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Alabama senators lift objections to Army official
By: JEFFREY McMURRAY - Associated Press | ∞
WASHINGTON -- Alabama's senators on Wednesday ended their opposition to an Army nominee after being assured that Georgia will not get favorable treatment in a water dispute involving Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
Sens. Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said they were lifting the "hold" that had stalled for nearly two weeks the nomination of John Paul Woodley Jr. to be assistant secretary of the Army for civil works. It was unclear when Woodley would get a confirmation vote in the Senate.
Woodley, who met with the senators on Tuesday, sent a letter promising to keep in place decades-old regulations governing water sharing in the three states.
Alabama lawmakers were concerned that the Army Corps of Engineers wanted to make an update that would benefit Georgia because of the tremendous growth around Atlanta.
At issue is whether Atlanta draws too much water from Lake Lanier, costing Alabama and Florida communities downstream the Chattahoochee River their fair share.
Lifting the hold on Woodley's nomination does not appear to affect another concern of Alabama -- that Georgia got favorable treatment from the Army Corps in a recent settlement allowing Atlanta to draw more water from Lake Lanier.
Two district judges -- one in Washington, the other in Birmingham, Ala. -- have issued conflicting rulings on the agreement's legality.
President Bush nominated Woodley on Jan. 24. He is currently the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for civil works.
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