WRDA Passes in the Senate: 83-14

A job well done!  Breaking news from the Waterways Council Inc:

"This afternoon, in a roll call vote of 83-14, the long-overdue Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), S. 601, passed the Senate.   WCI expresses its gratitude to Senate Environment & Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Ranking Member David Vitter (R-LA) for their collaborative efforts to draft, manage and pass the critically important bill.  WCI is also especially grateful for the inclusion of several provisions of the RIVER (Reinvesting In Vital Economic Rivers and Waterways) Act, S. 407, introduced by Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), and co-sponsored by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS).

Of specific interest to inland waterways stakeholders, the Senate-passed WRDA bill contains provisions to remove the over-budget and long-delayed Olmsted lock and dam project from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF), the remainder of the cost to be paid 100% by general treasury revenue and not cost-shared 50-50 through the IWTF.  This action will free up around $750 million to the IWTF to complete critical priority navigation projects. 

An increase in the threshold for major rehabilitation, from the current $14 million to $20 million, was approved.    

Also included in the WRDA bill is prioritization of navigation projects and revamping of project delivery processes to achieve on time and within budget performance.  Prioritization is based upon risk of failure and benefits to the nation with an emphasis on finishing projects already underway and ensuring that funding is available to efficiently complete work. Ensuring that future Corps’ estimates for project costs have a confidence level of at least 80% is also included.

Passage of increased funding for inland port dredging to be released from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund was also welcomed by the industry in the final WRDA bill.

Not included in the Senate WRDA bill is the industry-supported provision to increase the diesel fuel user fee.  The Constitution requires that revenue enhancement measures originate in the House of Representatives, therefore this provision must originate in the House version of WRDA or be added to some other revenue measure.    

Special thanks for the strong support on passage of WRDA to all of our operator and shipper members, our stakeholders in the agriculture, agribusiness, manufacturing, labor and jobs sectors, and to the ports community.  It has helped to make the difference to move this critical bill forward. 

Now onto the House…!"

Thank you for support from AEP River Operations!

**CANCELLED** FREE Public Tours of the M/V Donna Rushing

AEP River Operations will be mooring their M/V Donna Rushing at the St. Louis Riverfront on Saturday, May 18th and Sunday, May 19th, 2013.  The towboat will be open to the public for FREE tours from 9am to 12noon and 1pm to 4pm each day.  Bring your family and learn about life on the river and the importance of America's Waterways!

Click HERE for more information.  See you at the river!

Update on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 8:41AM by Administrator

M/V DOR TOURS on 5/18-19 have been CANCELLED due to high water. 

We apologize for any inconvenience, but the safety of our guests and crews is our #1 priority.

RiverWorks Discovery unveils new traveling exhibit

RiverWorks Discovery (RWD), an educational outreach program that provides answers to everyday river questions, has a new project - the RWD traveling exhibit, "RiverWorks Discovery: A Journey of Exploration and Imagination on America’s Waterways"!  The exhibit opened on February 23^rd in Shreveport, LA at Sci-Port Discovery Center.  Sci-Port staff has reported that visitors of all ages have engaged with the exhibit, and walk away with more awareness and understanding of the importance of the commerce, culture and conservation of our nations rivers. 

Over a 3 year period, this 2,000 square foot museum quality exhibit will travel to 12 different venues, allowing RWD the opportunity to reach many new audiences.  RWD will work with the host locations’ educational team to implement extra RWD programming while the exhibit is on display.  RWD will also work with local sponsors to help fund fieldtrips for area students to visit the exhibit and attend a special RWD program.  In late May 2013, the exhibit will travel to Memphis, TN and stay on display through October at Mud Island River Park’s Mississippi River Museum.

The National Rivers Hall of Fame and the entire RWD team wishes to thank their co-sponsors, annual supporters and traveling exhibit donors for collaborating to educate our country's many citizens about the importance of our nations great rivers and making RWD possible in our communities and around the country.

    

Low Water Situation Frequent Topic in the Media

The current low water situation on the Mid and Lower Mississippi River has continued to capture the media's attention. Here are several recent articles we've found:

http://global.christianpost.com/news/mississippi-river-shut-down-threat-droughts-could-cause-10000-job-losses-86471/

http://www.inquisitr.com/433217/mississippi-river-may-shut-down-due-to-low-water-levels/

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/fixing-the-mississippi-s-infrastructure-critical-to-farm-economy/article_9eb0d14e-a047-569e-b7a9-5d150d10cc19.html

AEP River Operations honored with 2012 Green Fleets of the Bluegrass Award

LOUISVILLE -  AEP River Operations was honored to accept the 2012 Green Fleets of the Bluegrass award by the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition, in recognition of its success in improving environmental performance. The Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC) was established in 1993 to provide the first alternative fuels resource for Kentucky educators, consumers and providers of alternative fuels/vehicles.

The Green Fleets of the Bluegrass award supports and recognizes all participating fleets’ efforts to improve environmental performance.  Demonstrated reduction in petroleum use and the use of alternative and advanced technology vehicles and fuels results in the strongest Green Fleets of the Bluegrass ratings.  Participating fleets are evaluated on seven criteria: vehicles, fuel, maintenance, operation, partnerships, strategy, and transparency.

Nominees and guests came together on December 4 at the Frazier History Museum in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.  Bill Jacob, KCFC president and vice president of UPS, presented the award to Sebastian Seifarth, independent subcontractor for AEP River Operations.  

Bill Jacob, left and Sebastian Seifarth, right.