For Immediate Release:

Tuesday, April 20, 2004

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(Washington, D.C.) -- Today U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) continued her efforts to advance restoration of the Green / Duwamish Watershed by vigorously questioning officials from the Army Corps of Engineers during a hearing of the Senate’s Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee this morning. Murray expressed her great concern over the increased role of the Office of Management and Budget in the approval process. Because of OMB’s lack of action, the Green Duwamish project was recommended to receive no funding in the FY2005 budget.

“I find it deeply disconcerting that OMB is failing to act on this important project,” Murray said. “I hope that our committee will take a hard look at the role of OMB in the process and ensure that important projects like the Duwamish cleanup are receiving the consideration they deserve in the federal funding process.”

Murray’s comments came after questioning U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Chief of Engineers LTG Robert B. Flowers about the OMB process. OMB has taken no action on the Green / Duwamish project despite having the Corps’s favorable report since December 2000.

For nearly a decade, leaders have worked together to plan restoration of this important watershed. Murray has been fighting for years to provide resources necessary for a full cleanup of the river, and in February helped kick-off efforts to restore the ecosystem at an event in Tukwila. Murray helped secure $500,000 to begin restoration activities this year and improve the watershed.

“Restoration of this watershed is essential for the long-term environmental sanctity of the region,” Murray said.