An official with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the federal government shutdown is jeopardizing efforts to get an Everglades restoration project into a funding bill by the end of the year.
If the project doesn't make it into the pending bill - the Water Resources Development Act - it could wait up to seven years for Congress to authorize it in a similar bill.
Lt. Col. Thomas Greco told The Palm Beach Post that several federal agencies whose input is required have not responded because of the shutdown.
The public comment period for the Central Everglades Planning Project ends Oct. 15. The corps then has 30 days to review those comments and make a final report that the South Florida Water Management District must then approve.
The goal of the Central Everglades Planning Project is to increase the quality and storage of critically-needed water south of Lake Okeechobee and retain water within Everglades National Park.
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