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SENATORS SNOWE, COLLINS ANNOUNCE DOZENS OF PROJECTS IN OMNIBUS SPENDING BILL TO BENEFIT MAINE

WASHINGTON, DC— Senators Snowe and Collins have announced millions of dollars in projects that are included in the fiscal year 2005 Omnibus spending bill that will be of benefit to dozens of important projects in Maine. The bill has been approved by both the House and Senate and is expected to be signed by the President. The projects for Maine were included in the bill at the request of both Senators.

"This massive spending bill contains good news for Maine - but we would have preferred that the senate complete its annual duties prior to the beginning of the fiscal year in October," Senators Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. "We hope this is a pattern that is not repeated in future years." Commerce, Justice, State projects for Maine are as follows:

• $2.2 million for the Penobscot River Restoration Project, $1 million of which will go toward the Penobscot River Restoration Project

• $1.9 million for the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observation System (GoMOOS) at the University of Maine

• $1.5 million for new equipment at Bigelow Laboratory in East Boothbay.

• $1 million for Mt. Agementicus to the Sea, Maine

• $500,000 for Abrupt Climate Change research at the University of Maine

Labor, Health and Human Services projects for Maine are as follows:

• $400,000 to the Spurwink Institute to increase the performance levels of the disabled and disadvantaged

• $300,000 for Eastern Maine Healthcare in Bangor to fund the Institute for Medical Improvement

• $300,000 for the Community Counseling Center of Maine, to fund the development of a trauma assistance network in the greater Portland region

• $275,000 to the Rumford Hospital for facilities and equipment • $250,000 to the University of Maine for the Partnership for Early Childhood Health Services

• $250,000 for the Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln for rural health care services

• $250,000 for the Natural Resource Education Center at Moosehead, Inc in Greenville

• $250,000 for the University of Southern Maine for expansion of the Nursing School in Portland

• $250,000 for the University of Maine at Farmington to expand teacher education curricula and support

• $250,000 for the University of New England in Biddeford for a Dental Residency Program

• $250,000 for the Kennebec Valley Community College Foundation in Fairfield to support skilled workers in the field of Radiology

• $250,000 to the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership

• $250,000 for Maine Metal Products Association to establish a National Institute of Metalworking Skills Management Center

• $250,000 for the Jackson Laboratory for research expansion

• $200,000 for the Katahdin Valley Health Center, Southern Aroostook/Northern Penobscot Health Care Access in Patten

• $200,000 for the Jackman Region Health Center for facilities and equipment • $190,000 for the Peregrine Corporation for the STRIVE U program

• $150,000 to support the Student Business Incubator at Southern Maine Community College

• $100,000 for the Maine Alliance for Arts Education to provide arts education to rural and underserved areas

• $100,000 for library enhancements at the Jeremiah Cromwell Disabilities Center

• $75,000 to the Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship for rural workforce development

• $50,000 for facilities and equipment to Houlton Regional Hospital • $45,000 for the Regional Medical Center at Lubec for facilities and equipment • $30,000 for facilities and equipment for the Fish River Rural Health Center in Eagle Lake

Veterans and Housing projects for Maine are as follows:

• $500,000 for the University of Maine, Source Water Warning and Analysis Technology

• $500,000 for Sewer Improvements in Brewer

• $450,000 for the Greater Limestone Water and Wastewater Treatment Facility

• $300,000 for the Town of Machias, for replacement of sewers and completion of deficiencies at an existing aging wastewater plant

• $250,000 for the Indian Township Tribal Government of Maine, for the first phase for expansion of current lagoon systems to provide adequate capacity

• $250,000 to the City of Brewer, for waterfront development efforts

• $250,000 to the City of Caribou, for improvements to the Caribou Community Center

• $250,000 to the City of Auburn, for the construction of the Great Falls Parking Garage

• $250,000 for the People's Regional Opportunity Program (PROP) in Portland, to assist in the construction of 16 units of affordable housing as part of the Parkside Neighborhood Center and Affordable Housing project.

• $200,000 for the Cobscook Bay Resource Center in Eastport

• $200,000 for Wastewater Infrastructure in Windham

• $121,250 for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute

• $121,250 for the Junction Wharf in Greenville

• $97,000 for the Lewiston Public Theater

• $97,000 to the Franco-American Heritage Center

Agriculture projects for Maine included in the legislation are as follows:

• $180.148 million for the Hatch Act and $22.384 million for the McIntire-Stennis Act which benefits many University scientists in a wide range of agriculture industries

• $6.285 million for the Wood Utilization Research Program, approximately $800,000 of which will go to the University of Maine

• $3 million for the ARS National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center in Franklin

• $1 million for Round III Empowerment Zones (EZ) to implement economic growth plans for economically depressed communities. Aroostook County had one of only two Round III Empowerment Zones in the nation.

• $236,000 for Wild Blueberry research

Interior projects for Maine included in the legislation are as follows:

• $2 million for Atlantic Salmon Conservation, funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Fund

• $1.95 million for Craig Brook Hatchery for wastewater treatment

• $4.5 million for the Katahdin Forest Legacy Project

• $658,000 for Green Lake Hatchery for wastewater treatment

• $500,00 for the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge

• $500,000 for the Hancock-Sebago Forest Lands Forest Legacy Project

Energy and Water projects for Maine included in the legislation are as follows:

• $1.39 million for Disposal Area Monitoring

• $1.2 million for the Center for Integrated and Applied Environmental Technology at the University of Southern Maine

• $646,000 for Project Condition Surveys

• $625,000 for the Kennebunk River Dredge

• $505,000 for construction of an emergency shoreline protection project in Holmes Bay in Whiting

• $250,000 for the Scarborough River Dredge

• $100,000 to mitigate shore damage on the Saco River and Ellis Beach in Saco

• $80,000 to complete plans and specifications for the channel and anchorage expansion project in Bass Harbor in Tremont

• $63,000 for the feasibility study for the federal navigation project in Searsport Harbor

• $38,000 to complete a feasibility study to expand the Buck's Harbor anchorage and channel in Buck's Harbor in Machiasport

• $17,000 for Surveillance of Northern Boundary Waters

• $11,000 for Inspection of Completed Works

Transportation –Treasury Projects for Maine included in the legislation are as follows:

• $3.3 million in General Services Administration funding for the new Calais Border Crossing.

• $2.5 million in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding for Maine Statewide Bus Programs, which will help meet Maine's capital transit needs such as (1) replacement of buses statewide (2) Mt. Desert Island's Island Explorer, and (3) clean-fueled buses in Portland.

• $2 million in Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding for the Old Town-Milford Bridge.

• $1.76 million in GSA funding for the Madawaska Border Station.

• $1.5 million from the FTA's Job Access Reverse Commute Program for the Maine Statewide Job Access and Reverse Commute Program.

• $1.3 million in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for hangar and access road at the Frenchville Airport.

• $1 million in FHWA funding for Maine Medical Center Pedestrian and Vehicle Access Improvements.

• $1 million for the Aroostook North-South Highway

• $1 million for the Waldo-Hancock bridge

• $800,000 in FHWA funding for the I-295/Exit 3 interchange, South Portland.

• $750,000 for the City of Bangor Passenger Ferry Docking Facility

• $350,000 for the University of Maine for Advanced Wood Composites

• $500,000 in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding for the Auburn Intermodal Rail Relocation Project.

• $250,000 for the Acadia National Park Bus Facilities

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