Efforts to support small waterways continue

 

The ban on earmarks and the drastic underfunding of our nation's small ports is taking its toll on projects in the region and throughout the nation. PNWA has been actively collaborating with our coastal members and the Northwest Congressional delegation to highlight the needs at small ports and convey the great economic benefits they provide to the local, regional and national economy. Over the past year, small ports in our region have seen a groundswell of support from Northwest leaders. Highlights included letters of support from members of the Northwest delegation to President Obama and the Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee, and a letter from Governor Kitzhaber to the Office of Management and Budget.   

 

Last week, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) held a community meeting on the Oregon coast which included a discussion about small port funding between the Congressman, the Corps of Engineers, Governor Kitzhaber's staff, and stakeholders. PNWA staff was present to support the effort, and to provide input on both long- and short-term solutions for dredging. While our long-term goal continues to be freeing up the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) revenues for their intended purpose of coastal and deep draft O&M, we are sympathetic to the fact that these small ports may need to look outside of typical funding streams to be able to maintain their navigation channels in the short-term.     

                                                                                                       

Funding for these projects in both FY2013 and FY2014 remains uncertain. For FY2013, the House and Senate bills both recognized the needs of small ports, and included $30 million in "additional funding" specifically for these projects. This is the same amount that was provided in FY2012. PNWA continues to advocate for inclusion of these funding pots in the final FY2013 bill, however, the federal government is currently operating under a six month continuing resolution (CR). If Congress does not finish the FY2013 appropriations bill this year and instead enacts a year-long CR, the Corps would continue to operate at FY2012 funding levels and it is unclear whether those additional O&M funding streams would be provided.

 

For FY2014, the Administration has announced a delay in the budget release. Typically, the budget would be available the first Monday in February, however, we have heard that the release date could be as late as mid-March. We will provide information as it becomes available, and will continue to strongly advocate for the needs of small ports as part of our work to secure funding for critical Northwest navigation projects.

 

For more information, click here or contact Heather Stebbings.

HMTF activity continues in the Senate

 

Following Rep. Boustany's reintroduction of the RAMP Act last week, legislators continue to discuss the need to find a fix for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF).

 

On January 31, the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) committee held a hearing titled "The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and the need to invest in the Nation's ports". The hearing addressed the uncertainty surrounding both the HMTF and the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF) and the impacts these funds have on ports around the nation.

 

Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), both Members of EPW, were able to highlight the importance of a fix for ports in the Northwest. Senator Crapo made some very positive remarks relating HMTF expenditures to cargo movement at the Port of Lewiston, ID. He highlighted the importance of a fully maintained Lower Columbia River navigation channel to ensuring containers and grain are able to move from the Port of Lewiston through the inland system and down to the Lower Columbia River for eventual export to overseas markets.  Senator Merkley was able to provide a similar message regarding our deep draft navigation channels, and also highlighted the HMTF's importance in maintaining our regions' small, coastal projects.

 

A Senate companion to the RAMP bill was also introduced earlier this week. On February 4th, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) introduced the Harbor Maintenance Act (S.218). Both bills support full annual expenditure of the HMTF on its intended purpose to maintain our nation's deep draft and coastal navigation infrastructure. Northwest Senators supporting S. 218 include Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

 

PNWA staff and members are engaging in these discussions. We continue to work with the Northwest Congressional delegation and relevant committee staff, and we look forward to an eventual resolution to this long-standing challenge.

PNWA partners with AAPA and NWC to support Section 214 permanence

 

As previously noted, Section 214 permanence is a key piece of the PNWA Action Agenda. As part of our recent advocacy efforts, we were joined by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and the National Waterways Conference (NWC) on letters to the Senate EPW and House T&I Committees. Both letters highlight the growing support for Section 214 and its importance in allowing permit review decisions to be made in a timely fashion.

