Back Bay funding passes Congress

Paul Clinton

UPPER NEWPORT BAY -- Congress has passed an appropriations bill that

would bring $1.39 million in federal funding for efforts to restore the

Back Bay.

Newport Beach’s Rep. Chris Cox announced the funding in a Thursday

letter to Newport Beach Mayor Gary Adams.

“This funding is critical to our environment in Orange County,” Cox

said in a news release. “I am proud to see our priorities recognized by

my colleagues in Congress.”

Both houses of Congress passed the Energy and Water Appropriations Act

on Thursday, one of 13 such bills from the various federal departments.

The House of Representatives passed the bill 399 to 29, with the

Senate endorsing it on a 96-2 vote.

Included in the massive bill, loaded with environmental projects from

all over the country, were three items benefiting Newport Beach.

The bill handed $23.7 billion in spending power to the Army Corps of

Engineers, which is managing a $34-million dredging project, and other

federal agencies.

Cox was able to insert in the bill $600,000 for the engineering and

design work for project in the Upper Newport Bay. To remove excess

sediment from the bay, the Army Corps of Engineers plans to dredge

2.1-million cubic yards of mud.

Congress also approved $450,000 for a study on urban runoff

alternatives for San Diego Creek, which drains into the bay, and $300,000

to preserve a disposal site for the muck four miles off Newport Pier.

Local agencies hope to cover 35% of the cost of the project, a sum of

$13 million in state park bond money from Proposition 12, which passed in

March 2000. Under that scenario, the engineers would provide the

remaining $21 million.

Newport Beach Assistant City Manager Dave Kiff said the dredging

project could fall victim to the federal government’s recent spending

focus on airport security, a $15-billion bailout of the airlines and

other items related to the events of Sept. 11.

“The federal government is going through a prioritization of what is

important,” he said. “The first thing is public safety. Further down the

list are environmental restoration projects.”

Cox said the city need not worry.

“The answer to that is ‘no,”’ Cox said. “Our budget significantly

increased even before Sept. 11 for environmental initiatives. I think we

will be in good shape in Newport.”

The bill is now headed to President Bush’s desk. He has 10 days to

sign the bill. If he takes no action, the bill automatically becomes law.

-- Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .