On December 18, the US EPA released a draft of what it is calling "its most comprehensive study of the nation's lakes to date." The draft study (encompassing 1,028 lakes that were randomly sampled during 2007 by states, tribes and the EPA), rated the condition of 56 percent of surveyed lakes as "good" and the remainder as "fair" or "poor." EPA's media release describing the study can be viewed here.  The study web site, including a link to the draft report, is located here.

For more information contact Mark Gorman (202/464-4015), Policy Analyst, Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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The Delaware River Basin Commission releases results of flood analysis model.  Its review of the 2004, 2005, and 2006 storm events concluded that river flooding would have occurred regardless of "pre-event storage condition". For more information see the DRBC website.
 
For questions or comments contact Rachel Dawson (202/464-4016), Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

The Jobs Bill was passed by the House of Representatives with $37 billion set to fund transportation projects.  If signed into law, $27 billion will be distributed as highway funds among the states with $800 million of that going to Transportation Enhancements programs.  $8.4 billion goes to the nation's transit systems-- 10% of which can fund operations for transit authorities hit with severe budget deficits.  $800 million is allocated for Amtrak.  The majority of the Amtrak allocation is slated for updating locomotives and rolling stock (much of which exceeds average life expectancy).  The Transportation & Infrastructure Committee estimates that 1,158,204 jobs will be created by the infrastructure spending.  For more information about Jobs Bill Transportation spending in the region see these links for: Highways and Bridges (formula), (investment), and transit, as well as the Transportation and Infrastructure Committe's summary.

Along with appropriating more money to transportation projects, the Jobs Bill (H.R. 2847) would extend SAFETEA-LU, the nation's transportation law already under extension, until September 2010.  While Congress has previously avoided making longer extensions hoping not to push off the new Transportation Authorization, the longer extension may give Congress enough time to work on and pass the next multi-year transportation bill.
 

For more information, contact Fritz Ohrenschall (202/464-4020), Research Associate at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
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