Issue 272, May 4, 2007

In this issue:
Online Registration available *now* for the 2007 PNWA Mid-Year Meeting
WRDA introduced in the Senate
Dan James named Vice President at PNGC Power

Port Executive Director positions open

 

 

Online Registration available *now* for the 2007 PNWA Mid-Year Meeting

Make plans today to attend the 2007 PNWA Mid-Year Meeting, June 20th-22nd, 2007.� The Mid-Year meeting has something of interest for all of our members and will feature:

 

  • Corps panel discussion by top officials who will address: Five Year Funding Plan, Permitting, Salmon and BiOp, MCR Jetties, the Elliot Bay Seawall, Channel Deepening, John Day Lock, Coastal Ports, Little Goose, Lower Monumental, and PSMP.��
  • USCG Capt. Patrick Gerrity discussing Waterways Security, LNG issues, and Port Safety ratings.
  • Green Dams, Blue Skies Introduction by the co-chairs of the campaign.�
  • Much More!

 

This year�s event will be held at the Red Lion Richland Hanford House in Richland, Washington.� There are a limited number of participants, so log on *now* to reserve your spot!

 

Hotel Information

 

Meeting dates:�� Wednesday, June 20th � Friday, June 22nd, 2007.

Location: ��������� Red Lion Richland Hanford House

����������������������� 802 George Washington Way

����������������������� Richland, WA� 99352

����������������������� 1-800-RED-LION

����������������������� www.redlion.com

 

Note: to qualify for PNWA�s discounted rate of $79.95/night (double/single), your reservation must be made no later than May 27th, 2007.� Reservations are accepted by the hotel on a first come, first served basis, and the PNWA room block may become sold out before May 27th.� Make your reservations today to guarantee your room.�

 

Sponsorship

 

Please remember to indicate your level of sponsorship on your registration form.� Every sponsor will be recognized during our breaks, lunches and reception, and throughout our meeting program.� Your sponsorship greatly contributes to the success of our meetings and we appreciate your help. �Don�t miss your chance to get involved today!

 

Reception

 

Our evening reception will be a BBQ Picnic in the Park on Wednesday, June 20th from 5pm-7pm.� This event, featuring bluegrass music and a country theme, will be held at North Howard Amon Park, overlooking the Columbia River.� Don�t forget your cowboy hats!�

 

We look forward to seeing you in Richland!� If you have any questions, please contact Heather Kenneson by email or at 503-234-8553.

Staff Contact: Heather Kenneson

 


WRDA introduced in the Senate

The Senate version of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) was officially introduced on April 30th, and assigned bill number S.1248.� This bill was successfully reported out of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee on March 29th, and stakeholders have been urging Committee leadership to send the bill to the floor quickly.� 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 last 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.� The Senate committee report (110-58) referenced this, noting that �the committee is aware that the current restrictions on the Federal hopper dredges do not maximize the use of these important Federal resources.�� 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, OR and a portion of riverfront in Clatsop County, WA, 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 consideration of S.1248, as early as next week.� Nor�wester readers will remember that the House overwhelmingly passed their version of WRDA (H.R.1495) on April 19th.� Once the Senate passes their bill, 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.

 

PNWA Staff Contact: Kristin Meira

Dan James named Vice President at PNGC Power

PNWA-member firm PNGC Power announced that Dan James will be their new Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing beginning June 4. Dan began his career in the Washington, DC office of U.S. Representative Les AuCoin. He was PNWA's Government Relations Specialist for nine years. Most recently he was Senior Government Relations Specialist at Ball Janik, also a PNWA member. Dan will take the position formerly held by Scott Corwin, who is now the Executive Director at the Public Power Council. Dan assures us that he will be staying involved with clients and projects for a time beyond his start date at PNGC, to allow for a smooth transition. PNWA looks forward to continuing to work with Dan in his new role.

Port Executive Director positions open

The Port of Brookings Harbor and the Port of Siuslaw are recruiting for Executive Directors. Interested parties should send letters of introduction and resumes, including employment history and education, to Special Districts Association of Oregon, PO Box 12613, Salem, OR 97309-0613. Add: "Attn: Port of Siuslaw Executive Director Search Committee" or  "Attn: Brookings Harbor Executive Director Search Committee", as appropriate. The Siuslaw position closes June 1, 2007. The Brookings Harbor recruitment closes June 8, 2007.


Pacific Northwest Waterways Association                         �����������������www.pnwa.net

 

 

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