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Virginia Seeks Federal Reimbursement For Snow Removal Effort

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By Patrick Madden

Virginia is seeking federal reimbursement for the bulk of the estimated $35 million dollars it spent clearing highways after last month's snowstorm.

The Department of Transportation is seeking $27 million, based on rules set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. VDOT spokesman Jeffrey Caldwell says those rules limit reimbursement to money spent in the 48 hours between the storm's arrival on Dec. 18th and its departure two days later.

Also, Caldwell says FEMA required the department to file its expenses by locality because the government will make reimbursement only if the snowfall exceeded the historic record in that jurisdiction. Snowfall ranged from 6 to 20 inches in central Virginia.

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