Inland Waterways: The National PerspectiveAmy Larson

Executive Director

National Waterways Conference, Inc.

2008 PNWA Annual Meeting

Pacific Northwest Waterways Association Annual Meeting

October 15, 2008Amy Larson

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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.

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Waterways with multiple missions...

Flood Control

Water Supply

Hydropower

Navigation

Recreation

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Appropriations

• FY09 - Senate & House: $5.3 B for Corps

• CR to March 6, 2009 - 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)

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HR 2421 Clean Water Restoration Act

Purpose: To clarify the jurisdictional scope of the Clean Water Act

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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.

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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.

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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

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Public Infrastructure Spending

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Federal Infrastructure Spending

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EPA Discharge Permit Requirements

• 9th Circuit decision

• Requires permit for all discharges incidental to normal vessel operations

• Implementation: December 19, 2008

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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

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Recreational

Category 2

<75 hp

gen sets sailboats

cruisers

yachts

auxiliary power for ocean-going

vessels

workboats fishing vesselspolice boats

ferriestugboats

Great Lakes freighters

ocean-going ships

Category 3(>30 liter/cyl)

What EPA Rules Cover--Marine Diesels

Category 1 Commercial

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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

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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

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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

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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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