WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today applauded the Senate’s passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which modernizes water infrastructure, addresses flood prevention and mitigation, and meets environmental restoration needs. The bipartisan bill passed on a 95-3 vote.

“The Water Resources Development Act proactively addresses a number of concerns with our nation’s water infrastructure in a broad, bipartisan way. It will bring short- and long-term gains to our economy and support needed infrastructure improvements in West Virginia and in communities around the country. I worked hard to secure provisions that will protect West Virginia from the type of devastation we experienced this summer from historic flooding, and provisions that will lead to improved water infrastructure and more recreational opportunities along our waterways,” said Senator Capito. “I applaud Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Inhofe and Ranking Member Boxer for bringing another important, bipartisan bill to the floor.”

WRDA includes several bipartisan provisions Senator Capito introduced that benefit West Virginia, including:
 

  • A provision she authored with Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) calling for a study of flood risk management projects within the Kanawha River Basin.
  • A provision she authored with Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) authorizing funding to address the nation’s more than 14,000 high hazard potential dams, 422 of which are in West Virginia.
  • An amendment she introduced with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) recognizing the importance of recreational use of locks along the Monongahela River for recreation.
  • WRDA addresses drinking water infrastructure and examines issues like those that followed the 2014 Elk River spill.
     

WRDA also allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review and approve state permitting programs for coal ash disposal units. EPA’s coal ash rule went into effect last October, but EPA currently lacks authority to approve state permitting programs. WRDA fills that gap, benefiting utilities, states and the environment by authorizing state oversight of coal ash disposal.

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