Washington, D.C. – Rep. Jerry McNerney (CA-09) today introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives that would prohibit FY 2015 federal funds from being allocated to California’s Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP).
California has asked the federal government to contribute nearly $4 billion to help it implement the BDCP. Rep. McNerney previously introduced an amendment to withhold money for the BCDP as part of the FY 2015 Energy and Water appropriations bill.
“The BDCP in its current form is based on bad science, and is not the solution California needs,” said Rep. McNerney. “We must invest in infrastructure and technology that will address our water issues in a smart way, including above- and below ground storage, recycling and conservation, and desalinization. We should not spend a dime on the BDCP until we are satisfied that it truly protects the unique ecosystem of the Delta and the lives and livelihoods of the families, farmers and small businesses that depend on it.”
The Bay Delta Conservation Plan includes a proposal for two 35 mile-long tunnels that would divert water from the Delta and send it south. Just two weeks ago, the state delayed the plan’s implementation due to concerns about the environmental and economic impact of the tunnels, including the potential for salt water intrusion. Both the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers raised objections to the BDCP’s assumptions and called for major changes to the plan.
The BDCP is estimated to cost $25 billion, but analyses by independent groups show that the final expense could be more than $64 billion.
Reps. John Garamendi (CA-03) and Ami Bera (CA-07) have both signed on as original co-sponsors of the bill.
