LaMalfa Statement on Oroville Dam Costs Exceeding $1 Billion

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) revealed a new $1.1 billion dollar cost estimate for Oroville Dam spillway repairs. The initial cost estimate was $200 million, before growing to $870 million in January.

LaMalfa said: "The newest estimate of over $1 billion is many times more than original estimates initially released to the public. I'm glad to see high quality new construction being built to replace the failed infrastructure, but the rising costs are troubling. Perhaps equally concerning is the assumption that the federal government will foot the bill. An independent forensic team has already concluded that inadequate maintenance and inspections were at least partially to blame for the disaster, and reimbursement by FEMA, though for a portion, was already unclear prior to the most recent cost increase. The price tag of this project only continues to rise, and we must ensure the rebuilt spillways will increase safety and functionality of the lake for nearby residents. Preventing another failure is paramount."

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