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United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appro.

Energy and water development appropriations for 1997 : hearings before a subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourth Congress, second session (Volume Part 7)

. (page 1 of 108)
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT
APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1997



y 4.AP 6/1: EN 2/2/997/
PT.7

Energy and Hater Developnent Approp. . . NGS

BEFORE A

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED FOURTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION



SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT

JOHN T. MYERS, Indiana, Chairman

HAROLD ROGERS, Kentucky TOM BEVILL, Alabama

JOE KNOLLENBERG, Michigan VIC FAZIO, California

FRANK RIGGS, CaUfomia JIM CHAPMAN, Texas

RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN, New Jersey
JIM BUNN, Oregon

NOTE- Under Committee Rules, Mr. Livingston, as Chairman of the Full Committee, and Mr. Obey, as Ranking
Minority Member of the Full Committee, are authorized to sit as Members of all Subcommittees.

James D. Ogsbury, Bob Schmidt, Jeanne Wilson, and Donald M. McKinnon,
Staff Assistants



PART 7

(Pages 1-1281)

TESTIMONY OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND OTHER

INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS



I -.. ..




^^moRi



May 09



)mi\i



m



Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropri&Cilfe LlRf)At>t



ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT
APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1997



HEARINGS

BEFORE A

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED FOURTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION



SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT
JOHN T. MYERS, Indiana, Chairman

HAROLD ROGERS, Kentucky TOM BEVILL, Alabama

JOE KNOLLENBERG, Michigan VIC FAZIO, California

FRANK RIGGS, Cabfomia JIM CHAPMAN, Texas

RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN, New Jersey
JIM BUNN, Oregon

NOTE: Under Committee Rules. Mr. Livingston, as Chairman of the Full Committ^. -^ M. Otey. as Rankmg
Minority Member of the Full Committee, are authorized to sit as Members of all Subcommittees.

James D. Ogsbury, Bob Schmidt, Jeanne Wilson, and Donald M. McKinnon,
Staff Assistants



PART 7

(Pages 1-1281)

TESTIMONY OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND OTHER

INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS




Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
23_238 O WASHINGTON : 1996



For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office

Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office, Washington, DC 20402

ISBN 0-16-052508-X



COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
BOB LIVINGSTON, Louisiana, Chairman



JOSEPH M. McDADE, Pennsylvania

JOHN T. MYERS, Indiana

C. W. BILL YOUNG, Florida

RALPH REGULA, Ohio

JERRY LEWIS, California

JOHN EDWARD PORTER, Illinois

HAROLD ROGERS, Kentucky

JOE SKEEN, New Mexico

FRANK R. WOLF, Virginia

TOM Delay, Texas

JIM KOLBE. Arizona

BARBARA F. VUCANOVICH, Nevada

JIM LIGHTFOOT, Iowa

RON PACKARD, California

SONNY CALLAHAN, Alabama

JAMES T. WALSH, New York

CHARLES H. TAYLOR, North Carolina

DAVID L. HOBSON, Ohio

ERNEST J. ISTOOK, Jr., Oklahoma

HENRY BONILLA, Texas

JOE KNOLLENBERG, Michigan

DAN MILLER, Florida

JAY DICKEY, Arkansas

JACK KINGSTON, Georgia

FRANK RIGGS, California

MIKE PARKER, Mississippi

RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN, New Jersey

ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi

MICHAEL P. FORBES, New York

GEORGE R. NETHERCUTT, Jr., Washington

JIM BUNN, Oregon

MARK W. NEUMANN, Wisconsin



DAVID R. OBEY, Wisconsin

SIDNEY R. YATES, IlUnois

LOUIS STOKES, Ohio

TOM BEVILL, Alabama

JOHN P. MURTHA, Pennsylvania

CHARLES WILSON, Texas

NORMAN D. DICKS, Washington

MARTIN OLAV SABO, Minnesota

JULIAN C. DD(ON, California

VIC FAZIO, California

W. G. (BILL) HEFNER, North Carolina

STENY H. HOYER, Maryland

RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois

RONALD D. COLEMAN, Texas

ALAN B. MOLLOHAN, West Virginia

JIM CHAPMAN, Texas

MARCY KAPTUR, Ohio

DAVID E. SKAGGS, Colorado

NANCY PELOSI, CaUfornia

PETER J. VISCLOSKY, Indiana

THOMAS M. FOGLIETTA, Pennsylvania

ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES, California

NITA M. LOWEY, New York

RAY THORNTON, Arkansas

JOSE E. SERRANO, New York



James W. Dyer, Clerk and Staff Director



(II)



ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT
APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1997



TESTIMONY OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND OTHER
INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS ORGANIZATIONS



Tuesday, February 27, 1996.
ALABAMA PROJECTS

WITNESS

HON. EARL F. BILLIARD, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM
THE STATE OF ALABAMA

Mr. Myers. The committee will come to order.

This being the first day of the second session of the 104th Con-
gress, and it is most appropriate, I think, that we start with Ala-
bama in respect to our former Chairman and Ranking Member
now.

This will be the last session for Mr. Bevill, Mr. Chapman and
myself We have all decided to go out to pasture. Thirty years Tom
and I have been here. I think that is probably long enough we both
felt. The country is deserving of something, maybe some new ideas.

Of course, I always liked the old ideas, but nevertheless, we have
decided to do something about that, so we want to welcome the
Alabama delegation.

Mr. Chairman, if you will handle the hearing today.

Mr. Bevill. Well, thank you. After 14 months, I have forgotten
how to use this.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and you know, I always have to make
the point that as far as I am concerned this is the most important
day in Washington, Alabama day. I started this and I hope it will
continue, and I am sure it will. And you all are just a great group
to work with.

I appreciate every one of you. And I think back of what we have
accomplished in Alabama with your guidance and leadership that
you have furnished to these various projects, the Tennessee-
Tombigbee, which someone asked me, why is it we don't hear much
about it anymore? I said the reason is because it is doing so well.
Over 9 million tons, and it is just moving right along.

And, Don, I believe it is over 9 million this past year; wasn't it?
You just published a newsletter on that, and I read that, and the
thousands of jobs that it has created. And I remember the Corps
testified that it figured out about one new job every time one barge
loaded, 1,500 ton, and a barge load of coal went down the Tenn-

(1)



Tom. Usually, you see about four of them with one tug headed for
Mobile to ship overseas, which, of course, is the way we create jobs
is by exports and not by imports, as we know.

Then the Coosa Alabama and the Tri-Rivers Project and all these
that you all have just made, you have really made them work. And,
frankly, we would not be where we are and making the progress
with our navigable waterways in Alabama without you people who
have volunteered your time and your work and put so much into
making Alabama's waterways a very successful means of transpor-
tation and, of course, making us competitive in the international
market, which is very important, and the deepening of our Mobile
harbor.

I just think of all the things that we have accomplished here over
these years. As John says, the old system has worked pretty good.
So I appreciate every one of you and I hope that, and I know you
will, you will continue following through on keeping these projects
up-to-date and keeping them in top shape. Thank you for what you
have done and having given me the opportunity to work close with
you.

So now we will start off with the first one that has arrived. Well,
let us see. Earl was the first here, I understand, and here comes
number four, Mr. Browder.

I was just saying. Glen, as you come in, the Chair will recognize
you. So the Chair will recognize our good friend and colleague, who
is great to work with. Earl Hilliard.

And, Earl, you may proceed as you wish.

And we do this with all our delegations over the country, actu-
ally, let the Members testify, because each of them have their com-
mittees they need to be with and working with. So for that reason
we give them priority so they can go ahead and be working for Ala-
bama in other areas.

So, Earl, we will be glad to hear from you.

Mr. Milliard. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and all of
the esteemed Members of this subcommittee.

Let me begin by expressing my sincere admiration and apprecia-
tion of you, Mr. Chairman. You have done a tremendous job for the
State of Alabama and for this country, and we are very appre-
ciative of all the service you have given here in the House of Rep-
resentatives. You have always been extremely generous with your
time, you have always taken the time to introduce new Members
of Congress from the State of Alabama to the workings and the
inner-workings of Washington, D.C. and Capitol Hill, and I person-
ally thank you for what you have done for me, helping me find my
way around this place and helping me get my legislative agenda
through this Congress.

