Water Resources

Civil Works Budget Proposes $4.06 Billion Program

President Clinton's budget transmitted to Congress includes $4.06 billion for the USACE Civil Works program. In addition the program will include $322 million in non-federal contributions and trust fund receipts. Funding in this request will be used to continue the development of the nation's water resources, the efficient operations, maintenance and management of the nation's navigation, flood damage reduction, and multiple-purpose projects, the equitable regulation of wetlands, and the restoration of important environmental resources such as the South Florida Ecosystem. The budget also begins to address some of the Corps long-term water resources infrastructure main-tenance requirements. The budget includes a proposal to establish a Harbor Services User Fee and Harbor Services Fund (HSF). Under this proposal, fees would be charged to vessels transiting the harbors of the U.S. These receipts would be placed in the HSF and would be available the following fiscal year for appropriation to fund both construction and operation and maintenance of the nation's channels and harbors. The existing Harbor Maintenance Tax and Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund would be repealed, and the remaining balance of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund would be deposited in the new HSF. The budget proposes to appropriate $950 million from the fund in FY 01, with $250 million applied to port improvement construction and $700 million to fund operation and maintenance requirements.

AAPA Applauds Vote on WRDA

After a successful floor vote in the U.S. House of Representatives today to approve passage of a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) authorization bill, American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) President/CEO Kurt Nagle applauded committee and subcommittee leaders for championing the legislation, noting that this is a prelude to conference and final passage of one of the most critically-needed authorization bills of this session.

AAPA Hails Senate Passage of Water Resources Development Act

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) welcomed the U.S. Senate’s approval last evening of the long-pending Water Resources Development Act (S. 728), which addresses a six-year backlog of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers programs, including navigation projects, policies and procedures necessary to keep pace with today’s burgeoning trade. The bill also includes a number of important provisions for the Corps, such as an amendment proposed by Sens

President Bush Vetoes WRDA bill

The White House issued a statement from President Bush saying that he has vetoed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), contending that the measure was not fiscally responsible. The measure now goes back to Congress where an attempt will be made to override the veto. [Source: HK Law]

Port Industry Urges Congress To Fund Investments

During testimony today before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, port director Erik Stromberg urged Congress to provide adequate funding for deep draft navigation projects. Stromberg is executive director of the North Carolina State Ports Authority in Wilmington, N.C. He testified on behalf of the American Association of Port Authorities, a trade association representing ports in the Western Hemisphere.

Peter Stephaich Testifies in Favor of New WRDA

Peter Stephaich, Chairman of Campbell Transportation Company in Pittsburgh, PA, and Executive Committee member of Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI), testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee on “Foundations for a New Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).” Mr. Stephaich addressed the importance of water resources development legislation

Public Ports Push For Federal Funding Of Deep Draft Navigation

Public Ports Push For Federal Funding Of Deep Draft Navigation U.S. public port officials testified Wednesday, Nov. 3, at a hearing before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment about the continued need for federal government investment in maintaining harbors around the country to ensure that the U.S. maintains a modern, efficient and safe marine transportation system.

Birnbaum Named Director of MMS

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar appointed Liz Birnbaum, an attorney with two decades of federal government and private sector experience in energy and environmental policy, as Director of the Department’s Minerals Management Service. The appointment does not require Senate confirmation. As Director of the Minerals Management Service, Birnbaum administers programs that ensure the effective management of renewable and traditional energy and mineral resources on the nation’s

PPG Coatings Earns George Campbell Award

PPG Industries’ (NYSE: PPG) protective and marine coatings (PMC) business has been selected as a recipient of The Society for Protective Coatings (SSPC) George Campbell Award for 2009-2010.  PPG PMC earned the recognition for the performance of its Amerlock 2/400 coating at the Deer Island Water Treatment Facility in Boston Harbor. The product, a fast-setting, high-solid epoxy coating, was applied to a gravity thickener at the plant

Dredging Vital to US Ports, Senate Hearing Informed

Chairman American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) explains  the importance of dredging to the industry & the US economy. Jerry Bridges, the American Association of Port Authorities’ Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority in his testimony informed  the hearing, entitled 'Water Resources Development Act: Growing the Economy and Protecting Public Safety', of the fundamental importance of dredging to the industry.