24-June-04
Time may run out for lagoon project
By Joel Eskovitz
© Stuart News
WASHINGTON -- A Senate committee Wednesday endorsed a plan to spend more
than $600 million on a Treasure Coast environmental project, clearing
the
way for the full chamber to consider one of the first pieces of the $8.4
billion Everglades restoration plan.
After more than a decade in development, the $1.2 billion Indian River
Lagoon project was included in the Water Resources Development Act that
approves water projects for the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake.
Local leaders were thrilled with the development, but with a compact
Senate
calendar and many must-pass bills on the agenda, finding time to
consider
the bill could make it tough for the federal government to approve its
half
of funding for the project.
"I think we're going to be out of time," said Kasey Gillette, who tracks
the Everglades for the National Audubon Society.
The Senate adjourns this weekend for its Fourth of July recess,
returning
for three weeks next month before taking summer vacation until after
Labor
Day. It is unlikely Congress will stay in session past the Oct. 1 end of
the fiscal year because many legislators will be campaigning for the
November elections.
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