I hate to see you go. In fact, I hate to see all of you go. This com-
mittee is really going to miss you and miss your service to this
country; and especially you, Mr. Bevill, and your service to the
State of Alabama.



Mr. Chairman, today you will hear about several worthy projects
from the State of Alabama and their need for appropriations in the
coming year. One of my top priorities is to resolve the flooding
problem in Jefferson County around Village Creek, and I would
like to submit a couple of newspaper articles that highlight the
flood.

[Newspaper articles follows:]



way to Deaih of fathers affeitin?

Slate Page 4A tSje Amily Waehend Ramrt Page Cl

I dilif iBimxingham Mrtos Biriringham Post-Herald

ATI TRDAY



Water world



Torrential rain floods manv areas in Jefferson





Friday's heavy rains caused wrecks and traffic jams throughout Jefferson County, including
this two car crash on Interstate 20-59 Friday afternoon that resulted in at least one injury.



Flooding-



FfOiM Page lA

flc»i(|p(l diid pa'isengrrs arrived, ilc-
parliil anil |)i(kprt up haggagr on Ihe
iippir Ipvi-I No llighl?. weri- ran
(•I'icil or (IflaycJ bi-caiisp n( Ihe
we.illicr, airport offiriais saiil

Thi' «aler wasn I as high as in Or
liih>i when llnrriraiie Opals heavy
rains mean! ankle deep (loncling in
Ihe terminal building, but airport of-
(iiials had placed sandbags on the
sidewalks in frnnl of the ground
level enlranres At one |Miint the wa
ter had irepl over Ihe sidewalk ami
was about five feet away from the
doois

The water has (onie back up It
IS r. lining hard," Rirniingham Air
poll Aiithmity Spokeswoman Carol
Windham said at about 6 pni Fri
day "It is a temporary situa-
tion but as long as it rains hard
this fvriiiog it will slay lliat way ~

Ms Windh.im saiil niiiiiinghain
city officials and the airport author-
ity are woiking to alleviate Ihe air
p<Mt flooding The city alieaily has
bigiin rie.iiiiig out trees and hi iish
neai Village ireek. she said

Floiirling WIS ii|ioili'd llirouglioiit
J( (lerson ( oiinty in areas north to
Moins east to Tiussville and west



On Av.hiie V between 11th and
.Itli Slreels in the F.iisley I'lall t'lty
lea. cars crept thiough two to
Iter fell o( water, driving past a
oinpletely fh^iileil fielil .iilll houses
:here wjler was almost lapping
vei liaik del ks

Fighlern wheelers made the
rive through flooded aieas worse.

Illl..^l up lo Ihe windows of lour



Area roads closed by flooding


lliese [3iiiiiiMgliaoi and Jefleison


â–  lalUpiiusd bliei-l ,it liitnsi.itp


Couiily streets mid inteiseclinns


5M


wpip dosed diifinR rrulays flooding


â–  19III Sheet at Avenue 0. [iisley


and may lemnln unsafe tliis


â–  Erie Street from IGtli Street to


nioining


llie budge in Wyl.iin




â–  900 anil 1000 tiloi ks ol Avenue


Blrmlnghain


F. Eiislpy


â–  Avenues V thiough M at I2tli


â–  8600 lilock of Fust Court Noilli


Slieot. Pratt City

â–  Valley Greek at Coiintiy Glide


Jefferson County


â–  ncnnibon Avenue at Dcnnison


â–  I .ikel.inil Ti.iil at Queeiistown


Glide


Road. Inis'.ville


â–  1500 block ot Oennisoii Avenue


â–  Rinilldrd Trallurd Itoail at lluglies


â–  Bessemer Road at Lonib Avpi.ine


Sl.-itiori


â–  Airport Highway between 3lsl


â–  Shady Grove Road. Mount Olive


and 33id streets north


â–  Gheiry Avenue at nii.ssbuig


â–  2 ni. Street at Fifth Avenue


Road. Foiestdale


Nurtli


â–  New GastiP Road at CunniiiKliam


â–  1100 hlOLk of rive tvlile Road


Cieek


â–  Sliiillleswortli Dnve at 29tli


â–  Crosston Road .it fvli.rris M,i|eMic


Slreet Norlli.


