CONGRESSMAN BISHOP HAILS USCG DECISION TO CONTINUE SERVICE ON ACF WATERWAY

GEORGETOWN, GA — Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) welcomed the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) decision to continue maintaining the Aids to Navigation Team (ANT) at the Lake Eufaula United States Coast Guard (USCG) station. The ANT Eufaula maintains the navigation system on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint River (ACF) waterway, which helps to keep Lake Walter F. George, Lake Seminole, and the river system safe for boaters and fishers. Originally planned to close operations due to budget constraints, the Coast Guard has reconsidered due to safety and community concerns.

“The United States Coast Guard’s decision to keep ANT Eufaula operations open is great news for boaters and fishers in Georgia and Alabama,” said Congressman Bishop, “For the sake of safety, commerce, and recreation, it is imperative that the ACF waterway remains securely navigable, and so I applaud the Coast Guard’s wise assessment.”

The continuation of federal aid from the USCG to ANT Eufaula helps commercial barge traffic and also greatly benefits the usage of recreational boating traffic on these waterways. The aid also benefits the local economy by supplying more jobs and revenue from boating sales and activities in the community.

Last month, Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL), Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), and Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) sent a letter to Admiral Paul Zukunft of the Coast Guard, joining the many community voices expressing strong opposition to the removal of the river navigation aids. To view the letter, please click here.

###