Reminder: Extended Lock Closure Conference Call Tomorrow

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Columbia-Snake extended lock closure conference call will take place tomorrow, October 5 from 10:30-11:30am.  The call will include a detailed update of the gate fabrication schedules and installation plans for The Dalles, John Day and Lower Monumental locks, as well as updates on the closure schedule for the remaining five locks on the system.  

The call will primarily be a listening session for attendees, but the Corps will open the line for a brief question and answer session following the presentation.  To participate, call (888) 296-1938 and enter the access code is 127487.  If you are unable to attend this call, a transcript will be available at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/navigation/lockoutage.asp. 

For more information on the conference call, contact the Portland District Public Affairs Office at (503) 808-4510 or cenwp-pa@usace.army.mil or the Walla Walla District Public Affairs Office at (509) 527-7020 or cenww-pa@usace.army.mil.  For more information on the extended closure, log onto our website at http://pnwa.net/new/extended%20lock%20outage.aspx, or visit the Corps directly at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/navigation/lockoutage.asp. 

PNWA staff contact: Kristin Meira

FY2011 Appropriations Update

Unfortunately, FY2011 appropriations work in the Congress was not concluded by the time the new federal fiscal year began on October 1^st.  Late last week, the House and Senate passed a continuing resolution that will temporarily fund federal agencies until December 3, 2010.  Under this CR, the Corps and other federal agencies will largely be held to their FY2010 spending levels, and new projects may not begin.

Members of Congress are expected to return to Washington for a lame duck session after the November 2^nd election.  If there is a change in party control of the House and/or Senate, or if the margins of party control become slimmer, legislators will likely have a more difficult time in crafting a longer-term funding solution for FY2011.

The appropriations process has moved slowly this election year.  The House has only passed two appropriations bills to date (Military/Veterans, and Transportation/HUD), and the Senate has not passed any, though the Senate Appropriations Committee has reported out 11 of the 12 approps bill.  Funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is set by the House and Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittees.  The House Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its bill on July 16^th, but has not yet reported it out to the House for a vote.  The Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its bill (S.3635) on July 20^th, and reported it to the full Senate on July 22^nd. 

For details regarding funding levels proposed by the House and Senate for navigation projects supported by PNWA, please visit Nor'wester 366 and Nor'wester 367.  You may also find all projects listed on our Appropriations document.

PNWA contact: Kristin Meira

WRDA update

PNWA members will remember that a Water Resources Development Act of 2010 (WRDA) was introduced and marked up in the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee in late July.  This bill (H.R.5892) was reported out of committee on September 29^th.  For a list of provisions included in the bill that will be of interest to PNWA members, please see Nor'wester 369 from July 29^th.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) had planned to have a hearing last Wednesday on WRDA, but postponed that hearing until Wednesday, November 17, 2010.  The hearing title is "Legislative and Policy Proposals to Benefit the Economy, Create Jobs, Protect Public Safety and Maintain America's Water Resources Infrastructure", and witnesses that had been scheduled for last week would have discussed the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, levee safety, and the state of our nation's water infrastructure in general.

It is doubtful that a WRDA bill will be enacted in this Congress, which has relatively few legislative work days remaining in 2010.  However, PNWA will continue to advocate for our supported policies and projects as the House and Senate continue their efforts on this important legislation.  PNWA's WRDA policy and project requests may be found at http://pnwa.net/new/WRDA.aspx.

PNWA contact: Kristin Meira

Section 214 Extension Update

PNWA has partnered with Rep. Rick Larsen [WA-2] to have a stand-alone Section 214 extension bill introduced.  Rep. Larsen introduced H.R.6184 on September 22^nd, with Rep. Peter DeFazio [OR-4] as an original co-sponsor.  Nine other House members have already signed on as co-sponsors: Rep. Earl Blumenauer [OR-3], Rep. Jay Inslee [WA-1], Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson [TX-30], Rep. Jim McDermott [WA-7], Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers [WA-5], Rep. Pete Olson [TX-22], Rep. Kurt Schrader [OR-5], Rep. Mike Simpson [ID-2], and Rep. David Wu [OR-1].  PNWA and its members are very grateful for this strong showing of support for this extension. 

H.R.6184 would extend Section 214 authority to December 31, 2016.  The bill is expected to move in the lame duck session that will follow the November 2^nd election.  PNWA's goal remains to eventually make Section 214 authority permanent when a WRDA bill is ready to move forward, hopefully in 2011.  For more information, see PNWA's fact sheet on Section 214.

Section 214 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 allows the Corps of Engineers to accept funds from non-Federal public entities to expedite the processing of permits.  Section 214 is currently being used by over 41 public agencies in 20 Corps districts.  PNWA leads a national coalition to advocate for making Section 214 authority permanent. 

PNWA contact: Kristin Meira