$5.8M for Searsport dredging passes committee

Maine Senator Susan Collins announced yesterday that $5,850,000 in funding she requested for the maintenance dredging of Searsport Harbor was included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill. 

The bill was passed by the Appropriations Committee yesterday by a vote of 25-5 and will now be considered by the full Senate.

Last month, Senator Collins and Maine Department of Transportation (Maine DOT) Commissioner Bruce A. Van Note visited Searsport to review the high-priority project.

“The long overdue maintenance dredging of Searsport Harbor will help prevent significant shipping delays at Mack Point and maintain the safety and efficiency of operations,” said Senator Collins. 

“As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I strongly advocated on behalf of Maine DOT and Searsport to include this critical project in the funding bill, and I will continue to champion this investment in Maine’s infrastructure as the process moves forward.”

The Army Corps of Engineers’ initial request for the dredging was $4,200,000. 

Senator Collins included an additional $1,650,000 in the appropriations bill through a Congressionally Directed Spending request, which was necessary to meet the revised work plan, dredge approximately 22,000 cubic yards of material, and maintain the navigation channel. 

The deposited material will be used to construct a laydown pad for long-term cargo storage.