No reason to not repair levees

Funding is in; use it, says MCGA’s Gary Marshall

Missouri Corn Growers Association put the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on notice about the need to continue rebuilding levees along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.  
With a $1 trillion spending package signed Dec. 23, 2011 some $1.7 billion was designated for disaster funds and $388 million designated specifically for levee repairs. Original estimates by the Corps placed levee repairs at $253 million.
“The Corps has continually stated funding was a big factor holding up the levee repair process,” said Missouri Corn CEO Gary Marshall. “With funding secured, it is time they step up and complete the job.”
Marshall said that an open fall means work could have been done. “With this winter’s unseasonably warm weather and little precipitation, the Corps has no reasonable excuse to not be working diligently to complete repairs before the 2012 flood season,” he said. “They are responsible for flood control and citizens along the river can’t withstand another year without protection.”