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PRESS RELEASE: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Completes Chief’s Report Recommending Deepening the Port of Brownsville

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            PRESS CONTACT:

November 17, 2014                                                      Brenda Lopez 956.544.8352

                                                                                                                                        

PRESS RELEASE: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Completes Chief’s Report Recommending Deepening the Port of Brownsville 

 

WASHINGTON, DC – Recently, Lieutenant General Thomas Bostick, U.S. Army Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, submitted to the Secretary of the Army a report recommending the Port of Brownsville’s channel known as the Brazos Island Harbor Channel be deepened to 52 feet.  Currently, the Port of Brownsville is maintained at a depth of 42 feet.  

 

The Port of Brownsville is the only deepwater port located on the U.S. and Mexico border.  Each year, the Port of Brownsville supports more than 11,000 jobs and has an estimated $925 million local economic impact.

 

The document, known as a Chief’s Report, recommends that the Brownsville Ship Channel be deepened to 52 feet and estimates that it will cost approximately $251,000,000 with the federal share being approximately $116,000,000.  Importantly, the Chief’s Report explains that deepening the Port of Brownsville will have significant economic advantages for commercial navigation in South Texas.  

 

"I am pleased that the Army Corps has completed this report," said Congressman Vela.  “Deepening the Port of Brownsville is vital for our region and will ensure it is capable of servicing the next generation of vessels.  I will continue to work with the Port of Brownsville and the Army Corps on this project."

 

"Completing the feasibility study on the deepening of the Brownsville Ship Channel and securing the Chief's Report substantiates that the deepening project is in the national interest and merits consideration for federal authorization,” said Port of Brownsville Director and CEO Eduardo Campirano.  "This is a significant milestone in the process to pursue the deepening of the ship channel from 42 feet to 52 feet.  While there is still much work to be done to realize the deepening of the ship channel, this puts us one step closer to accomplishing the project.”

 

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