Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the Senate has authorized more than $40 million in public works projects in South Carolina.  Graham secured the approval in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.  The legislation was approved by the Senate 91-4.

“South Carolina’s natural beauty is one of our greatest resources,” said Graham.  “These infrastructure projects will help protect and maintain the environment, while improving our quality of life.  I am proud to help assist in these projects and know how they can benefit the local communities.  I appreciate the leadership of my colleagues Congressmen Henry Brown and Gresham Barrett in the House of Representatives, and I look forward to continuing to work with them on these projects.”

South Carolina projects in the bill include:

Abbeville County/Lake Russell

• The legislation instructs the federal government to sell approximately 600 acres of land around Lake Russell to the state of South Carolina.  The land will be combined with other state held lands and developed to include hotel, conference center, marina and housing.  The development will create jobs and spur growth in an economically-depressed area.

Charleston County

• $6 million for the Charleston Water System to replace approximately eight miles of deep sewer tunnel in peninsular Charleston and West Ashley. 
• $3 million for the City of Charleston for stormwater control measures and storm sewer improvements at the Spring Street/Fishburne Street Drainage Basin.

Georgetown County

• $16.44 million to Pawleys Island for a shore protection project that reduces hurricane and storm damage.  $5.48 million will be used for initial costs and $10.6 million will be used for periodic renourishment over the fifty-year life of the project.

Horry County

• $10 million for the City of Myrtle Beach and the Myrtle Beach Downtown Redevelopment Corporation to implement a regional stormwater management system.  The project will create an underground collection system that will retain, clean, and then discharge stormwater via underground offshore outfalls.
• $3 million for North Myrtle Beach to implement stormwater management and water quality measures installing ocean outfall pipes.
• $3 million for Surfside to implement stormwater management and water quality measures by installing ocean outfall pipes.

Jasper County

• The legislation instructs the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a study to assess the feasibility of establishing a port and container facility in Jasper County.

The legislation must now be approved by a joint House-Senate conference committee before it can be signed into law by President Bush.  Graham will also continue to encourage the Senate to appropriate federal funding to these projects.

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