at UMass. The Safe Seafood Project at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst combines food microbiology, chemistry and computer models into a research system that examines issues of seafood safety. Through this research, the project develops strategies for the detection, control and eradication of the hazards associated with fish consumption. Researchers are also collecting, analyzing and interpreting data currently being collected by the seafood industry pursuant to Food and Drug Administration regulations.

"UMass is a leader in innovative research and this research will help protect consumers and safeguard the seafood industry that is so important to the Massachusetts economy," Olver said. "By investing today, we could ultimately save money in inspection costs in the future."

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