CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced on May 25, 2023, that the DigDeep Right to Water Project is set to receive $495,840 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to upgrade its clean water infrastructure in McDowell County. This funding was made available through a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) request made and secured by Senator Capito in Fiscal Year 2022.
In total, Senator Capito secured $241,135,000 in direct spending measures for initiatives and projects across West Virginia through the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations omnibus package.
“When I visited DigDeep last year, it was clear that their project is of the upmost importance and that they are making a major impact in McDowell County. Now, after too long of a delay from the EPA, I am happy to announce this funding is on the way to DigDeep,” Ranking Member Capito said. “This project opens the door to clean water access for residents across the county who have been waiting on these resources for years. As Ranking Member of the EPW Committee and a leader on the Appropriations Committee, I will continue working to ensure our communities have the resources and reliable infrastructure needed to deliver clean water to our residents.”
BACKGROUND:
In April 2022, Senator Capito visited Kimball, W.Va. where she discussed the $495,840 she secured in direct spending to provide sanitary septic and sewerage service to 35 households, including 80 people, through the DigDeep Appalachia Water Project in McDowell County.
On May 3, 2023, Senator Capito pressed EPA Administrator Michael Regan on massive delays in FY 2022 CDS funding reaching their intended recipients, including the award for DigDeep in McDowell County. Following the hearing earlier this month, earmarked funding for DigDeep is now being delivered so work on the project can progress.
