Senate approves Water Resources Development Act

Senate approves Water Resources Development Act

Legislation sails into conference with provisions critical for Great Lakes shipping

The Senate in May overwhelmingly approved the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, legislation which would address issues critical to Great Lakes shipping.

The Senate bill, S. 1248, was sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and approved by a vote of 91 to 4.

The House of Representatives approved companion legislation (H.R. 1495) in April by a vote of 394 to 25. Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN), chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the principal sponsor of the House bill, and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, had recommended the legislation for quick action in the Senate.

The Water Resources Development Act will now proceed to a House-Senate conference with strong support, where differences between the two bills will be reconciled.

This legislation would authorize approximately $15 billion for water resources studies and construction projects by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Among other things, provisions of the Water Resources Development Act would authorize urgent Great Lakes dredging projects, as well as the construction of a second Poe-sized lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., at federal expense.

"I'm very encouraged by the support shown for the Water Resources Development Act in both houses of Congress," said AMO National Great Lakes Vice President Don Cree. "This is vital legislation for commerce on the lakes and addresses two problems that are constricting shipping-the lack of dredging where it is desperately needed and an additional Soo lock for the thousand-footers and other large vessels using the system."

As a result of lower water levels and inadequate dredging, U.S.-flagged lakers have consistently been forced to carry lighter loads on voyages, markedly reducing the efficiency of the waterborne cargo transportation system.'

The Water Resources Development Act would also authorize construction of a second Poe-sized lock. At Sault Ste. Marie, only the Poe Lock can accommodate ships longer than about 750 feet. Many ships in the Great Lakes fleet, including the 13 1,000-foot self-unloading bulk carriers, traveling between Lakes Superior and Huron must use this lock.

No legislation to address these and other water resources issues has been enacted since 2000.

Front Page

Return To Section-Front