NCGA
Encouraged by Corps Announcement on Lock Expansion (4-21-04)
Officials from the Army Corps of Engineers said Monday they would
seek congressional approval to extend and modernize a number of locks
on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. As a longtime proponent of
lock modernization, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)
welcomes the announcement and looks forward to congressional authorization
of lock construction.
After studying the feasibility of navigation improvements for nearly
13 years, the Corps is now in the process of developing a preferred
alternative for lock upgrades on the two rivers.
In a recent interview
with The Associated Press, Lt. Gen. Robert Flowers, the Corps’ chief engineer, said the agency’s
preferred alternative will request immediate implementation of small-scale
measures to alleviate lock congestion, authorization to begin preconstruction
engineering and design work, and authorization for construction of
five 1,200-foot locks to replace antiquated 600-foot locks. The preferred
alternative is also expected to include a long-term plan for expansion
of seven additional locks, bringing the total number of improved
locks to 12.
In explaining his actions to expedite the construction approval
process, Flowers said infrastructure on the upper Mississippi and
Illinois is in extremely poor condition, and users of the system
are experiencing difficulties.
“The sense of urgency comes from the fact that the system
out there right now is limping along,” Flowers told the AP. “The
fear we have is that we'll have some catastrophic breakdown in the
system, which will have a major economic impact.”
For more than a decade, NCGA has worked tirelessly with the navigation
industry, carpenters unions and other commodity groups to promote
expansion and refurbishment of antiquated locks on the two crucial
waterways.
“Lock expansion has been one of our top priorities for a number
of years,” Tolman said. “It’s encouraging to see
the study process finally coming to a close and preconstruction process
beginning. Now it’s time to get the ball rolling – we
don’t have any more time to lose. A well-maintained, modern
waterways system is essential if we are to keep our footing in world
grain markets.”
Tolman said the dilapidated locks are simply too small to accommodate
modern tows, and the inadequacy of the system increases operating
expenses for barge lines and inflates transportation costs for grain
farmers.
The Corps will release its preferred alternative to stakeholders
in early May. A stakeholder comment period and several public meetings
in various upper basin locations will follow in June. Tolman encouraged
growers to attend the meetings and voice their support of immediate
lock improvements.
“It’s imperative that producers come to these meetings
and make their opinions known,” he said. “The Corps is
interested in what we have to say, and this is our last chance to
let them know that our livelihood and competitiveness will be greatly
affected by continued inaction on this issue.”
Based on written
comments and input from the public meetings, the Corps will make
a formal
recommendation on lock improvements to the
Office of the Chief of Engineers. Flowers will then formulate the “chief’s
report,” which will include his final recommendation on navigation
improvement and environmental restoration. The chief’s report
will be submitted to Congress in November.
To voice your support for immediate lock expansion measures, send
an e-mail message to your legislators from the Action Alert center
at www.ncga.com.