NOR'WESTER NEWSLETTER ISSUE #443
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December 18, 2012
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NMFS convenes recovery "situational assessment" effort; PNWA invited to participate
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced the agency's intention to convene a new effort to gather the region's views about long term salmon recovery planning in the Columbia River Basin. This effort is being convened by NMFS outside the existing efforts related to complying with the FCRPS BiOp. The Inland Ports & Navigation Group (managed by PNWA) is an intervenor in the BiOp, representing navigation interests and supporting the work of the federal agencies. PNWA has also been invited to participate in this new recovery conversation with NMFS.
NMFS will be working with two public policy groups to conduct interviews in the coming months - Oregon Consensus at Portland State University and the Ruckelshaus Center at the University of Washington. NMFS intends to have the assessment report available to the public by late summer 2013, and plans to use the report to inform their next steps in 2014 and beyond.
PNWA and its members look forward to participating in this new conversation. We will keep you informed as NMFS begins their work, and would encourage you to contact Kristin Meira if you or your organization would like to participate.
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Corps releases draft Lower Snake River PSMP for public comment; PNWA and members to weigh in
Last Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Walla Walla District released the draft Programmatic Sediment Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement (PSMP), which will be available for public comment until February 8, 2013. PNWA has long supported the Corps' efforts to study the sources of sediment in the Lower Snake River, and evaluate a comprehensive suite of channel maintenance efforts. The completion of the PSMP will set the stage for the Corps to pursue channel maintenance in the future. Maintenance dredging in the navigation channel has not been performed since the winter of 2005-2006, and parts of the Lower Snake River 14' federal navigation channel are currently constrained.
The draft PSMP EIS identifies and evaluates the environmental effects of a range of seven sediment management strategies or "alternatives" developed by the Corps. In developing and evaluating alternatives, the Corps considered various methods of managing or reducing sediment. The Corps' preferred alternative provides the agency with a comprehensive "toolbox" of measures for addressing sediment that interferes with authorized project purposes. The draft EIS also proposes an "immediate need action" to dredge the navigation channel to Congressionally-authorized dimensions at four locations: the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, Port of Clarkston, Port of Lewiston, and Ice Harbor Lock and Dam downstream navigation lock approach.
The draft environmental impact statement is available for review here, including the full report and a shorter executive summary. PNWA and its members will be discussing the plan in the coming days, and will provide comments to the Corps. If you would like to participate in these conversations or have questions about the PSMP, please touch base with Kristin Meira.
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PNWA members meet with Corps to discuss Columbia River Treaty efforts
Recently, PNWA members met with representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and their contractors to discuss federal efforts to prepare for Columbia River Treaty engagement. The Columbia River Treaty was implemented by the United States and Canada in 1964 to govern Columbia River flows for flood control and power generation. After nearly 50 years, both parties are examining its future. The Treaty states that either nation can terminate most of its provisions beginning September 16, 2024, with a minimum 10 years' written notice. In addition, when the Treaty was implemented, the U.S. purchased 60 years of assured flood control storage from Canada. That original purchase ends in 2024. The Treaty gives the U.S. rights to storage in Canadian reservoirs after 2024, but that operation fundamentally changes to a system referred to as "Called Upon" flood risk management.
The U.S. Entity (USACE and BPA) is working toward providing a recommendation to the U.S. Department of State by late 2013 as to whether it is in the best interest of the U.S. to continue, terminate, or seek to amend the Treaty. The U.S. Entity has completed computer simulations that evaluated four different ways to operate the river system after 2024, with consideration of impacts on flood risk management, hydropower, and ecosystem function. The next round of computer modeling will consider effects on a range of Northwest river users, including navigation, irrigation, recreation, and more.
