March 27, 2019

At Manchin's Request, Fish And Wildlife Service Releases Report Ahead Of Schedule To Rebuild Schools In West Virginia

Washington, D.C. – At U.S. Senator Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) urging, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released environmental review reports, an important element of the environmental review process that must be complete before construction can begin on permanent replacement schools in Kanawha and Nicholas County. Both Clendenin Elementary and Herbert Hoover High School in Kanawha County, as well as Richwood and Summersville High Schools in Nicholas County, need to be rebuilt following the June 2016 flooding in West Virginia. Before FEMA funding can be allocated to state and local governments for rebuilding, a thorough environmental assessment must be completed for each project with the various responsible Federal Agencies, such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife, weighing into the process.

“I’m glad the Fish and Wildlife Service finally released these reports, moving us one step closer to rebuilding these schools and getting our kids out of temporary classrooms. Three years is far too long to have our students displaced and without a sense of community that their schools have provided in the past. In my meeting this week, I asked the Department of Interior to look at this process and act with urgency to get these assessments completed as soon as possible. I will continue to work with federal and state agencies, as well as the local officials and the Boards of Education to get the job done,” said Senator Manchin.

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