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| PSAT member Greg Guenther, center, joined Michael Morrow, left, and
Luis Zambrana, right, both of North American Bioenergy Resources, in
Washington, D.C., this week to honor outgoing Army Corps of Engineers
Commander Lt. Gen. Robert Flowers. |
NCGA’s
Guenther Thanks Corps Commander for Dedication to Lock Modernization
(7-1-04)
On behalf of the thousands of corn growers who benefit from modern,
well-maintained transportation systems, National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) member Greg Guenther this week thanked Lt. Gen. Robert Flowers,
the outgoing commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, for his
dedication to upgrading antiquated locks on the upper Mississippi
and Illinois rivers.
Flowers was honored Wednesday at a Ft. Myers, Va., retirement
ceremony. Lt. Gen. Carl Strock will replace Flowers as the Corps
commander.
“Lt. Gen. Flowers has always advocated the need for modernization
of transportation infrastructure on the Mississippi and Illinois
river systems,” said Guenther, an Illinois farmer and member
of NCGA’s Production and Stewardship Action Team. “We
thank him for his diligent work through the years.”
Guenther said
Flowers was instrumental in ensuring the Corps’ feasibility
study of upper Mississippi and Illinois improvements was completed
in a timely and thorough fashion. After 12 years of work on the
study, the Corps finally issued its preferred alternative in May.
The outgoing commander also was a catalyst for ensuring important
ecosystem restoration measures were integrated into the plan, Guenther
said.
The preferred alternative establishes a framework for modifications
and operational changes to ensure environmental sustainability
and navigation efficiencies. The plan includes a $5.3 billion long-term
framework for ecosystem restoration, and a $2.4 billion allotment
for navigation efficiency improvements. Recommended navigation
improvements include construction of seven new 1,200-foot locks
on the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers.
Taking a cue
from the Corps’ recommendation, a group of
senators introduced legislation in late May that would authorize
the seven new locks. Last week, the Senate Environment and Public
Works Committee advanced a Water Resources Development Act that
includes the lock modernization measures. Guenther said the recent
legislative action is cause for optimism among farmers who use
the river system to transport grain and inputs.
“Infrastructure on the upper Mississippi and Illinois is
in extremely poor condition, and users of the system continue to
experience traffic congestion and high transportation costs,” Guenther
said. “Modernization continues to be a priority for corn
growers. Lt. Gen. Flowers was an ardent supporter of a thorough
lock modernization project. We will miss his leadership and vision,
but we look forward to continuing a great working relationship
with the new commander.”