R.iad


â–  ion block ot 16th Avenue West


â–  laylMd Road to IRtli Street in


â–  2800 bliKk ot 22nd Avenue


Oi-sseiiiPis Pipe Shop community


Ni.rlli


andlliHhlaniireiiiPleiyaiea



five people stranded In a house on


still not delivpieil l.v 6 p III If we


I2lh Street. Fire Chief Jim Meiison


could get the public not lo lUiw-


said Hoats weie dispatchi il to


Ihioiightlie water it would lielp "


flooded ShutUeswoith Drue at 27lli


Susan ['icketl.puldic relat sad


Slreet North, he said


miiuslialoi for the Itiiniingliam


I'eopti' need hi'lp getting out of


Aiea .h.ipter of the Ameiicau Red


theii houses," lleuson sairl 'We are


Cross, said one shelter was opened


assisting them in evaluating "


riid.iy at McAlpiue Paik and R.i-


The rains didn't stop many from


reatuiu Center at 1115 Ave I En


diiving fliKided loads like Avenue W


sley


wheie the water was foul to five


Three other sites - Fiisley I'aik


feet d.ep Uirniiiighain poliie at


and llecrealion Center, M.iiliii In


tempting to keep drivers frum tiav-


the. King Jr I'aik and Reiiejiion


eliiig the trearlieroiis streets hail to


Ccnt.r ami Hesseni.T ( ity Hall -


wait up lo four hours for barrirailes


were on standby. Ms I'ickell said


â–  Id heard them (police) say they'd


TheMcAlpineshellerhadlwows


ordered Ihem ItiairiudeM hut


ilnis al almul 5 p ni in, luding Ms


hndnt gotten them v'l." niimuig


DolM'rsiin llHlhof Die I'l.ill City re>^


ham police Ca(>t llollis ( lulihfield


id. Ills ll.ld IlLldc . 111. IllK.Ol. Ills III


s.od at)out ban 11 adcs ordei.d fi.r


si. IV »ilii Fuiiilv iiiiinlieis iiiilil Ihe


till' I'ralt ( ity .iiea .it 1 .111 pm . toil


w.llrl liirdcd



Nov. 28 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT P.L. 101-640

Sec. 102

estimated first Federal cost of $11,675,000 and an estimated first
non-Federal cost of 54,585,000.

(26) Petersburg, west Virginia —The project for Hood con-
trol, Petersburg, West Virginia: Report of the Chief of Engi-
neers, dated June 29. 1990, at a total cost of $17,904,000. with an
estimated first Federal cost of SIO.044,000 and an estimated first
non-Federal cost of .S7.860,000.

(b) Project Subject to Favorable Report of the Chief of
Engineers —The project for fiood control. Los Angeles County
Drainage Area. California, at a total cost of $327,000,000, with an
estimated first Federal cost of $163,500,000 and an estimated first
non-Federal cost of $163,500,000, is authorized to be prosecuted by
the Secretary in accordance with a final report of the Chief of
Engineers and with such modifications as are recommended by the
Secretary. No construction on the project may be initiated until
such a report of the Chief of Engineers is issued and approved by the
Secretary.

SEC. 102. PROJECT .MODIFICATIONS.

(a) Village Creek. Alabama.— The project for Hood control, Vil-
lage Creek. Alabama, authorized by section 401 of the Water Re-
sources Development .Act of 1986 ilOO Stat. 4111). is modified to
authorize the Secretary to acquire private vacant lands within the
definite project boundaries established in the Real Estate Design
Memorandum, dated March 4. 1988. as a nonstructural element of
the project.

lb) KoDiAK Harbor. Alaska.— The project for navigation. Kodiak
Harbor, Alaska, authorized by section 202(a) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 4091), is modified to authorize
the Secretary to construct the project at a total cost of $25,000,000,
with an estimated first Federal cost of $22,500,000 and an estimated
first non-Federal cost of $2,500,000.

