Charleston, SC- The President’s Budget for fiscal 2013 (FY13) was released today and included more than $21 million for the civil works program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District.
The President’s Budget included $3.5 million for the Charleston Harbor Post 45 feasibility study. Last week, the FY12 work plan was released including $2.5 million for the study. These funds will allow the Charleston District to continue work on the feasibility study. The public comment period for project scoping closed this past Friday. The District is reviewing the comments received in the context of formulating alternatives to address the opportunities to make the transportation of commodities through Charleston Harbor more efficient.
The FY13 budget allocated more than $15.8 million for maintaining the Charleston Harbor, which the District has been doing for more than 130 years. Channel maintenance is key to the nation’s economic well-being, with 94% of the nation’s overseas commerce being carried on these federally maintained channels. Last year, President Obama announced a goal to double exports over the next five years, with the vast majority of this increased commerce being moved on our nation’s federal channels.
“The Charleston District is excited to continue working on the Post 45 feasibility study as we look at the effects of deepening Charleston Harbor in anticipation of the new ships being constructed due to a deeper and wider Panama Canal and the globalization of trade,” said Lt. Col. Ed Chamberlayne, Commander and District Engineer. “We have already been working diligently to streamline our process in order to shorten our timeline. We stand by our commitment to doing everything we can to complete this process as quickly and efficiently as possible while abiding by the laws we must follow and ensuring we adequately consider all the environmental aspects of the project.”
The Edisto Island storm damage reduction feasibility study also received $328,000. The District hopes to use this funding to complete the study in FY13.
The Folly Beach project received $400,000 to develop plans and speculations for the next renourishment of the federal storm damage reduction study.
The President’s Budget focuses constrained resources on the highest-performing projects, leaving some with less funding. The Corps’ final budget is what is passed by Congress and usually signed by the President in the fall.
“The Charleston District takes great pride in supporting the Administration’s budget for our work throughout South Carolina and beyond,” added Chamberlayne. “We will use the funds we were given in the President’s Budget efficiently and effectively to complete our missions and provide quality service to South Carolina and the nation.”
The Charleston District uses the announcement of the President’s Budget to begin planning for FY13 and determining what steps can be taken on each project. Congress will now conduct appropriation hearings through the end of May to discuss the budget submitted by President Obama. Appropriations bills for FY13 will be developed and approved by Congress from June through September, at which point the President will then sign the FY13 appropriations into law, finalizing the budget. The 2013 fiscal year officially begins October 1, 2012.
The Army civil works budget funds the planning, design, construction, and operation and maintenance of projects, and focuses on the highest performing projects and programs within three main civil works mission areas: commercial navigation, flood risk management and aquatic ecosystem restoration.
For more information or questions, please contact the Charleston District’s Corporate Communications Office at 843-329-8123.
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Release no. 12-0201