News from May 2023
USACE seeks comments on proposed work in Lighthouse Pond in Edgartown
By Interior Newswire Report | May 6, 2023
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District received a permit application to conduct work in waters of the United States from the Town of Edgartown for proposed work in Lighthouse Pond near North Water Street in Edgartown, Mass.
USACE announces virtual BBSEER Project Delivery Team Meeting May 18
By Interior Newswire Report | May 6, 2023
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District invites Project Delivery Team members, stakeholders, partners, and members of the public to attend a virtual Project Delivery Team (PDT) Meeting for the Biscayne Bay and Southeastern Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (BBSEER) Project study on Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 1 to 4 p.m.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to increase activity on Jana Elementary property
By Interior Newswire Report | May 6, 2023
The public will start to see an increase in activity on Jana Elementary School property in the next few weeks as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) St. Louis District prepares to start remediation work in the banks of Coldwater Creek under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP).
Fort Peck releases to decline during maintenance
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
Releases from Fort Peck Dam will be reduced from 9,000 cubic feet per second to 6,000 cfs on May 22. Releases will be increased back to 9,000 cfs on June 2. If the maintenance work is completed early, releases will return to 9,000 cfs as soon as possible.
Ribbon cutting planned for Clover Island Improvement Project
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
The Community is invited on Friday, May 12, to join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District, and its partners, the Port of Kennewick, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, City of Kennewick, Benton County, and Washington State Recreation & Conservation Office in celebrating the completion of the Clover Island Improvement Project. Festivities include a ribbon cutting, a public reception at the lighthouse plaza and scenic overlooks. Participants should RSVP to the port office.
Percy Priest superheroes tool around for recreation
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
A team of superheroes at J. Percy Priest Lake are known for tooling around campgrounds and recreation areas while repairing and maintaining facilities, often saving the day by unclogging a restroom sink, fixing a leaky water line, or restoring power at a campsite.
LA District enters 50-year shoreline protection agreement with City of San Clemente
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District commander joined U.S. Rep. Mike Levin and San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan to sign a ceremonial project partnership agreement May 4 to protect the San Clemente shoreline.
Temporary road closure at Canyon Ferry Dam to help facilitate required maintenance and repairs
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
The Bureau of Reclamation will close access to all traffic across Canyon Ferry Dam on Montana State Highway 284, May 8-11, from 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. The temporary road closure will allow Reclamation to safely conduct operations necessary to complete project work on the dam infrastructure.
Biden-Harris Administration breaks ground on Boone Reach trunk line of Arkansas Valley Conduit
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
The Bureau of Reclamation today broke ground on the Boone Reach trunk line of the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC), a major infrastructure project under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda that will bring clean, reliable drinking water to 39 communities in southeastern Colorado.
Biden-Harris administration to replace Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Treatment Plant
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
The Bureau of Reclamation announces a $56 million investment from the President’s Investing in America agenda for the construction of a replacement Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Treatment Plant. Originally built in 1991, the plant removes heavy metals from contaminated water caused by mining operations in the Leadville area. It has since reached its service life, and this investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will ensure the plant continues to protect water supply.
Reclamation continually monitoring Hyrum Dam spillway; ready to take action if needed
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
Because of record snowpack and projected record high runoff into Hyrum Reservoir, the Bureau of Reclamation is conducting around-the-clock monitoring of the spillway at Hyrum Dam, as operators are releasing a high volume of water through the spillway to help manage the reservoir’s water level as warm temperatures have significantly increased snowmelt and runoff into the reservoir.
Reclamation releases Yakima basin May water supply forecast
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
The Bureau of Reclamation’s May 2023 water supply forecast for the Yakima basin indicates the water supply will be adequate to meet irrigation demands this season. The May–September total water supply available would provide senior water rights 100% of entitlements and junior water rights 86% of entitlements, an increase from last month.
Streamflow in Big Thompson Canyon expected to be above average in spring, early summer
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
The Bureau of Reclamation anticipates allowing the majority of Big Thompson River water to pass through Lake Estes this spring and early summer, resulting in higher-than-average streamflows in the Big Thompson Canyon during the 2023 snowmelt season.
