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GAO releases updated report on Section 214
PNWA members will remember that Section 214 regulatory funding authority was extended late last year through December 31, 2010, thanks to the efforts of bill sponsor Rep. Rick Larsen (D, WA-2) and support from Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA). This was the sixth extension necessary to avoid sunset for this authority, since its inception in WRDA 2000. As this latest extension effort was moving forward last fall, the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee requested a "flash" report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), as a follow-up to a full study the agency did on Section 214 in 2007. The 2007 study and the recent flash report can be found on PNWA's website.
The flash report was released to the committee in February, and was made public last month. It highlights efforts the Corps has made in four areas the GAO had suggested for improvement in 2007:
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clarify the guidance that the districts must follow when evaluating permit applications under the section 214 authority,
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clarify the documentation that district officials must include in project files to justify and support their decisions,
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provide training to district officials to ensure that they are aware of the requirements that apply to permits processed under the section 214 authority, and
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develop an effective oversight approach that will ensure that the districts are following all the appropriate requirements when evaluating projects under the section 214 authority.
Overall, the flash report provides a positive portrait of the Corps' efforts to date. Corps HQ issued updated and revised guidance to all Districts in October 2008 regarding proper use of Section 214. The Corps has developed templates that guide Districts in determining what documentation is needed for Section 214 decision. Corps HQ also held training sessions in August 2007 and May 2008 on Section 214, and now requires District commanders to certify that Section 214 program managers are trained on the program.
The only section the GAO highlighted for continued improvement was in the Corps' reporting on Section 214, noting that annual reporting by Districts were uneven, and postings to District websites were not clearly identifiable . Corps HQ continues to address this, and is developing templates that will facilitate more consistent reporting. Corps HQ staff are also discussing the best approach for quarterly calls with Districts that use the authority.
PNWA is working to make Section 214 permanent in the next WRDA bill. PNWA has submitted WRDA request forms and non-federal sponsor support letters to every member of the Pacific Northwest House delegation, urging each Member to include Section 214 permanence in their WRDA submissions to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. When consideration of a WRDA bill begins in earnest in Congress, PNWA will be advocating for this authority to finally be made permanent. If a WRDA bill does not materialize in 2010, PNWA will work with Congress to secure another extension for this important authority.
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PNWA comments on FEMA flood plain Model Ordinance
PNWA requested that FEMA consult with its member ports prior to finalizing a draft Model Ordinance (MO) for flood plain management and the ESA. The MO is being developed for Puget Sound in response to a 2008 Biological Opinion. The draft MO would dramatically reduce economic activity within the 100-year flood plain as well as in areas above the flood plain but within 250 feet of high water.
The PNWA request to meet with FEMA was included with comments PNWA submitted on the draft MO. PNWA expressed concerns about procedural, biological and economic issues as well as practical considerations that need to be addressed prior to adopting a final MO. PNWA seeks changes in the MO prior to its adoption for Puget Sound.
The MO was drafted for Puget Sound, but there have been indications throughout the process that the same or a similar MO will apply to other regions in the Pacific Northwest. PNWA opposes applying this draft outside the Puget Sound area. PNWA's comments are available at
http://pnwa.net/new/Articles/PNWA_Comments_on_FEMA_Draft_MO.pdf. PNWA looks forward to working with FEMA to address these concerns prior to production of a final MO.
The MO and related documents are available at: http://www.fema.gov/regionx/nfipesa.shtm. Submit comments prior to 5:00 pm April 8 to FEMA-R10-ESAcomments@dhs.gov.
PNWA staff contact: Glenn Vanselow |
House bill introduced to "fix" Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF)
PNWA's membership supports spending the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to fully maintain the nation's ports, waterways and harbors. PNWA is a supporter of the RAMP (Realizing America's Maritime Promise) effort to ensure that amounts credited to the HMTF are used for harbor maintenance.
On March 15th, H.R.4844 was introduced by Congressman Charles Boustany (R, LA-7) and Congressman Bart Stupak (D, MI-1). The bill seeks full access to annual HMTF revenues to benefit deep-draft and coastal harbor maintenance. It was referred to the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee as well as the Rules Committee. A Senate version of the bill is expected to be introduced after Congress returns from the current recess.
Since 2003, Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT) collections have far exceeded funds appropriated for harbor maintenance, resulting in a large and growing surplus in the trust fund (GAO, 2008). In 2008, over $1.6 billion was collected and symbolically placed in the HMTF, but only $766 million was expended. The GAO reports that the surplus is expected to grow to $8 billion by 2011. Rather than being used for their intended purpose, these user fees are instead used to balance the federal budget each year.
PNWA's membership supports fully spending HMT revenue on navigation infrastructure operations and maintenance. To learn more, or download our fact sheet regarding HMTF, please visit http://pnwa.net/new/Fact_Sheets.aspx.
PNWA staff contact: Kristin Meira |
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PNWA is pleased to announce our newest members
PND Engineers, Inc.
PND Engineers, Inc. (PND) is a consulting engineering firm that was founded in 1979 and has offices located in Seattle, WA; Anchorage and Juneau, AK; and Fort Collins, CO. They are a waterfront specialty design firm with the capability to provide engineering services in many different disciplines, including general civil, structural marine, transportation, geotechnical, and construction engineering, hydrology, and permitting. PND provides innovative waterfront design solutions and products. Utilizing innovative foundation systems, they have developed docks, piers, cruise ship docks, and trestles that have far greater capacity than conventional designs and also meet today's strict seismic codes.
PND's most current projects include the Wyeth Columbia River Treaty Fishing Access Site, a design-build project with AAC Construction for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). PND is providing design for roadway access, campground facilities, boat launch and floats, breakwater, parking, fish cleaning station, toilet facilities, and a net area. They are also teaming with Kiewit/General Construction to provide construction engineering for WSDOT's SR 520 Pontoon Construction Design-Build Project for the Evergreen Point Bridge replacement.
For more information about PND, contact Vice President Jon Keiser at jkeiser@pndengineers.com or (206) 624-1387.
KPFF Consulting Engineers
Founded in Seattle in 1960, KPFF Consulting Engineers is marking its 50th anniversary as a leading engineering firm providing structural, civil and survey services to a wide range of public and private clients world-wide from fully-staffed offices in more than a dozen cities across the United States and abroad, including Portland and Eugene, Oregon.
KPFF currently employs more than 750 professionals and has more than 30 years of experience in the planning, design and management of port projects for port authorities, government agencies, shipping lines, stevedoring companies, industry and private clients in the United States and abroad. The firm has worked on small to large; high profiled waterfront and port projects including planning and design of several container terminals with construction costs greater than $100 million. Recent KPFF port projects include NOAA, Port of Newport, Newport, OR; Reconstruction of Terminal 2, Phase 2, Vancouver, WA; Terminal 91 Cruise Facility, Port of Seattle, WA; and East Blair Three TOTE Marine Terminal Relocation, Port of Tacoma, WA.
To learn more about KPFF, please contact Carole Knapel at 541-684-4902 or carole.knapel@kpffcivilpdx.com.
PNWA staff contact: Heather Stebbings | |
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