(c) Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors, San Pedro Bay,
California. — Section 4(d) of the Water Resources Development Act
of 1988 (102 Stat. 4015; is amended by inserting after "approved by
the Secretary" in the first sentence the following: "or which is
carried out after approval of the final report by the Secretary and
which is determined by the Secretary to be compatible with the
project".

(d) Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel, California.— The
project for navigation, Sacramento Deep Water Ship Channel,
California, authorized by section 202(a) of the Water Resources
Development Act of 1986 (100 Stat. 4092), is modified to direct the
Secretary, if requested by a non-Federal sponsor, to enforce, on a
reimbursable basis, the terms of anv permit issued by the Secretarv
under section 10 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (30 Stat. 1151; 33 U.S.C.
403), commonly known as the Rivers and Harbors Appropriations
Act of 1899, to compel the relocation of any utility necessitated by
the construction of such project.

le) Santa Ana Mainstem, California.— The project for fiood
control, Santa .Ana Mainstem. including Santiago Creek, California,
authorized by section 4Gl(a) of the Water Resources Development
Act of 1986 ( 100 Stat. 4113), is modified to authorize the Secretary to
develop recreational trails and facilities on lands between Seven
Oaks Dam and Prado Dam. including fiood plain management
areas.



104 STAT. 4611



Nov. 17 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT P.L. 99-662

Sec. 401

SEC 302. INLAND WATERWAYS USERS BOARD. 33 USC 2251

(a) EsTABUSHMKNT OF UsERS BoARD.— There is hereby established
an Inland Waterway Users Board (hereinafter in this section re-
ferred to as the "Users Board") compxjsed of the eleven members
selected by the Secretary, one of whom shall be designated by the
Secretary as Chairman. The members shall be selected so as to
represent various regions of the country and a spectrum of the
primary users and shippers utilizing the inland and intracoastal
waterways for commercial purposes. Due consideration shall be
given to assure a balance among the members based on the ton-mile
shipments of the various categories of commodities shipped on
inland waterways. The Secretary of the Army shall designate, and
the Secretaries of Agriculture, Transportation, and Commerce may
each designate, a representative to act as an observer of the Users
Board.

(b) Duties.— The Users Board shall meet at least semi-annually to
develop and make recommendations to the Secretary regarding
construction and rehabilitation priorities and spendmg levels on the
commercial navigational features and components of the inland
waterways and inland harbors of the United States for the following
fiscal years. Any advice or recommendation made by the Users
Board to the Secretary shall reflect the independent judgment of the
Users Board. The Users Board shall, by December 31, 1987. and
annually thereafter file such recommendations with the Secretary
and with the Congress.

(c) Administration.— The Users Board shall be subject to the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (83 Stat. 770; 5 U.S.C. App.), other
than section 14, and, with the consent of the appropriate agency
head, the Users Board may use the facilities and services of any
Federal agency. Non-Federal members of the Users Board while
engaged in the performance of their duties away from their homes
or regular places of business, may be allowed travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of suteistence, as authorized by section
5703 of title 5, United States Code.

TITLE rv— FLOOD CONTROL

SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF PROJECTS. Studies

(a) Authorization of CoNSTRucmoN.— The following works of '^"*
improvement for the control of destructive floodwaters are adopted
and authorized to be prosecuted by the Secretary substantially in
accordance with the plans and subject to the conditions rec-
ommended in the respective reports designated in this subsection,
except as otherwise provided in this subsection:

VILLAGE CREEK, ALABAMA

The project for flood control, Village Creek, Jefferson County,
Alabama: Report of the Chief of Engineers, dated December 23,
1982, at a total cost of $31,600,000, with an estimated first Federal
cost of $23,600,000 and an estimated first non-Federal cost of
$8,000,000.

