Honorable David Vitter Corps' Emergency Funding Letter
February 26, 2010 —
Dear Senator Vitter:
The Lower Mississippi River (LMR) has been at less than authorized dimensions since approximately November, 2009. There have been several transit restrictions imposed because of the excessive shoaling related to the extended high water period. The latest draft restriction of 45 feet was recently imposed by the Crescent River Port Pilots Association in the lower extremities of their reach. Last week that draft restriction was at 43 feet (temporarily), and it was only adjusted after the Corps reassigned dredges to remove sediment from these areas of the channel Above Head of Passes. The water level on the LMR has remained elevated at historic levels since November, 2009. New stage records have been reported during this time when compared to the detailed records the Corps began maintaining in 1935. During normal periods, dredging is at a minimum at this time of year.
There are currently five dredges working from Mile 10 Above Head of Passes (AHP) to the end of Southwest Pass (SWP). The Corps’ New Orleans District (NOD) has been working two government hopper dredges–the WHEELER and the McFARLAND–under the Red Flag emergency protocol for over a month since no industry hoppers were available. There are two industry hopper dredges also working in this reach of the LMR–the TERRAPIN ISLAND and the NEWPORT. The Corps has also contracted a cutterhead dredge to work in the lower extremities of SWP in order to attempt to return the channel to authorized dimensions. The cutterhead’s contract and option hours have been extended to keep it working on the lower areas in SWP. This dredge has been working on the west side (or right descending bank) and, over the next week or so, it will move and begin working on the east side (or left descending bank) in SWP.
The Corps informed us that they should be able to reprogram $30 million by Monday, March 1, 2010. This anticipated shuffling of funds allowed the Corps to advertise one more hopper dredge contract, which was awarded to the industry hopper dredge STUYVESANT of February 25, 2010. According to the best information we have, there will not be another hopper dredge available until approximately early April unless one is pulled away from another contract before then. The only other Corps’ hopper dredge that can work on the LMR is the ESSAYONS. However, this dredge is being repaired on the West Coast, and the best estimates are that it cannot be on scene until mid-April.
The Corps estimates that even after the $30 million is reprogrammed, they will need an additional $67 million to restore and maintain authorized dimensions on the LMR. GSMA realizes that the shortage of hopper dredges and funding is impacting many ports across the nation, but draft restrictions on the LMR carry with them a substantial financial burden. Louisiana is the nation’s largest maritime state and is home to 5 of the top 15 ports in the nation, which includes the largest port complex and the busiest waterway in the world. Louisiana’s waterways are accessible by over 30 states interconnected by our shallow- and deep-draft channels. The grain transported from the Midwest to the deep-draft ports along the Mississippi River, the world’s economic superhighway, feeds the world.
GSMA respectfully requests support from our Congressional Delegation to seek this supplemental, or emergency, funding to maintain the LMR for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2010. We are also requesting assistance in seeking a remedy for the critical shortfall of funding to maintain the nation’s harbors and waterways via full appropriations of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF). GSMA encourages our nation’s representatives to lend their support to the forthcoming Stupak-Boustany HMTF bill via the House of Representatives. We also encourage the same endorsement for the inclusion of HMTF language in the 2010 Water Resources Development Act.
GSMA thanks those members who have already signed “Dear Colleague” letters supporting the Realize America’s Maritime Promise (RAMP), the HMTF Fund Fairness Coalition. Louisiana remains the only state whose entire Congressional Delegation has fervently supported this effort.
RAMP’s mission statement reads:
“Monies collected under the Harbor Maintenance Tax should be used for their intended purpose- maintenance dredging of our Nation’s ports and harbors- and not simply to mask the federal debt and deficit. The need is particularly acute now, at a time when the volume of trade is exploding and so many Federal dredging needs are going unmet.”
Currently, the surplus of unappropriated funds collected via the Harbor Maintenance Tax and distributed into the HMTF exceeds $5 billion. The recent Presidential directive to focus on stimulating the economy has missed one benefit, and that is to stimulate the nation’s maritime industry and world trade by using these monies for their intended purposes and therefore promoting maritime jobs and world trade. The HMTF, if dedicated for its intended purpose, would require no supplemental funding for harbor maintenance.
Very truly yours,
GULF STATES MARITIME ASSOCIATION
Sean M. Duffy, Sr.
President and CEO
