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WYDEN WINS APPROVAL ON AMENDMENT
TO KEEP
HOPPER DREDGES WORKING IN PACIFIC PORTS
Measure requiring better use of taxpayer
dollars, better port maintenance is voted into major water resources
bill today
June 23, 2004
Washington,
DC – U.S.
Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today won passage of his amendment
to eliminate artificial restrictions on the operation of the
two Northwest hopper dredges, as the restrictions do not save
taxpayer dollars and in fact have led to inadequate maintenance
of Pacific ports. The Wyden amendment, approved today by the
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, directs the Secretary
of the Army instead to operate the dredges to the maximum extent
practicable and in the manner that is most cost effective and
in the best financial interest of taxpayers. Restrictions on
the use of the Essayons and Yaquina dredges were imposed in 1993
to promote private industry participation in dredging; however,
a study by the General Accounting Office (GAO) found that the
restrictions led to insufficient dredging of ports on the Pacific
Coast. This, in turn, has raised shipping costs and financially
damaged coastal communities and businesses.
"Oregon taxpayers shouldn't be paying for dredges that
aren't working, and Oregon's coastal communities shouldn't have
to take a hit from artificial restrictions that don't save money
and that leave our ports less safe," said Wyden, who authored
the amendment along with U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)
and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). "If dredging isn't done right,
our coastal economies suffer, and this amendment will help get
our ports and coastal businesses back on track."
According to the GAO, restrictions on operation of the Army
Corps hopper dredge fleet have effectively reduced the annual
work schedule of the Corps' hopper dredges from about 230 days
per year to about 180 days. However, GAO found that most of the
costs of the Corps' hopper dredges are incurred even if the dredges
aren't working. This means that in addition to a decline in port
maintenance, there are virtually no cost savings to taxpayers
from limiting the number of days the hopper dredges can work.
Adopting a standard based on the best interests of the taxpayers
will also allow dredging work to be performed by private dredge
contractors when that is the most cost-effective approach. No
work will be set aside either for the private dredge industry
or the Army Corps
dredges; all dredging work will be conducted based on cost-effectiveness
and benefit to taxpayers, coastal communities and ports.
"We very much appreciate the leadership of Senators Wyden,
Crapo and Boxer. They understand the importance of keeping harbors
and channels open for trade and commerce," said Glenn Vanselow,
Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. "Lifting
the restrictions will benefit the taxpayers by reducing costs
and increasing responsiveness in meeting West Coast navigation
needs."
The Wyden amendment is now part of the Water Resources Development
Act, which is expected to be considered by the full Senate in
the coming months.
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