USACE Programs Come Under Bush Gaze
The Bush administration may require independent reviews of Army Corps of Engineers' plans for projects that are expensive or controversial to avoid a repeat of the Mississippi River dams study that was found rigged in favor of the project. "The administration is evaluating additional steps, including the need for independent review of Corps planning reports involving controversial or costly projects," the White House said in its fiscal 2002 budget proposal. The Corps is responsible for building dams, flood plains and other public works projects. The president's proposed budget for the federal government included $3.9 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, a 14 percent cut from last year.
Army Corps of Engineers Under Scrutiny
Legislation introduced in Congress on March 29, 2001, would subject expensive and controversial Army Corps of Engineers' projects to an independent review panel, a move aimed at restoring credibility to the battered agency. The Corps, the federal agency responsible for building dams and designating floodplains, has been criticized by scientists and former agency officials for rigging data to help justify spending millions of dollars to upgrade Mississippi River locks. Rep. Ron Kind, a Wisconsin Democrat, and 12 other lawmakers sponsored a House bill that would subject the Corps to closer scrutiny by public and independent review groups. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate by Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold.
USACE Reform Proposed
Reformers in the House of Representatives introduced legislation on Wednesday to curb misconduct and wasteful spending at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), but the bill's chief sponsor said the Corps has broad enough support in Congress to avoid short-term reforms. Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican, and five other lawmakers have sponsored a bill that would require Corps projects to provide higher cost savings and subject proposals that exceed $25 million to an independent review panel. Scientists and former Army Corps officials have said the top U.S. agency responsible for building dams, flood plains and swamps fixed data to justify spending millions of dollars to upgrade aging waterways.