 

Section 214 was originally enacted in WRDA 2000 and allows non-federal public entities, like ports, to contribute funds to the Corps to hire additional staff and expedite the processing of Corps permits. In many parts of the country, the Corps faces a backlog of permit applications resulting in lost jobs, economic inefficiencies and a decline in international competitiveness. With active WRDA Section 214 agreements between 10 Corps Districts and 41 non-federal public entities, stakeholders across the nation are developing a level of predictability that was previously lost.

 

For more information on Section 214, click here or contact  Heather Stebbings.  

Lanny Cawley, Executive Director of the Port of Kalama, announces retirement

 

Lanny Cawley, Executive Director of the Port of Kalama, has announced that he will retire on March 31st.  Lanny has been a leader in our port community in the Northwest since 1990.  He has served the Port of Kalama for over 18 years, first as Director of Property Development and Management/Marketing and then as Executive Director, a role that he assumed in 1998. Highlights from Lanny's time with the Port of Kalama include several critical projects.  Lanny led efforts to develop infrastructure to support steel processing, leading to a partnership with BHP (now Steelscape) that produces on-going revenue for the port and will support capital programs for many years.  He also developed additional port structures and properties including the Kalama River Industrial Park, the Kalama River Bridge, and recreational bike and pedestrian trails. Lanny also played a key role in the process of reopening Cameron Glass (now Bennu Glass) after Cameron's bankruptcy, preserving the plant at which approximately 90 people are now employed. Additionally, Lanny provided long term leadership to the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project, and took the lead in addressing crab fishing opposition to the project and identifying a solution which allowed for the release of funds for the deepening.

 

Before joining the Port of Kalama, Lanny served as the Port Manager at the Port of Woodland. He also served in the U.S. Navy and has participated in the Washington Public Ports Association, Columbia River Channel Coalition, the Board of the Cowlitz Economic Development Council, and the Advisory Council for Washington State University Vancouver. PNWA presented Lanny with a Distinguished Service Award at our 2012 Annual Convention.

 

In his retirement, Lanny plans to travel, spend time with his family and work in the vineyard that he owns.  Over the years, Lanny has been a great friend to PNWA and a leader within our membership.  We thank him for his years of service and wish him the very best in his retirement!  

PNWA welcomes the Idaho AFL-CIO to our membership!

 

PNWA is pleased to announce the Idaho AFL-CIO as our newest member! The Idaho AFL-CIO is made up of 75 different affiliated unions of the national AFL-CIO. Each union has its own elected representatives and memberships, including industrial trades, public and government employees unions, paper, sugar, transportation and construction trades as well as graphic and theater arts. They serve on work force development boards, industrial commissions and insurance boards. The members of the Idaho AFL-CIO also donate their time, energy and money to community programs such as 4-H, food banks, and human rights, environmental, and resource industry groups. For more information, please contact Rian Van Leuven or Brad Cederblom.

Upcoming PNWA Events 

 

There are many important PNWA events in the coming months, please mark your calendars for the following dates: 

• 2013 Mission to Washington, March 3rd-7th - click here for more information or to register! Register before February 9th for discounted registration and hotel rates! 
• Tour of The Dalles Lock & Dam, March 13th - contact Natalie Whitlock for more information or to RSVP. You must RSVP before February 28th!
• Tour of Little Goose Lock & Dam, March 14th - contact Natalie Whitlock for more information or to RSVP. You must RSVP before February 28th!  

PNWA relies on your sponsorship to make these events a success! For information on how you can support our events, click here or contact Natalie Whitlock.  

 

We hope to see you soon! 

Corps hosts Columbia Snake System Lock Users Meeting in conjunction with PNWA's Lower Columbia River/Oregon Coast Regional Meeting

 

The Portland District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled their annual Columbia Snake System Lock Users meeting for February 19th at 10am at the Port of Portland Commission Room (7200 NE Airport Way, Portland Oregon).  Please note that this meeting will take place immediately prior to

 

If you have any questions or need further information on this Corps event, please call Bill Nielsen, Communications Officer, Portland District USACE at 503-808-4332.  For questions regarding the PNWA Regional Meeting, contact Natalie Whitlock or call 503-234-8550.