Authorization for the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion Project is included in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2013.
With an estimated federal cost of $801,542,000 and an estimated non-federal cost of $979,806,000, the Diversion Project is not the most expensive of the five flood protection Projects listed in the legislation.
“Obviously, this is a significant step forward for the Diversion Project” , said Darrell Vanyo, Chairman of the Flood Diversion Board of Authority. “Members of the Diversion Authority were grateful to read the Project specifically listed within the bill. We anticipate WRRDA receiving a vote in the House in the next couple of months. Authorization is a big step towards building infrastructure that will protect more than 200,000 people in the Fargo-Moorhead area from severe flooding.”
WRRDA also sets forth a process to remove the backlog of previously authorized process. While the bill sets forth a process to authorize $10 billion in projects, it also deauthorizes $12 billion. Among a list of other reformed policies, the legislation also increases the stringency for projects to begin. For instance, after authorization, the Diversion Project would have seven years to begin construction or else it would also need to be reauthorized.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will markup the bill on Thursday, September 19th. The bill is anticipated to be voted on in October.
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Press Release, September 19, 2013