NOR'WESTER NEWSLETTER ISSUE #393                                           Visit us on Facebook! Facebookmasthead

June 6, 2011

In This Issue:
House subcommittee releases FY2012 energy & water appropriations bill
ASA Darcy approves Section 107 Columbia River stern buoy project
Sponsor the 2011 PNWA Mid-Year Meeting

House subcommittee releases FY2012 energy & water appropriations bill

 

PNWA staff contact: Kristin Meira

 

Last Thursday, the House Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing and released their FY2012 funding bill for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Department of Energy.  The 2012 federal fiscal year begins on October 1, 2011.

 

The House proposes overall funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of $4.768B, an $88M reduction from FY2011 enacted levels, but a $195M increase over the Administration's FY2012 budget. Corps funding appears to be on a downward trend; $5.4B was appropriated for the Corps by Congress for FY2010.  It should be noted that other agencies included in the bill saw much steeper cuts.  Department of Energy would face a nearly $6B cut, from $30.683B in the budget down to $24.740B in the House bill.  Bureau of Reclamation would be cut from $1.051B in the budget down to $934M.

 

Within the Corps of Engineers, the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) account would largely remain intact, with a proposed $2.366B in funding, roughly the same as what was in the budget, and similar to FY2011 and FY2010 spending levels.  The majority of PNWA's supported navigation projects are in O&M. The stable funding level for O&M plus some work PNWA is doing to increase funding for shallower ports make us optimistic for FY2012.

 

The Construction account would receive a slight boost, with the House proposing $1.565B versus $1.480B in the budget.  However, this is still roughly $500M less than the $2B provided by Congress in FY2010. 

 

The General Investigations (GI) account would be the same as the budget level, at $104M.  $126M was provided for GI in FY2011, and $160M in FY2010.

 

The bill does not contain tables reflecting funding levels for individual Corps projects.  The Committee intends to provide general pots of money to the Corps for navigation and flood control projects, then give the Corps 45 days to deliver and justify their spending plan, similar to the "work plan" exercise recently completed by the Corps for FY2011.  This bill is expected to be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee in the next month, with more detailed report language anticipated at that time.

 

PNWA's FY2012 navigation funding document is available at www.pnwa.net.  PNWA's document will continue to be updated when the Senate creates its bill, as well as any changes provided by regional Corps officials regarding navigation capabilities at projects our members support.

 

We look forward to another successful year of partnership with the Northwest Congressional delegation, Corps Headquarters, the Northwestern Division and the Portland, Seattle and Walla Walla Districts in working to achieve the highest funding levels possible for Northwest water projects.  Please contact us with any questions you may have.

 

ASA Darcy approves Section 107 Columbia River stern buoy project

 

PNWA staff contact: Kristin Meira

 

PNWA is pleased to announce that the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo Ellen Darcy, has approved the "federal determination of interest" for the Columbia River stern buoy project.  Stern buoys hold the rear of deep draft ships in place, while the vessels are parked at one of seven anchorage locations on the lower Columbia River.  The current anchorage system was designed decades ago, when vessels were much smaller and could anchor closer to shore.  With increased vessel traffic and deeper-drafting ships, additional stern buoys are needed to ensure there are safe locations to park ships on the river.   

 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District is finalizing a Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) Section 107 feasibility study to place stern buoys at Columbia River anchorages. Two buoys have been in use for the last twenty years near Portland and Vancouver. The Corps will soon recommend the number of additional stern buoys that are economically justified on the Columbia. Dredging will not be required for this project. The Ports of Portland, Vancouver, Kalama and Longview will provide the local sponsor funding.

 

The ASA's approval allows work to proceed on the project. The Portland District can now accept funds from the four sponsor ports to complete the study, to then move into the construction phase of the project.  This phase in includes purchase & placement of the buoys, which will be cost-shared 75% Corps and 25% sponsor ports.  Purchase and placement of each buoy is expected to be approximately $435K.  The Portland District expects the study to be approved by early September, allowing placement of the stern buoys to begin in Fall 2011.

 

 

Sponsor the 2011 PNWA Mid-Year Meeting 

 

PNWA staff contact: Heather Stebbings

 

The PNWA Mid-Year Meeting is just around the corner, June 27-29, in Coeur d'Alene, ID.  Now is the perfect time to raise your level of participation and support!  We offer sponsorship opportunities at every level, and have the following available for our 2011 event: 

  • Lunch: $500
  • Breakfast: $400
  • Breaks: $300
  • Meeting Materials: $200

PNWA sponsors receive exposure on our website and throughout the meeting in our materials, at our reception and from the podium.  Approximately 90 of our PNWA members from the Northwest ports, navigation, energy and trade community will be present.  Don't miss your chance to participate today!  Contact Heather Stebbings at heather.stebbings@pnwa.net or 503-234-8553 for more information.