Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
54978445
label
Copy of Memo to Mack McLarty 11/19/93
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
54978445
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Copy of Memo to Mack McLarty 11/19/93
citationUrl
collections
Records of the Domestic Policy Council (Clinton Administration)
Kathryn Way's Files
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
54978445
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
otherTitles
42-t-7367486-20130854S-007-008-2016
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
4f9aae14b9f832c4
ocrText
The White House
Washington
FAX COVER SHEET
OFFICE OF DOMESTIC POLICY
Kathryn Way
Special Assistant to the President
Cookie Walden
Staff Assistant
Old Executive Office Building, Room 218
Washington, DC 20500
Phone: (202) 456-7777 FAX: (202) 456-7028
TO: MACK MCLARTY
FAX No.
206-621-9797. 9791
FROM:
Kathi Way
DATE: November 19, 1993 TIME: 4:15
NUMBER OF PAGES (Including cover sheet)
5
COMMENTS:
Please distribute to Dee Dee Myers, Mark Gearan
and Roy Neel.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
MEMORANDUM FOR MACK MCLARTY
FROM: KATHI WAY
DATE: NOVEMBER 19, 1993
RE: POLICY CHANGE ON MIDWEST LEVEE RECONSTRUCTION
I have attached a copy of a press release that will allow
for the rebuilding of an additional $18 million of levees in the
midwest. This money is being made available as a result of
ongoing conversations with Congressional Members from the Midwest
and Governor Carnahan's office.
About three weeks ago it was brought to the attention of the
Interagency task force on Midwest Flood Recovery that the
decisions regarding the repair/rebuilding of levees in the
midwest was not being carried out in a consistent manner. In
addition, concerns arose about the rebuilding of levees that were
not part of the Army Corp or Soil and Conservation Service
program but were essential to the preservation of public
infrastructure and/or communities. Based on those concerns, the
Interagency Group proposed a policy that would clarify Army Corps
and Soil and Conservation Service criteria for levee rebuilding
and allow for the rebuilding of a "handful" of additional levees,
at FEMA expense, that were necessary to preserve public
infrastructure and communities.
Simultaneously, Governor Carnahan's office and several
Senate/House Members (Danner, Bond, etc.) were working on a
package of their own. That "compromise" started as $1 Billion,
became $150 Million and finally $50 Million to be added to the
Volkmer Bill as increased authority, no additional money was
included. That agreement was worked out with Director Panetta
over the weekend. Unfortunately, the Volkmer Bill moved forward
before the language was worked out and there was not another
vehicle for the amendment.
Over the course of this week, the Interagency Group has
worked to find a solution to this levee problem that would
maintain the integrity of the Army Corps program, allow for the
reconstruction of levees essential to the preservation of public
infrastructure and communities and not allow for the rebuilding
of levees that are not essential. We have worked with EDA to
craft the attached agreement. This agreement :
o
Provides $18 Million in Federal funds for the
rebuilding/reconstruction of levees not currently covered by
the Corps.
0
Requires a 75/25 match, as opposed to the 80/20 match for
those who participated in the Army Corp program before the
flood. (5% of the 25% must be cash or cash equivalent)
o
Requires a Public Sponsor that will agree to become part of
the Corps program after the levee is repaired.
Frankly, we think this is a good deal. It is real money,
not an empty box. It allows for the repair of levees that are
essential, but leaves no surplus for others and will indirectly
encourage the relocation of areas that are most in danger of
repeated flooding. Governor Carnahan's office is quite unhappy
with the compromise. They believe it is too little in dollars.
Unfortunately, Senator Bond and Congresswoman Danner
misrepresented the amendment language and people in the midwest
believe the amendment would have added $50 Million new dollars.
I believe Governor Carnahan can basically take credit for this
additional money. If he had not worked on the amendment on the
Hill we would have produced a compromise that would have repaired
only a "handful" of additional levees. If the amendment had
passed it was only a question of time before people realized
there was no more money.
We have released the attached press release with Director
Panetta's knowledge and agreement. You can reach me this evening
in Delaware at 302-834-0789 and tomorrow in D.C. by beeper, 4453.
NOV-19-1993 14:34 FROM USDA NEWS DIVISION
TO
94567028 P.02
Mike Espy
MIDWEST FLOOD
James L. Wis
SECRETARY OF
DIRECTOR, FEDERAL
AGRICULTURE
RECOVERY
EMPICENCY MANAGEMENT
ACENCY
SECURITY
INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENT
HEALTH
AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION
TRANSPORTATION
Morrie Goodman (202) 646-4000
Scott Saunders (202) 272-0012
Jeff Anliker (202)
ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL $18 MILLION FOR LEVEE REPAIR IN THE
MIDWEST
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The Federal Interagency Task Force on Midwestern
Flood Recovery announced today that up to $18 million in additional assistance
will be available for levee repair in the Midwest.
The announcement came in conjunction with a clarification of the
federal levee policy and expands federal participation to include the Economic
Development Administration (EDA). The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the
Soil Conservation Service (SCS) are the other federal agencies involved in
levee repair.
In some cases, levees within the Corps' geographic area are inelígible
to receive assistance because of lack of participation by a public sponsor
prior to the 1993 Midwest flood. In those cases, if it is determined that
levees otherwise ineligible for federal assistance, protects critical public
infrastructure, it will be eligible for assistance from the EDA under the
following conditions:
--a public sponsor is identified and can provide all lands easements,
rights-of-way, and dredged material disposal areas necessary for the project;
the sponsor can provide 25 percent of the costs of construction of
the project of which 5 percent must. be paid in cash or cash-equivalent (as
opposed to in-kind services) from non-Federal sources.
the sponsor agrees to include its levee in the Corps program and
enters into a written agreement acknowledging that future Federal assistnce
will be conditional upon the sponsor's continued participation in the program.
In carrying out this program, EDA will coordinate with the Corps of
Engineers to assure that the levee meets all necessary Corps criteria and that
future eligibility in Corps programs can be maintained. The final decision as
to whether or not a levee will be repaired under this program will be solely
that of EDA.
The Corps has general authority on levees with drainage areas of more
than 400 square miles. The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) has general
authority for levees with drainage area of less than 400 square miles.
-more-
NOV-19-1993 14:35 FROM USDA NEWS DIVISION
TO
94567028 P.03
-2-
Levees are eligible for repair under the SCS's Emergency Watershed
Protection (EWP) program when there is a potential loss of life or property if
the repairs are not done; the benefits associated with repairing the levee
exceed the cost of levee repairs and other levee-dependent costs (such as
cropland restoration, facility repairs, and structure repairs) that should
occur only if the levee is rebuilt; and the levee owner agrees to meet SCS's
eligibility requirements for engineering and maintenance.
Eligibility, however, does not guarantee that the levee will be
repaired. SCS will use the following criteria to prioritize levees:
type of property protected by the levee
-past performance of sponsors
-past record of operations and maintenance
.environmental impact, and
--local rules and regulations.
In a small number of cases, levees in the SCS's geographical areas have
been retained in the active status of the Corps Public Law 84-99 program.
These levees will be treated as if they were in the Corps area. If the Corps
determines that they are not eligible for PL 84-99 assistance, they will not
be repaired by any other agency.
While this announcement only addresses levee repair, the Interagency
Task Force on the Midwest Flood Recovery continues to work on polícies and
programs that will help the flood victims through this tragedy.
This policy clarification is я result of cooperation between federal
and state agencies and was encouraged by Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan and
other members of the Midwest congressional delegation.
-11-