Knoxville (WVLT) – Millions of dollars in federal funds are on their way to East Tennessee thanks to the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.
The law was passed Thursday after Congress and Senate obtained the necessary votes to override President Bush’s recent veto of it.
Both of Tennessee’s senators, Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker were among the 34 Republicans that joined with 43 democrats and two independents to override the veto on Thursday.
On Tuesday the House of Representatives voted 361 to 54 to override the veto with Representatives Dave Davis, John “Jimmy” Duncan, Zach Wamp and Lincoln Davis all voting in favor.
It is the first successful veto override since November 1997.
Among its many provisions, the $23 billion water resources bill allows the government to provide environmental assistance to non-federal related interests in East Tennessee.
Much of the approved funding will go to improve the water supply and waste water infrastructure in several counties and towns
That includes $16 million to Athens, $5 million to Knoxville, $4 million to Oak Ridge, $1.25 million to both Claiborne and Grainger Counties, $1 million to the Plateau Utility District in Morgan county and $500,000 to Blaine.
Two more East Tennessee projects were approved under a cost sharing system meaning the federal government provides 75 percent of the cost of the project in the form of grants and reimbursements.
The first will provide $500,000 to a nonprofit organization to remove debris from the Tennessee River in and around Knoxville.
The second provides the funds to design and construct a project meant to reduce potential flood damage on Town Creek in Lenoir City.
Two more projects also have links to East Tennessee.
One establishes a set of security and safety standards to be applied to all locks and dams in the United States.
The $3 million project will be jointly developed by FEMA, TVA and the US Coast Guard.
Finally a grant worth an undisclosed amount of money will be given to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville establish and operate the “Southeastern Water Resources Institute.”
The Institute will be given the task of studying the sustainable development and utilization of water resources in the southeastern United States.
You can read the entire text of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 by clicking on the link below.
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