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Section 214 extension bill passes House
PNWA 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 22nd, with Rep. Peter DeFazio [OR-4] as an original co-sponsor and twelve other House members signed on as co-sponsors. H.R.6184 extends Section 214 authority to December 31, 2016. We are very pleased to report that the bill passed the House by voice vote this past Wednesday, December 1. PNWA and its members are very grateful to Rep. Rick Larsen, his staff, and the Northwest House delegation for the strong showing of support for this extension. PNWA's goal remains to eventually make Section 214 authority permanent when a WRDA bill is ready to move forward, hopefully in 2011. 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. For more information, see PNWA's fact sheet on Section 214.
PNWA staff contact: Kristin Meira |
Congress passes another temporary funding measure for FY2011 This week, House and Senate passed another continuing resolution (CR) that will temporarily fund federal agencies until December 18, 2010. Under this CR, the Corps and other federal agencies will be held to their FY2010 spending levels, and new projects may not begin. Congress now has a few more weeks to craft a funding solution for FY2011. Options include passing an omnibus spending bill with earmarks, an omnibus without earmarks, or a year-long CR. 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 16th, but did not report it out to the House for a vote. The Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its bill (S.3635) on July 20th, and reported it to the full Senate on July 22nd. 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 staff contact: Kristin Meira
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Extended Lock Maintenance Closure to begin December 10
Corps conference call scheduled for December 7
Corps offers tour of Lower Monumental lock on December 14
The extended lock maintenance closure of the inland Columbia Snake River System will begin next Friday, December 10, 2010. Another Corps-led conference call will take place next Tuesday, December 7 at 1:30 p.m. The call will include a detailed update of the gate replacements at The Dalles, John Day and Lower Monumental locks, as well as updates on the closure schedule for the remaining five locks on the system. All are invited to participate: call (877) 322-9648 and enter the access code 691690. If you are unable to attend this call, a transcript will be available at http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/navigation/lockoutage.asp.
The Walla Walla District of the Corps of Engineers is offering a tour of Lower Monumental Lock & Dam on Tuesday, December 14, 2010. Participants will be able to view the work being done on the new downstream gate installation and the navigation lock wall concrete repair. An RSVP is required if you would like to attend the tour: 509-527-7700. For directions and details, please select from the following links:
LoMo Tour Flyer
Lock Closure fact sheet and schedule
Staff contact: Kristin Meira |
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Columbia River Pilots utilizing deepened channel
With the completion of the Lower Columbia River channel deepening project, the Columbia River Pilots have been preparing to navigate cargo vessels at deeper drafts. Yesterday, the River Pilots noted that they have received updated surveys from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with contour lines adjusted for the 43 foot depth. The Corps has also made charts available to the Pilots online for installation on their Portable Pilot Units. The Pilots have been taking ships with 41 foot drafts for several months, and effective immediately, will begin taking ships with a maximum draft of 42 feet. The River Pilots expect to use the full 43 foot depth soon, as they test the handling of vessels in the newly deepened river, and make use of available water.
Staff contact: Kristin Meira
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National Academy of Sciences faults draft Principles and Guidelines
Congress, in WRDA 2007, directed the Administration to revise the Principles and Guidelines under which Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and other federal water resources projects are evaluated. Congress also directed the Administration to seek input from the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). CEQ released a draft in December of 2009. PNWA submitted comments in April of 2010. The December 2009 CEQ draft states, "The National Objective for water resources planning is to develop water resources projects based on sound science that maximize net national economic, environmental, and social benefits. Consistent with this objective, the United States will demonstrate leadership by modernizing the way the Nation plans water resources projects by: (1) protect and restore natural ecosystems and the environment while encouraging sustainable economic development; (2) avoiding adverse impacts to natural ecosystems wherever possible and fully mitigating any unavoidable impacts; and (3) avoiding the unwise use of flood plains, flood-prone areas and other ecologically valuable areas." The NAS released its review this week. NAS faults the CEQ draft for a lack of clarity of purpose. They recommend that CEQ clarify which agencies are expected to follow the principles and guidelines and for which projects. NAS recommends that CEQ distinguish whether it is intended for use as policy guidance, as a decision document that specifies planning steps to be followed, or both. Of direct interest to PNWA members, NAS recommends that economic benefit-cost analyses be used to inform decisions, but that they should not be treated as a binding decision rule. They also recommend clarification of vague concepts, such as sustainability, ecosystem health, environmental justice, stating that they are neither principles, nor standards, nor decision criteria. CEQ is expected to finalize the document in 2011. PNWA will continue to participate in the process. Several reference materials are available. The 2010 NAS review is at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13071
The CEQ 2009 draft revision is at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/091203-ceq-revised-principles-guidelines-water-resources.pdf
The (current) 1983 Principles and Guidelines are at: http://www.usace.army.mil/CECW/PlanningCOP/Documents/library/Principles_Guidelines.pdf
PNWA's comments to CEQ are at:
http://pnwa.net/new/Articles/20100405_PNWA%20Comments.pdf
PNWA staff contact: Glenn Vanselow |
Corps invites participation in levee safety webinar, December 15 and 16
The US Army Corps of Engineers is developing an Engineer Circular that will provide policy and guidance for the USACE Levee Safety Program. Over the next year, The Corps will conduct webinars and workshops and gather input from a variety of sources within the Corps and from Federal, state, and local agencies, elected officials engaged in levee safety issues, levee sponsors and operators, floodplain managers, planners, emergency managers, local and regional business interests, environmental interests, economic development interests, and public health and safety interests.
The first webinar will provide an overview of the USACE Levee Safety Program, including its vision, draft guiding principles and more. It will be offered twice, December 15, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST and December 16 from 10:00 a.m. to noon EST.
Reserve a place and receive instruction for participating by sending an email to stephen.d.oleary@usace.army.mil by December 10. Please indicate which webinar you plan to participate in, December 15 or 16.
For more general information on the Corps' levee safety program, visit: http://www.usace.army.mil/LeveeSafety/Pages/main.aspx
Staff contact: Glenn Vanselow |
Oregon DEQ seeks comments on ballast water rules
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public comment through Wednesday, Dec. 22 on proposed changes and updates to the state's ballast water management administrative rules. The changes are being made to further reduce the risk of introducing invasive species to Oregon waterways via commercial shipping activity. The changes will also update the rules to align them with statutory amendments established by the Oregon Legislature in 2003, 2005 and 2007.
The changes include regulated vessel definition, discharge prohibition exemptions, record keeping requirements, boarding and compliance protocols and ballast water treatment as an alternative to oceanic ballast water exchange.
Details, including a marked up version of the changes, are available at:
http://www.deq.state.or.us/news/prDisplay.asp?docID=3500
Staff contact: Glenn Vanselow |
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