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From: Midwest Producer
WASHINGTON - Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) has introduced a bill that would exempt roads, highways or bridges damaged by a natural disaster, such as the ongoing Missouri River flooding, from environmental reviews when reconstruction is only to put them back to pre-flood conditions.
"My goal is to avoid delays in getting flood-damaged roads, bridges and highways back in shape soon so Nebraskans can again use them for travel or business," Nelson said. "It might seem odd but probably not surprising that just fixing a road, highway or bridge at the same place - that has often gone through an environmental review process when it was built - would now be subject to a new round of red tape involving lengthy and expensive review.
"But that's the case and it just doesn't make sense. By exempting eligible projects from cumbersome environmental reviews, we're just speeding up reconstruction," Nelson said.
This year's historic flooding of the Missouri River has caused hardship for many Nebraskans and Nebraska communities. It also has inundated roads and bridges, causing damage that will require repair and reconstruction. Restoring these projects to pre-flood conditions does not change the impact of the original road, highway or bridge.
One such road is Nebraska Highway 12 in Niobrara. Nelson said that local agencies and people have asked for help in getting that road reopened as soon as possible, once the Missouri floodwaters fully recede.
Nelson said his environmental review exemption bill would help Route 12 and other flood-damaged roads and bridges.
Nelson said he got involved in the issue after officials at the Nebraska Department of Roads raised it and said the federal red tape has delayed about three dozen road and bridge repairs from flooding that occurred last year, mainly in northeast Nebraska.
Federal emergency funds have been approved to get them back in shape. But a full year later, none of those roads, bridges or highways has been fully repaired, despite the fact they underwent the federal review process when they were constructed.
One such project is the Orchard South Bridge in Antelope County. Other delayed projects identified by the Nebraska Department of Roads are in Norfolk, O'Neill, Burwell and in several dozen counties, including Sioux, Blaine, Dodge, Thomas, McPherson and Madison Counties.
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