A watchdog group found $228 million in earmarks from last year.

Citizens Against Government Waste highlighted 173 earmarks from North Carolina's representatives and senators in its annual "Pig Book" of Congressional appropriations today.

The list ranges from $50,000 for gang prevention in Charlotte to $57.9 million for a hospital renovation at Camp Lejeune. Many of the earmarks have also been requested in this year's budget.

The advocacy group ranked North Carolina 34th in "pork per capita," with $24.72 per resident. That was up from 39th place the previous year.

It also criticized $11.6 million for a Fort Bragg chapel requested by Rep. Mike McIntyre, $2 million for textiles research and $167,000 for the Morehead Planetarium from Rep. David Price, and $475,750 for the automotive research from Sen. Elizabeth Dole.

In the upcoming budget, North Carolina's House members have requested 545 earmarks totaling $1.5 billion. The Senate has not yet released its requests.

Here are the five most-requested earmarks of 2009:

Textiles Research. Eight Congressmen requested from $3.5 million to $20 million for research at the National Textile Center and/or the Textile Clothing Technology Corp.

National Guard Help. Seven Congressmen requested either $1.6 million or $2 million for family assistance centers for members of the N.C. National Guard.

Rural Business. Six Congressmen requested $750,000 for a business financing program at the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center.

Contaminated Food. Five Congressmen requested $300,000 for a database of contaminants in the state's food supply through the N.C. Department of Agriculture.

Water Audits. Five Congressmen requested $2 million for audits of water supply systems through the Rural Economic Development Center.

In all, 75 earmark requests had more than one sponsor, 25 had three or more, and nine had four or more.