Issue 269                                                                      March  30, 2007

In this issue:
 

Water Resources Development Act introduced in the Senate

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) was introduced yesterday in the Senate.  The bill is largely the same as the version seen in the last Congress, and includes Corps reform measures that passed on the Senate floor when WRDA was considered in 2006.  In order to move the bill quickly, committee leaders expressed a desire not to add new projects to the bill, and mentioned the possibility of a “WRDA 2008” that would address new projects.

Many of PNWA’s supported provisions are included in this bill.  Of special note is language that would make Section 214 permit funding authority permanent.  This tool was first authorized in WRDA 2000, and the subject of a great deal of PNWA and stakeholder efforts to avert sunset over the last few years.  The authority is currently authorized through December 31, 2008.  The House WRDA bill introduced a few weeks ago (H.R.1495) proposes extension of the authority through 2010.  PNWA will urge conferees to accept the Senate language, and make the authority permanent in WRDA this year.  To download PNWA’s fact sheet on Section 214, please visit www.pnwa.net. 

Another high profile PNWA-supported provision included in the Senate bill would remove the artificial operating restrictions on the west coast federal hopper dredges Essayons and Yaquina.  A coalition of ports and navigation interests headed by PNWA have argued for years that it is more cost effective for these dredges to operate as needed, rather than at an arbitrarily set number of operating days per year.  For a fact sheet and more information on the Essayons and Yaquina, please visit our website at www.pnwa.net.

Other PNWA-supported provisions contained in the Senate WRDA bill include removal of deed restriction provisions for the Ports of Lewiston, Clarkston and Whitman County, a dredge material placement provision for Puget Island in Wahkiakum County, and an increase in funding authority for Section 107 small navigation improvement projects.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has pledged to make floor time available for passage of the Senate version of WRDA, which is a positive sign.  The House WRDA bill also needs to be voted upon in that chamber, and then the two versions will be reconciled in a conference committee.  PNWA will be working closely with our West Coast members who serve on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee as well as the Senate Environment & Public Works committee to ensure that our preferred language survives in the conference committee and becomes law.  Stay tuned for more WRDA news, and to view PNWA’s WRDA documents, please visit www.pnwa.net.

Contact:  Kristin Meira 

Pacific Northwest Waterways Association                                http://www.pnwa.net/