By SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com
Friday, April 20, 2007

NEWS RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN
BART STUPAK
1ST CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT
OF MICHIGAN

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U.S. House passes water resources bill

Includes N. Michigan projects, Stupak amendment to fix dredging rules

WASHINGTON - The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) late yesterday.

Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) said that the measure includes a number of important northern Michigan projects.

As part of the bill, the House also adopted an amendment that Stupak authored, aimed at correcting an Administration policy for harbor dredging, that discriminates against smaller cities and towns.

"The legislation that we passed today instructs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete a number of critically important northern Michigan projects," Stupak said. "These projects are vital to the economic viability of northern Michigan communities and industry. The legislation also makes important strides towards protecting our Great Lakes."

Stupak amendment

The Stupak amendment, which was co-sponsored by Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Holland) and Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA), would prohibit the U.S. Army Corps from using a tonnage-based standard for determining which harbors to dredge.

"The Administration's tonnage based standard is unfairly biased against rural communities and harbors," Stupak said. "Not only does this policy hurt small-town America, but it is penny-wise and pound foolish. Two-thirds of all shipping in the United States either starts or finishes at small ports. By ignoring the needs of these communities, the Corps is also significantly harming the nation's economy."

Stupak said that northern Michigan harbors are hit hard by the Corps' unfair tonnage rules.

"Harbors like Ontonagon, Cheboygan, Grand Marais, Keweenaw Waterway, Menominee, Marquette, Tawas Bay, Whitefish Point and Petoskey lose out under the Corps' tonnage guidelines," Stupak said. "Dredging is essential not only to the economy of rural communities nationwide, but especially to northern Michigan towns."

Beyond the Stupak amendment that changed the tonnage requirements in the Corps dredging rules, the WRDA bill included several projects important to northern Michigan priorities:

Asian Carp

The WRDA bill authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to complete construction on a permanent barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to prevent Asian Carp and other invasive species from entering the Great Lakes.

The current barrier was meant only as a temporary solution and is badly in need of an upgrade.

"If Asian Carp enter the Great Lakes, they will decimate the population of our fish and fundamentally alter the ecosystem of the Lakes," Stupak said. "The legislation we passed tonight would authorize completion of a permanent barrier, while also shoring up the existing barrier. This project is vital to protecting all of our Great Lakes."

Menominee Harbor and River

The WRDA bill authorizes increasing the depth at the mouth of the Menominee River to allow ships to traverse the waterway.

"Manufacturing, shipbuilding and transportation industries in the Menominee area need to move supplies and products safely in and out of the Menominee River," Stupak said. "Increasing the authorized depth is vital to the economy of Menominee and the surrounding area."

Ontonagon Harbor

Stupak said that the WRDA bill authorizes construction of a walkway on the east pier in Ontonagon.

Prior to an Army Corps of Engineers project in 1995, the City of Ontonagon constructed a walkway on the east pier using state and local funds.

However, it is believed that the 1995 Corps project caused severe wave action that destroyed the east pier walkway.

"The WRDA bill contains legislation to authorize a study of the damage and, if it is determined the Corps damaged the walkway, then the Corps will be responsible for repairing it," Stupak noted.

Soo Locks

The measure includes a provision to move forward to build a new super lock in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

"Congress originally authorized a new Sault Lock over twenty years ago, but the Army Corps of Engineers has only studied the project and, it recently appeared the Corps might abandon the project altogether," Stupak said. "The language in this legislation says that the time for studying the problem is over and that the U.S. Army Corps should move forward with a new lock."

When Congress authorized a new Lock in Sault Ste. Marie as part of its 1986 Water Resources Development Act, the legislation made the project subject to a provision in the law requiring a study of the project approval by the Secretary of the U.S. Army Corps.

The legislation passed by the House last night includes a provision stating specifically that the Secretary of the Army Corps shall construct the lock, removing the study condition that has constantly delayed construction.

Traverse City Harbor

The bill also authorizes the repair of Traverse City Harbor.

Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) and its Great Lakes Maritime Academy (GLMA) have begun the process of renovating the harbor at NMC's Great Lakes Campus in Traverse City.

Stupak said that federal support for harbor repair would be a major boon to not only Traverse City, but to the surrounding area and to all of Michigan.

"Repairing Traverse City Harbor will support a number of important goals," Stupak noted. "The Traverse City Harbor is used by the Great Lakes Maritime Academy, our nation's only freshwater maritime academy. The Great Lakes Water Studies Institute and its educational and stewardship programs work out of Traverse City Harbor. Repairing the harbor will also provide pier access for local residents, meaning greater recreational benefits."

Au Sable River

The WRDA bill also includes provisions authorizing the Corps to dredge a portion of the Au Sable River that is important to local businesses.

"Without dredging the Au Sable River, boaters would have trouble accessing the river without risking severe damage to their boats," Stupak said. "This would be detrimental to local marinas, restaurants and other businesses that rely on boating traffic for customers."

"The projects contained in this year's WRDA will be of immense economic benefit to northern Michigan," Stupak concluded. "I was pleased this legislation passed and look forward to working with my colleagues throughout the legislative process to ensure it becomes law."

The WRDA bill passed the House by a vote of 394 to 25.

WRDA legislation must now be considered by the Senate.

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