News Release Archive

Reclamation announces $991,280 in ARRA funding for Seismic Stability Upgrades to Federal Building in Yuma, Arizona

Media Contact: Doug Hendrix , (928) 343-8145, dhendrix@usbr.gov

For Release: July 13, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Bureau of Reclamation, an agency of the Department of the Interior, has awarded a $991,280 contract to Briston Construction, LLC, of Tempe, Ariz., under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Briston Construction, a disabled veteran-owned business, will retrofit Reclamation's Yuma Area Office with strengthening upgrades to improve the building's structural stability in the event of a seismic disturbance. As part of the work, four exterior concrete footings and steel buttresses will be installed on the south side of the building. In addition, a gravel-lined ballast-style roof will be installed over the interior administration corridor of the building, replacing the insulated panels that currently exist.

Reclamation's Yuma Area Office complex, located adjacent to the Colorado River, also includes the Yuma Desalting Plant, a reverse osmosis plant capable of desalting up to 72 million gallons per day of agricultural runoff.

"Constructed in the 1980s, the Yuma Area Office Building is considered safe, but this work will bring the structure into compliance with the latest seismic standards and building codes," said Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor. "This seismic rehabilitation will ensure the continued health, safety and welfare of our employees through the improved structural integrity of this existing building."

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enacted last year gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior.

The ARRA funds represent an important component of the President's plan to jumpstart the economy and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so the country can thrive in the 21st century. Under the ARRA, Interior is making an investment in conserving America's timeless treasures - our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage - while helping American families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, the needs of American Indians, employing youth and promoting community service.

"With its investments of Recovery Act funds, the Department of the Interior and its bureaus are putting people to work today to make improvements that will benefit the environment and the region for many years to come," Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said.

Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department's economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on http://www.interior.gov/recovery. Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force to work closely with Interior's Inspector General and ensure the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency set by President Obama.

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.