Newport Bay Dredging Bill Advances

A federal bill that would establish a 20-year, $21-million endowment for the dredging and ecological improvement of Upper Newport Bay cleared the last major hurdle Thursday on its path to becoming law, legislators said.

“It looks as if my pie-in-the sky dream . . . has made it,” said Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach), who has been pushing for the legislation since 1995.

A House of Representatives version of the measure, contained in the Water Resources Development Act, passed overwhelmingly Thursday. Earlier, the Senate had passed a version of the bill by 85 to 1. After approving uniform versions of the bill, probably next week, the two houses of Congress will send it to President Clinton for signing, sources at Cox’s office said.

Under the bill, the federal money, along with about $11 million in state and local matching funds, will provide about $1 million a year for the work. For years, Congress has authorized funds for the removal of sediment from Upper Newport Bay, but the money had frequently been delayed by political wrangling.