PNWA members will be working to provide additional information to the Corps in the coming weeks with regard to barge tow and deep draft vessel handling during high and low water periods, including how tows handle at specific projects, which times of year have the highest activity on the river, and when particular commodities have their peaks on the system each year. Individual ports will also provide information regarding how high and low water periods impact port and terminal operations. Finally, the Corps is performing sediment modeling to understand how higher or lower flows will impact the Corps' dredging program.
If you would like to provide information for these discussions, or be involved in future meetings, please touch base with Kristin Meira.
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New committee assignments for Members of the NW Delegation
Over the past month, Members of Congress have been receiving committee assignments for the 113th Congress. Changes in both the House and Senate garnered positive developments for the States of Oregon and Washington, and for the entire Northwest.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently announced changes within the Senate, including Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley's new position on the Appropriations Committee. This committee ultimately determines how our federal government allocates resources, including the levels of funding given to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Sen. Merkley joins longtime committee member Senator Patty Murray on the panel to create a very powerful position for the Northwest as we look ahead to FY2014 and beyond.
Good news was also announced regarding Senator Ron Wyden. While he has kept his current committee assignments, he has moved into position as Chairman of the Energy & Natural Resources Committee. This Committee has jurisdiction over the Bonneville Power Administration, Bureau of Reclamation irrigation projects (Columbia Basin Project and Yakima Project), endangered species recovery, and federal hydropower projects. His counterpart on the House side is Rep. Doc Hastings, who has been a tireless advocate for the Columbia Snake RiverSystem. They are both in prime positions to highlight the many benefits of the river system in the coming year.
The Northwest received additional good news when Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler was named to the House Appropriations Committee. Rep. Herrera Beutler represents Southwest Washington's 3rd District and joins the committee as longtime Washington Rep. Norm Dicks prepares to vacate his seat on the appropriations panel following his retirement in January.
PNWA congratulates Sen. Wyden, Sen. Merkley and Rep. Herrera Beutler on their new assignments. Given the amount of navigation and surface transportation needs in the States of Oregon and Washington, PNWA will be encouraging these members to pursue subcommittee assignments with jurisdiction over those areas. We look forward to working with these Members in their new roles, and with our entire Northwest Delegation, in the coming year.
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PNWA is pleased to announce two new members!
Tangent Services, Inc.
Tangent Services, Inc. helps private firms, public agencies, and port authorities navigate the complex world of railroading and port development. Tangent Services works with clients to assess infrastructure and operations and to explain the basic requirements for effective railroad and maritime service. Their expertise is to assist clients to develop facilities that are suitable for modern railroad operations. Additionally, Tangent Services specializes in the evaluating potential development sites for compatibility with rail service and helping clients through the railroad evaluation and approval process. Past and present clients include many PNWA members, including, the ports of Kalama, Morrow, Pasco, Portland, and Vancouver USA. For more information, contact Jim Daly.
Foster Pepper
For more than a century Foster Pepper has represented publicly traded corporations, closely held businesses, commercial and investment banks, municipalities, government agencies, professional corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, and individuals. With 120 lawyers located in Seattle and Spokane, Washington, their extensive legal experience and community involvement allows Foster Pepper to successfully navigate complex and politically sensitive projects, as well as efficiently staff smaller, less complex matters. They provide clients with quality legal advice and responsive service, and were ranked a BTI Client Service A-Team for 2011. Foster Pepper also offers value-added services, including regular client education programs, legislative updates, trend-spotting and trouble-shooting. While well-known locally for their land use and commercial real estate practices, Foster Pepper also has national practices in areas including mergers & acquisitions, investment management, bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights law, Native American law, intellectual property, real estate, transportation, yacht and aircraft, and public finance. For more information, contact Ken Lederman.
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Upcoming National Working Waterfronts and Waterways Symposium, March 25th-28th 2013
The 2013 National Working Waterfronts and Waterways Symposium will be taking place March 25th-28th in Tacoma, WA. The program will address the evolving challenges faced by waterfront communities across the United States. For more information, or to register for the symposium, please visit http://www.workingwaterfronts2013.org.
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