Letter to the Hon. Rickey James, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, US Army Corps of Engineers - Mucarsel-Powell Urges Army Corps of Engineers to Increase Environmental Infrastructure Funding to Key West

Letter

Dear Assistant Secretary James:

We write in strong support of the City of Marathon, Village of Islamorada, and the Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District, Florida in their efforts to obtain Fiscal Year 2020 Environmental Infrastructure funding for the ongoing Florida Keys Water Quality Improvement Program (FKWQIP).

FKWQIP is replacing sewage treatment systems with state-of-the-art central sewer collection and wastewater treatment systems in the ecologically sensitive area of the Florida Keys. The project benefits both residents and visitors to South Florida and the National Marine Sanctuary ecosystem.

To date, FKWQIP local sponsors have received $63.467 million in federal funding for this project. This funding, coupled with substantial local funding, has helped to meet the required water quality standards designed to protect and restore the near shore waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. All three local sponsors have the demonstrated ability to obligate Fiscal Year 2020 funds within the fiscal year and to complete separable elements with the funds allocated.

Established in 1990, the Sanctuary is a flag-ship marine space in the federal sanctuary program and is the world's third largest coral reef system, protecting the only living barrier coral reef in the continental United States. Mitigating the effects of land-based pollutants, primarily wastewater discharge from storm water runoff, will help ensure this national treasure in South Florida is protected for years to come.

In order to meet the environmental protections for the Sanctuary and coastal areas overwhelmingly owned by Federal and State governments, Keys residents will pay for water treatment standards that are four times more stringent than most any other location in the nation. The FKWQIP helps alleviate some of these costs.

The fiscal year 2020 appropriations package provides $100 million for the Environmental Infrastructure account within the Army Corps Civil Works Division. As the Army Corps of Engineers reviews projects for the FY 2020 Work Plan, we ask that you give full and fair consideration to our efforts to obtain Environmental Infrastructure funding. With additional funding, the local sponsors can continue to protect a vital national resource.

Sincerely,

**PLEASE NOTE: an earlier version of this letter incorrectly stated that "local sponsors have received $61.467 million."