Acting at the request of Congressman Zach Wamp, the U.S. House included in the Water Resources Development Act language directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do a final report to establish the need to replace Chickamauga Lock. The bill passed the House on Thursday.

That development was the latest in months of efforts by Congressman Wamp to make sure that that the needed language is passed into law this year.

Replacing the lock remains a top priority for Congressman Wamp. "It is critical for the timing of the replacement of the lock to get authorization for this study this year," said Wamp. "And today we are one step closer to our long-term goal of replacing the lock."

The study will look at the life expectancy of the lock, the economic feasibility of replacing the lock, including several different lock sizes, and any other options that can be justified. The final version, a Report of the Chief of Engineers, or Chief's Report, will be submitted to Congress with the Corps' official recommendation for the lock's future. This Chief's Report is a critical step in getting authorization to replace the deteriorating lock.

Congressman Wamp has worked closely with both TVA and the Corps to make sure that the necessary steps are in place to have a replacement lock authorized. Several years ago the Corps estimated that with annual repair and maintenance, the lock could remain open until 2010. So far, Congressman Wamp has included $4.2million in fiscal year 1999, $2.8million in 2000 and $1.9 was included in the House-passed Energy and Water Conference Report for 2001 for annual Operations and Maintenance work by the Corps.