THREEMTLE CREEK. ALABAMA

The project for flood control. Threemile Creek, Mobile, Alabama:
Report of the Chief of Engineers, dated April 20, 1984, at a total cost

100 STAT. 4111



Januafv :3. 1996



^ VfrnoSfATF,



M



Today



16A



value or river/22A



Damage seen clearly now the rain is gone



It was a flood, a '"IZltT'l,,,,

river running right past ..<-"'?"».»'<

the front doors of the J^"" "" '""

airport. You had to see ''''''" * * '*

it — the parking deck aoon jna ^opu

was awash with d.'."«o '"""

water. »» „*ri's'S





NEWS STAFF PHOTO/BERNARD " C".

This chain link fence wasn't enough to hold back Village Creek, which rose above its banks
because of Friday's storm.



Damage.



From Page 13A

highways Friday.

"That's a lot for us." she said. "A
normal day we'll work less than 10."

There were no fatalities, and most
of the wrecks were minor, she said.

The driving problems continued
Saturday morning — particularly in
St. Clair County — as sub-freezing
temperatures turned standing water
to ice. she said. Again there were no
reported fatalities.

Although there were no apparent
weather-related injuries in Birming-
ham, two people were hurt in north
Mobile County on Friday when a tor-
nado struck their mobile home.

The mobile home flipped while
they were inside. Clara Pratt, 85.
was listed in serious condition Satur-
day at University of South Alabama
Medical Center. Clemie Frederick.
72. was treated and released, the As-
sociated Press reported.

In the Birmingham area, prob-
lems were limited to fender bend-
ers, water damage and inconve-



nience.

Katheryn Scalisi waited for hours
at the Birmingham Airport Friday
as her daughter and grandson at-
tempted to fly to New York. The two
boarded the plane at 2:15 p.m.. but
did not take flight until 4:20, she
said.

In the meantime, airport workers
sand-bagged lobby entrances and
told those parked on the first floor of
the parking deck to move their cars.

"It was a flood, a river nmning
right past the front doors of the air-
port.' she said. "You had to see it —
the parking deck was awash with
water "

No water made it into the airport
terminal, she said.

The Birmingham Area Chapter of
the American Red Cross on Satur-
day began damage assessment oper-
ations in flooded areas of Ensley.
Bessemer. Shelby County. Palmer-
dale and Tarrant. The Red Cross
later will open assistance centers
where volunteers will help people



affected by the flooding.

The section of the Cahaba Rivt
that runs near Cahaba Heig'nts -.va
expected to crest five feet above ::
flood stage early this morning, -.t
National Weather Service said". Th-
river was to crest at 19 feet, posing
threat to commercial proper".' _â– 
the area. The flood stage of the r;ve
is 14 feet, but property does not i'.oc:
until 18 feet, the weather ser.ic-
said.

The cold front responsible for :':.'.
rains swept across Alabama and ou'
the southeast comer of the stair
about daybreak Saturday Beninc
the front, skies quickly cleared as
colder and drier air poured in.

Today's weather is to be sunr.;.
and slightly warmer, with highs :r.
the mid 50s.

"We need some sun." Ensley ;
James Stewart said as he rakec
away debris. "We need some sun anc
some heat. "



10

Mr. Milliard. I don't know whether all of you are aware of this,
but I am sure Mr. Bevill is. In January we had a tremendous flood
and hundreds of commercial and residential properties were flood-
ed. Most importantly our international airport was flooded. I had
an extremely difficult time getting home. In fact, I could not go di-
rectly home. I had to wait in Atlanta for a couple of days in order
for airplanes to begin landing again in Birmingham. I am sure this
committee is familiar with the problem because in the past you
have directed the Corps of Engineers to address the matter.

I have again called on the Mobile office to assist us. However, it
is my understanding that the Corps of Engineers' authorization
may expire at the end of this fiscal year. Last month's flooding
demonstrates that more work and maintenance is needed; and,
therefore, I am requesting additional assistance from this sub-
committee.

I would be very happy if you would give expeditious consider-
ation because we have had some tremendous problems. This is the
third time we were flooded this year. I don't know whether it is be-
cause of the change in atmospheric pressure or whether it is be-
cause of the ozone levels, but I do know it is a problem that we



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