Reclamation reopens Angels Creek Launch at New Melones Lake
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
The Bureau of Reclamation has scheduled the reopening of Angels Creek Launch in New Melones Lake’s Glory Hole Recreation Area on Saturday, May 6. Significant precipitation during the winter and spring of this year increased reservoir elevations allowing usability of the boat launch ramp after several years of drought. New docks are presently being built for the launch and should be available soon.
Wenstrup Leads Response to Attempted Interference in COVID-19 Origins Investigation by Chinese Embassy
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) and all Republican members of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic are requesting the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China make five Chinese scientists available for in-person, transcribed interviews related to the origins of COVID-19. Earlier this month, the Chinese Embassy contacted Chairman Wenstrup’s staff expressing firm opposition and “grave concern” with the Select Subcommittee’s COVID-19 origins hearing and called on Chairman Wenstrup to conduct an investigation based on “science.”
Comer Threatens Subpoena to Obtain Information on John Kerry’s Role in the Biden Administration
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) sent a final letter to U.S. Department of State Secretary Antony Blinken requesting all documents and information related to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) John Kerry’s role within the Biden Administration. John Kerry continues to negotiate deals with foreign governments, including the Chinese Communist Party, that potentially undermine the United States’ interests and the Biden Administration has refused to respond to Committee requests for information on Kerry’s powerful, unchecked position.
Hearing Wrap Up: Chinese Criminal Rings Provide Financial Services and Materials Used by Cartels for Fentanyl and Illicit Drug Trafficking; Biden Administration Must Do More
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
The Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services held a hearing titled, “China in Our Backyard: How Chinese Money Laundering Organizations Enrich the Cartels.” Subcommittee members discussed with witnesses how Chinese Money Laundering Organizations (MLOs) have taken a central role in washing illicit funds stemming from cartels’ production and sale of fentanyl and other illegal narcotics in addition to providing cartels with the necessary precursor elements to produce fentanyl coming across the U.S. southern border. Subcommittee members also examined measures that Congress can take the crack down on Chinese MLOs and why the Biden Administration has not exhausted its tools in combating these illicit activities through sanctions and other measures.
Wenstrup: Americans Deserve to Know if the American Federation of Teachers Role in Editing CDC School Reopening Guidance was More Political than Scientific
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) opened today’s hearing “The Consequences of School Closures, Part 2: The President of the American Federation of Teachers, Ms. Randi Weingarten” by emphasizing the importance of investigating school closure decisions — specifically the role the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) played in developing and influencing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “science-based” school reopening guidance. Chairman Wenstrup highlighted the scientific support for safely reopening schools and laid out the inaccurate recommendations promoted by the AFT. He also cited emails between the CDC and AFT that called into question whether Ms. Weingarten and her organization had political motivations which prevented our children from returning to the classroom. To prepare our country to address a future pandemic, the Select Subcommittee will continue its investigation into all available evidence and hold Ms. Weingarten accountable if the facts prove that she prioritized politics over the education of America’s children.
Hearing Wrap Up: Congress Must Utilize GAO’s High Risk List to Effectively Combat Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a hearing titled “The Government Accountability Office’s 2023 High Risk List.” At the hearing, members emphasized that federal government programs created and funded by Congress must fulfil their intended purpose and meet mission objectives. However, massive programs have struggled to fulfill their responsibilities and are vulnerable to serious waste and fraud. Outside of COVID relief programs, members highlighted how the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) has identified roughly $250 billion taxpayer dollars lost to waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement annually. Members stressed that the GAO’s 2023 High Risk List will assist the committee’s efforts to prevent waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement and safeguard taxpayer dollars.
Comer & McClain Continue Probe of Rampant Fraud in California’s Unemployment Insurance System
By Interior Newswire Report | May 7, 2023
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) are continuing their investigation into the state of California’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) System which has been plagued by rampant waste, fraud, and abuse of U.S. taxpayer dollars. In the letter, which follows previous requests, the Republican lawmakers again press California Employment Development Department (EDD) Director Nancy Farias for documents and information which the Department has refused to produce.