U.S. Department of Transportation awards grants for State Highway projects
On Thursday August 2, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced more than $363 million in grants awarded to state highway projects nationwide. Funding for the grants was made available by the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II. Nearly 1500 applications from around the nation were submitted earlier this year, with requests totaling approximately $2.5 billion.
A wide range of projects in all 50 states received grant funds, including 13 projects in Idaho, 18 projects in Oregon and 20 projects in Washington State. Highlights include funding for ferry system improvements in Washington and Oregon, as well as:
- I-5 Columbia River Crossing Project: $3.341m for preliminary engineering and final design for the Oregon section of this major bridge reconstruction, which includes the portion of I-5 from the Interstate Bridge to Columbia Boulevard within the City of Portland
- SR 99, Alaskan Way Viaduct Northbound in Seattle: $400k for innovative materials such as Shape Memory Alloy that can fully recover its form after a seismic event
For a state by state list of the FY 2012 grant recipients, log onto http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/discretionary/2012grantdata.cfm.
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Hastings introduces dam protection bill; Committee to hold field hearing in Pasco
U.S. Representative Doc Hastings, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, will be holding a field hearing for the Committee at the TRAC Center in Pasco, WA on Wednesday, August 15th at 9 am. The hearing will be on the "Saving Our Dams and New Hydropower Development and Jobs Act" (H.R.6247). Rep. Hastings introduced the bill earlier this week to protect the Northwest dams and their many benefits including efficient navigation, clean hydropower and irrigation. The hearing will provide an excellent opportunity for supporters in the Northwest to show Washington, DC and the rest of the country the vital role that these dams play in our economy and way of life. The hearing is open to the public, and PNWA members are encouraged to attend.
The purpose of H.R.6247 is to protect and promote hydropower resources by ending practices that diminish existing hydropower and improving overall transparency. Highlights of the bill include declaration of hydropower as a renewable resource; prohibiting federal funds from being used to remove, breach or study the removal or breaching of any hydropower dam unless explicitly authorized by Congress; and prohibiting federal funding from being sent to organizations that have engaged in dam removal or hydropower-decreasing litigation against the federal government. PNWA will track this bill and provide updates as it moves forward. Click here for more information or to read the whole bill. |
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U.S. Coast Guard reallocates FY 2008 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) funds
The U.S. Coast Guard's Sector Columbia River Area Maritime Security Coalition (AMSC), and the Merchants Exchange of Portland as the PSGP Fiduciary Agent, are currently addressing the reallocation of over $1.9M in FY 2008 PSCP funds. To qualify for funds, Investment Justifications (IJ) for any project within Sector Columbia River must be submitted to the Merchants Exchange by close of business on Wednesday, August 15. Eligible projects must adhere to the following:
- The performance period would need to end on or before 04/30/2013.
- Any project would need to be "shovel ready" - ideally not require a cash-match waiver or involve a detailed EHP review.
- A 25% cash-match is attached to the investment total.
For more information, contact Michael Moreno at 503-220-2095 or Moreno@pdsmex.com. For more information, log onto www.pdxmex.com/psgp, and to submit an application, email psgp@pdxmex.com.
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PNWA Annual Convention
Make your plans to join us for PNWA's biggest event of the year! Our Annual Convention is an excellent opportunity for you to contribute to the PNWA goals, and to personally help set our priorities for the coming year. Your attendance and support for PNWA at this conference will contribute to the success of our advocacy efforts next year and beyond. This year's event features speakers and topics of interest to every PNWA member, and will be an opportunity to touch base with colleagues, industry leaders and leading federal agency staff as we work together to move our region into the future.
ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE
2012 Annual Convention
October 9-11, 2012
Hilton Vancouver Washington
301 W. 6th Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
Reservations: 360-993-4500
www.vancouverwashington.hilton.com
Speaker & Topic Highlights
PNWA Legislator of the Year - Norm Dicks (invited)
BPA's 75th Birthday - Steve Wright, BPA Administrator
Pollster Insight on the 2012 Elections
Columbia River Treaty: NWD & BPA Working Together for the U.S.
MCR Jetties - Next steps
USACE Long-term Planning Efforts For the Columbia Snake River System
FEMA Floodplain Issues - Where Are We Now?
Introduction to new Corps Leadership
State of the Economy: Part III - Tom McCollough, Moffatt & Nichol
Columbia River Bar Under Keel Clearance study
Adoption of PNWA's 2013 Policies & Projects
Much, much more!
Draft Agenda
Tuesday, October 9:
10:00am PNWA Executive Committee Meeting
1:00-4:30pm General Session Speakers
5:00-7:00pm PNWA Gala Reception (guests welcome!)
Wednesday, October 10:
8:00am Breakfast & Speaker
9:30-11:30am General Session Speakers
11:30am Lunch & Speaker
1:00-3:00pm General Session Speakers
3:00-4:00pm PNWA General Membership Meeting and adoption of 2013 Policies & Projects
4:00pm IPNG Meeting (IPNG members only, please)
Thursday, October 11:
8:30am - 11:00am Board of Directors Breakfast & Speakers- all PNWA members welcome to attend
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