Washington - Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) hailed the Senate's passage of the conference report for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorizes more than $480 million in federal funds for Army Corps of Engineers projects in New Jersey. The bill has been passed by the House and the Senate and will be sent to the President shortly for approval.

"This bill will bolster our economy, improve public safety and protect New Jersey's beaches and waterways for years to come," said Sen. Lautenberg who, as a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, helped author the bill and ushered it through the Senate and in Conference with the House. "I am proud of our work to write this bill and secure these funds for projects critical to communities across our state."

There are two key steps for getting important projects for New Jersey: authorization and appropriations. In addition to his service on the Environment and Public Works Committee, Sen. Lautenberg also sits on the Appropriations Committee which provides funds for the projects authorized in the WRDA bill.

"I'm glad to be serving New Jersey on both of the key committees in the Senate that can deliver funds to important projects across our state," said Sen. Lautenberg.

"Our state stands to gain on the environmental, economic, and public safety fronts because of this bill," said Sen. Menendez. "We will benefit from a number of projects to rebuild storm-damaged lands, restore critical ecosystems, improve infrastructure and help prevent future flooding. I am proud to have helped secure these funds for the Garden State and for New Jersey families."

WRDA authorizes civil works projects by the Army Corps of Engineers projects, including flood control, hurricane and storm damage reduction, navigation, environmental restoration and infrastructure, and beach replenishment.

Altogether, WRDA authorizes more than $480 million in federal funding for the Garden State. The bill now heads to the President, who has threatened to veto the measure.

New Jersey WRDA projects include:

* South River project for hurricane and storm damage reduction and ecosystem restoration is authorized for a total of $122,300,000 (estimated federal cost: $79,500,000);

* Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay project in Union Beach for hurricane and storm damage reduction at a total cost of $115,000,000 (estimated federal cost of $74,800,000); beach replenishment at an estimated total cost of $6,500,000 over the 50-year life of the project (estimated federal cost of $3,250,000);

* Manasquan to Barnegat Inlets project for hurricane and storm damage reduction at a total cost of $71,900,000 (estimated federal cost of $46,735,000) and provide for beach replenishment at an estimated total cost of $119,680,000 over the 50-year life of the project (estimated federal cost of $59,840,000);

* Hudson-Raritan Estuary, Liberty State Park project for ecosystem restoration at a total cost of $34,100,000, with an estimated Federal cost of $22,200,000;

* Great Egg Harbor Inlet to Townsends Inlet project for hurricane and storm damage reduction at a total cost of $54,360,000 (estimated federal cost of $35,069,000) and $202,500,000 for periodic replenishment over the 50-year life of the project (estimated federal cost of $101,250,000);

* $1,100,000 environmental infrastructure project for storm sewer improvements in Middletown Township;

* $25,000,000 environmental infrastructure project for sanitary sewer and storm sewer improvements in Rahway Valley;

* $6,000,000 environmental infrastructure project for storm sewer improvements in Cranford Township; and

* $35,000,000 for wastewater infrastructure in Paterson.

In addition, the bill provides authorization for studies or modifications of the following projects:

* Feasibility Study for flood damage reduction on Acid Brook, Pompton Lakes;

* Oyster Restoration project in Delaware Bay;

* Ecosystem Restoration for Grover's Mill Pond;

* Restoration of Rogers Pond, Franklin Township;

* Shore protection and ecosystem restoration for Lower Cape May Meadows and Cape May Point;

* Flood control in the Passaic River Basin;

* Feasibility study for environmental restoration on the Kill Van Kull, Bayonne and Raritan River in Carteret;

* Feasibility study for restoring flood protection dikes in Gibbstown and tidegates in Gloucester County;

* Feasibility study for environmental restoration on the Arthur Kill, Perth Amboy; and

* Watershed management technical assistance for Marlboro Township.

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