Inland Waterways: The National Perspective Amy Larson Executive Director National Waterways Conference, Inc PNWA Annual Meeting

Pacific Northwest Waterways Association Annual Meeting October 15, 2008 Amy Larson

3 Our Mission The mission of the National Waterways Conference is to effect common sense policies and programs, recognizing the public value of our Nation's waterway system and its contribution to public safety, a competitive economy, security, environmental quality and energy conservation.

4 Waterways with multiple missions... Flood Control Water Supply Hydropower Navigation Recreation

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6 Appropriations FY09 - Senate & House: $5.3 B for Corps CR to March 6, FY08 level - $5.58B –Additional $2.77B for disaster relief $121M for Miss River and others $740M for dredging $415M for other eligible projects $1.5B for Southeast Louisiana coastal restoration (non-Fed share)

7 HR 2421 Clean Water Restoration Act Purpose: To clarify the jurisdictional scope of the Clean Water Act

8 HR 2421 Clean Water Restoration Act Congressional Concerns 1.Inconsistent tests for determining jurisdiction, 2.Uncertainty and delay in state and local construction projects, 3.Ability to protect against discharges of pollutants from point sources, 4.Creation of coverage gaps, 5.Potential for states to lose Federal grant funding, and 6.Impact on other environmental statutes and regulations.

9 HR 2421 Clean Water Restoration Act Waters of the United States: all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, the territorial seas, and all interstate and intrastate waters and their tributaries, including lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, natural ponds, and all impoundments of the foregoing, to the fullest extent that these waters, or activities affecting these waters, are subject to the legislative powers of Congress under the Constitution.

10 Recent Hearings House T&I Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment: Comprehensive Watershed Management Planning Senate Finance: Transportation Infrastructure: Issues and Options Joint House T&I and Budget: Financing Infrastructure Investments House T&I, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment: WRDA 2008

11 Public Infrastructure Spending

12 Federal Infrastructure Spending

13 EPA Discharge Permit Requirements 9 th Circuit decision Requires permit for all discharges incidental to normal vessel operations Implementation: December 19, 2008

14 EPA’s Marine Engine Program EPA addresses 3 types of marine diesel engines –Category 1: up to 5* liters per cylinder Similar in size to land-based nonroad engines –Category 2: 5* to 30 liters per cylinder Similar in size to locomotive engines –Category 3: at or above 30 liters per cylinder Very large engines for propulsion on ocean-going vessels * 7 l/cyl for Tier 3 and 4

15 Recreational Category 2 <75 hp gen sets sailboats cruisers yachts auxiliary power for ocean-going vessels workboatsfishing vessels police boats ferries tugboats Great Lakes freighters ocean-going ships Category 3 (>30 liter/cyl) What EPA Rules Cover-- Marine Diesels Category 1 Commercial

16 Used to Govern formulation, evaluation and implementation of water resources projects. Economic Development Environmental Quality Value to Community Social Benefits Public Safety USACE PRINCIPLES & STANDARDS

17 MTSNAC 1.Support the efforts of the private sector to improve the efficiency of the system 2.Recruit, train and retain sufficient personnel 3.Support continued development of a marine highway system 4.Continue to recognize and support regional freight solutions

18 MTSNAC 5.Protect system reliability by preserving freight infrastructure 6.Enable timely, consistent and accurate measurement of capacity and productivity 7.Re-energize and complete the National Freight Policy Framework 8.Encourage private sector investment

19 MTSNAC 9.Assert Federal preemption over interstate commerce 10.Reestablish Office of Intermodalism 11.Ensure the sustainability of intermodal connectors 12.Reduce the environmental impact and increase the energy efficiency of marine transportation system

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