The Senate passed on Monday HR 152, a $50.5 billion appropriations bill to cover damage caused by Hurricane Sandy last October. The House passed the bill earlier this month after a previous disaster relief bill died in the previous Congress. Included in the bill is $15 million for NASA’s “Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration” account, to cover damage to NASA facilities caused by the hurricane. The bulk of that money is expected to go to the Wallops Flight Facility on the Virginia coast, which experienced heavy rains and storm surges as the hurricane moved up the coast (some will go to the Kennedy Space Center.) Space News reported that Wallops officials have estimated repair costs at $26 million from the storm.
We had some beach erosion at KSC but I think that’s about it. Sand dunes had been built along the shoreline to protect nesting grounds for sea turtles, but much of that got wiped out.
On the other hand, we now have a much clearer view of the Atlantic Ocean.
$15 million fro NASA? Wow, what a haul! Makes you sick…
It’s for storm repair, Windy.
Jeff –
In the interest of fair reporting:
The Sandy Relief bill did not “die” earlier, it was killed because it had non Sandy Relief items attached to it.
“Included in the bill is $15 million for NASA’s “Construction and Environmental Compliance and Restoration†account…”
And conservatives whined about it with their usual squeal, “The bill was larded up- it even has pork for NASA!!!’ Except it’s not. Damage repair from nbatural disaster is a justified expenditure in red state or blue. Of course, if the ‘severely conservative’ privateers had their way, Wallops would be and turned into beachfront condo properties
“Of course, if the ‘severely conservative’ privateers had their way, Wallops would be and turned into beachfront condo properties”
The “privateers” running Antares/Cygnus are launching from there, genius.