Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and an appointee to House and Senate negotiations on a final Fiscal Year 2010 Subcommittee funding bill, today announced the inclusion of funding for four Idaho projects as part of a final negotiated bill funding the Department of Energy and Army Corps of Engineers. The legislation was approved today by a House and Senate Conference Committee by a voice vote.

Among its many provisions, the legislation includes funding for the following Idaho projects:

• $100,000 for efforts to rehabilitate 1.5 miles of a channel along the Little Wood River that flows within Gooding city limits. Large portions of the existing lava rock walls that line the Little Wood River through the city are structurally unserviceable and many have failed and fallen into the channel. This rate of deterioration has increased at an alarming rate. The project will remove and replace the existing rock wall and the boxed culverts that severely restrict the stream channel flow.

• $1.5 million for a Medical Isotope Production Program at Idaho State University’s Idaho Accelerator Center. The program will help meet our nation’s demand for medical isotopes and greatly increase the nuclear research and education capabilities of Idaho State University in an area of immense importance – nuclear medicine.
• $1 million for the City of Boise’s Geothermal System Expansion Project. The Project is an ongoing effort to extend the existing geothermal system to facilities at Boise State University and encourage development of non-university areas along Capitol Boulevard. Boise State University is already making improvements to existing buildings that would allow them, and future buildings, to utilize geothermal heat.
• $3.875 million for the rural Idaho community water system improvement program through the Army Corps of Engineers Section 595 program. This is an ongoing program that has assisted numerous Idaho communities with repairs, expansion, or replacement of aging water and wastewater infrastructure.

“My staff and I have visited each one of these projects and met firsthand with those who brought them to our attention. These are good projects that meet a specific state, local, or national need and bring real value to Idaho communities,” said Simpson. “I want to thank Mayor Duke Morton of Gooding and Mayor Dave Bieter of Boise, along with ISU President Art Vailas, for working with my office to identify these projects and advocate for them on a federal level. The outstanding efforts and vision of these three individuals and their staff are what made the award of this funding possible.”

The bill now heads back to the House and Senate for final approval which is expected later this week.