NCGA
Urges Support of Lock Modernization in Letter to House Committee
(5-17-05)
In anticipation
of markup of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2005,
the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) sent letters this week
to members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
urging support for lock modernization on the Upper Mississippi and
Illinois rivers.
Markup is expected
to begin in the House May 25. Legislation authorizing new locks
for the upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers is one of NCGA’s
top priorities for 2005.
“The
House is tentatively scheduled to introduce a WRDA bill next week,
followed by committee markup,” said Lisa Kelley, NCGA director
of public policy. WRDA legislation will include similar language
to the Senate WRDA bill introduced April 6 calling for authorization
for construction of seven 1,200-foot locks, according to Kelley.
In letter to
the committee members, NCGA President Leon Corzine, said growers’
competitive advantage is tied to efficient transportation infrastructure
and if upgrades are not made, delays will continue forcing the price
of commodities to increase by up to 17 cents per bushel. This in
turn will hurt export opportunities and profitability, he added.
“Every
day, the price of grain a farmer receives at his home market is
largely based on the price of grain that moves on the Mississippi
River to export markets, and each year more than 1 billion bushels
of grain (about 60 percent of all grain exports) are shipped for
export via the Mississippi River,” said Corzine. “Yet,
the waterways infrastructure on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois
rivers was built in the 1930s with a life expectancy of 50 years;
frequent delays caused by these antiquated locks are hurting our
family farmers.”
The letter
also outlines the environmental benefits from lock modernization.,
including environmental restoration as well as a responsible means
of moving bulk commodities. “The backwaters created by the
lock and dam system support over 40 percent of the migratory water
fowl and fish breeding grounds and are home to more than 500 miles
of wildlife refuge. In addition, more than $1 billion are generated
each year in recreational use – fishing, hunting, and tourism,”
the letter states.
“According
to the EPA, towboats emit 35-60% fewer pollutants than locomotives
and trucks,” the letter continues. “The U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers data suggests the nation currently saves $100-$300
million in air pollution abatements by moving bulk commodities via
barge on the Upper Mississippi River System. Furthermore, one gallon
of fuel in a towboat can carry one ton of freight 2.5 times farther
than rail and 9 times farther than truck.”
NCGA supports
the Corps reform provisions crafted in a bipartisan spirit during
the last Congress. Corzine noted that efforts to change these provisions
are under way by navigation and would strangle the economic engines
and environmental projects so crucial to maintaining a robust water
resources program in the United States. Corn growers believe these
provisions are key to passage of WRDA this Congress.
The letters
were sent to committee members in corn growing states. To view a
letter sent to the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee,
please click here.