WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a total of $277,019 to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to aid repair of dams classified as “high hazard potential.” Funding is made possible by FEMA’s Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dam (HHPD) grant program. Senator Capito’s subcommittee funds FEMA. 

“Throughout West Virginia and the entire United States, there are non-federal dams in dire need of maintenance and rehabilitation. Often the funds necessary to address this challenge are not available within cash-strapped state and local government budgets,” Senator Capito said. “West Virginia dams have suffered from floods and other natural disasters in years past, so I’m pleased to see our state receive this much-needed federal assistance.” 

“I am proud to see West Virginia receive these funds to help our Department of Environmental Protection address dams in our state that need to be rehabilitated, repaired or removed. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight for West Virginia to receive funding that benefits West Virginians through programs like this one,” Senator Manchin said. 

Background: 

Senator Capito authored, with Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the bipartisan provision of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act of 2016 establishing the FEMA grant program providing funding for the rehabilitation of non-federal high-hazard potential dams. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has rated more than 400 dams in West Virginia as “high-hazard,” meaning they require rehabilitation to avert threats to human life and property. Senator Capito led successful efforts to secure funding for this work through her position on the Senate Appropriations Committee—including as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees this program.

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