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Senate approves stimulus
bill
Today, the Senate
approved its version of the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009" with a vote of 61-37. The
Senate bill comes in at $838B, whereas the House bill passed on January 28th
is $819B. Congress now has the task of
reconciling the differences between the two bills, and sending a compromise
package to President Obama for his signature.
It is hoped that conferees will have an agreement in the next few days.
The Senate bill includes
port related provisions and funding for highway, rail, navigation and
environmental improvements. This
infrastructure funding will help to secure our nation's seaports, expedite the
movement of goods in and out of the U.S., and reduce pollution.
The Senate's stimulus
bill proposes $4.6B in funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is
$100M higher than the $4.5B level in the House bill. The Senate version includes $2B for Corps
construction projects and $1.9B for operations and maintenance. PNWA strongly supports this proposed increase,
as it is imperative to meet the needs of failing infrastructure in the Pacific
Northwest and throughout the nation.
The following are the PNWA
member supported navigation projects that may benefit from stimulus funding:
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Columbia River
channel deepening project
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Lower Monumental major maintenance activities
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Construct tainter valves and repair cracked
guide wall at John Day navlock
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Construct tainter valves and repair mitre
gate/pintle bearings at The Dalles navlock
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Construct tainter valves at Bonneville navlock
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Fish passage and other improvements at Lake
Washington Ship Canal
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Lower Columbia River maintenance dredging,
including Westport Slough and the Old Mouth of the Cowlitz
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Dredging at "Columbia River at Baker Bay" (Port
of Ilwaco)
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Jetty repair and dredging at Coos Bay (Port of
Coos Bay)
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Maintenance dredging and jetty rehab report for
Siuslaw River (Port of Siuslaw)
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Maintenance dredging and jetty analysis at
Yaquina Bay (Port of Newport)
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Maintenance dredging at Skipanon Channel (Port
of Astoria)
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Jetty repair and maintenance dredging at
Tillamook Bay (Port of Garibaldi)
PNWA strongly supports
the Corps funding included in the stimulus package, and encourages the
conferees to accept the Senate level of $4.6B.
For more information visit our website, www.pnwa.net,
or view our fact sheet "PNWA Supports Stimulus Package".
PNWA staff contact: Kristin Meira
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Regional
Sediment Evaluation Framework comments due March 25
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking
comments on the 2009 draft of the final Sediment Evaluation Framework (SEF) for
the Pacific Northwest.
The SEF is a regional guidance document for
the assessment and characterization of freshwater and marine sediments in
Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The SEF presents a framework for sampling,
sediment testing and test interpretation. For dredging projects, the SEF
provides the basis for evaluating the suitability for unconfined open water or
other disposal options.
PNWA urges its interested members to review
the document and plan to comment. There appear to be significant changes in
requirements for bioaccumulative compounds in Chapter 8. The changes may affect
the cost, timing and scope of testing and eventual handling of dredge
materials.
The SEF can be downloaded from the Portland
District Web site at, https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/pm/e/rset.asp.
Public comments must be received no later
than the close of business March 25, 2009. Comments may be e-mailed to Marci.e.cook@usace.army.mil.
The Corps is holding three public information
meetings. All are from 9 am to 2 pm.
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IN
IDAHO: February 19, Idaho DEQ State Office, 1410 N. Hilton.
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IN
PORTLAND: February 24, USACE, 1st Floor Library, 333 SW 1st Avenue (Please enter at 2nd
street entrance).
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IN
SEATTLE**: February 26, USACE, Federal Center South, Galaxy Room 1st floor,
4735 East Marginal Way South. **Please arrive early to sign in and receive a
visitor's badge. Parking is available on the east side of East Marginal Way,
between Alaska and Hudson streets.
PNWA will convene a conference call following
the public meetings for its members to discuss the SEF and coordinate in
preparing comments.
Staff Contact: Glenn Vanselow
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PNWA Mission to Washington featured speakers and topics
The 75th Annual PNWA Mission to Washington is just around the corner! If you have not made your plans to attend, do so today! We have an outstanding line up of speakers participating in this year's event, and you won't want to miss out.
Featured Speakers and Topics:
- Bonneville's 2009 Legislative Agenda
Sonya Baskerville, Manager, National Relations Office, Bonneville Power Administration - Creating the Corps Budget
Pete Luisa, Program Development, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Economic and Environmental Sustainability: Working with New Partners and New Incentives
Frank Casey, Director, Conservation Economics Program, Defenders of Wildlife
Kemper McMaster, Director of Business Development, Wildlands, Inc. - Funding Freight Transportation Needs
Edward Hamberger, Executive Director, American Association of Railroads - FY2010 Energy & Water Appropriations: A View from the Senate
Roger Cockrell, Professional Staff, Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee - FY2010 Energy & Water Appropriations: Outlook from The House
Taunja Berquam, Clerk, House Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee - Highway Funding in 2009 & Beyond: The States' Perspective
John Horsley, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) - Leading the Corps in a Time of Change
John Paul Woodley, Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Navigation Funding: A View from the Administration
Gene Ebner, Water and Power Branch Chief, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) - Navigation Priorities in the Corps Civil Works Program
Major General Bo Temple, Deputy Commanding General of Civil and Emergency Operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Stimulus Spending: Lessons for Our Ports and Our Nation
Claudia Copeland, Specialist in Resources and Environmental Policy, Congressional Research Service - Surface Transportation Reauthorization: Challenges and Opportunities
Allison Dane Camden, Professional Staff, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee - The Corps Campaign
Lieutenant General Robert Van Antwerp, Commanding General and Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - The Wicked Wine of Democracy
Joe Miller, Author, The Wicked Wine of Democracy
Now is the time to make your plans to attend. Visit our website, www.pnwa.net, and register today!
2009 Mission to Washington
March 1-5, 2009
Washington Court Hotel
525 New Jersey Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Reservations: 800-321-3010
www.washingtoncourthotel.com
Staff Contact: Heather Kenneson
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