Bill Text: NJ ACR171 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges President, Congress, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take action to alleviate Rahway River Basin flooding.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-04 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee [ACR171 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-ACR171-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 171
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED APRIL 4, 2016
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JAMES J. KENNEDY
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
Assemblyman JERRY GREEN
District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Urges President, Congress, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take action to alleviate Rahway River Basin flooding.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution urging the President, the Congress, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to expeditiously take all necessary action to complete the Rahway River Basin flood risk management feasibility study and flood mitigation project.
Whereas, The Rahway River Basin has a drainage area of approximately 82 square miles and encompasses parts of Essex, Middlesex, and Union counties; and
Whereas, The Rahway River Basin has, over the years, sustained chronic flooding problems, including approximately $100 million in damages as a result of Hurricane Irene in 2011; and
Whereas, The United States Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection signed a Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement for a Rahway River Basin flood control study in 2002; and
Whereas, The prolonged study process leaves thousands of businesses and residences as well the infrastructure in the Rahway River Basin susceptible to more flooding and recovery costs from future storms; and
Whereas, Over 1,350 residents have signed an online petition urging the federal government to finish the flood mitigation study and the selected flood mitigation project in order to alleviate flooding in the Rahway River Basin; and
Whereas, The Mayors Council on Rahway River Watershed Flood Control has been actively working with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to bring a solution to this region; and
Whereas, Completing the Rahway River Basin flood risk management feasibility study and the selected flood mitigation project option is vital to the municipalities located within the basin in order to alleviate flooding for the affected counties and municipalities; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The Legislature respectfully urges the President, the Congress, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to expeditiously take all necessary action, including allocating resources from any source currently available, such as disaster funds or general appropriations in the United States Army Corps of Engineers' budget, to complete the Rahway River Basin flood risk management feasibility study and selected flood mitigation project.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, every member of Congress elected from this State, the Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the Commander of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, New York District.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution respectfully urges the President, the Congress, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) to expeditiously take all necessary action, including allocating resources from any source currently available, such as disaster funds or general appropriations in the USACOE budget, to complete the Rahway River Basin flood risk management feasibility study and selected flood mitigation project.
The Rahway River Basin has, over the years, sustained chronic flooding problems, and the USACOE and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection signed a Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement for this project in 2002, but it has yet to be completed. Completion of this study and the selected flood mitigation project is vital to the municipalities located within the basin.
