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Corps releases Columbia River project report 01/30/03 Daily Journal of Commerce Cody McCullough Federal plans to deepen the Columbia River came one step closer to becoming a reality this week, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its supplemental integrated feasibility report and environmental impact statement. Several aspects of the project, which would allow larger shipping vessels to access the river, have been modified since the corps released its initial feasibility report in 1999. According to Matte Rabe, spokesman for the corps, the proposed project will remain environmentally sound, economically justified and include additional environmental protections. “This is a very comprehensive report that details analysis of cost and economic factors, as well as addressing the environmental concerns of the project,” Rabe said. The corps is now estimating that the cost of the proposed project will be $134 million, less than a previous 1999 estimate of $188 million. The project is predicted, by the corps, to bring a return of $1.71 for every dollar spent on the project, up from a previous estimate of $1.46. According to Rabe, the benefits are calculated as a reduction in shipping costs for exporting goods out of the region. A review by The Oregonian last year, however, found that the project would only return 88 cents per dollar spent. In order for corps projects to qualify for congressional money, they must return at least $1 for every public dollar spent. “We think their numbers were off and didn’t adequately capture all of the potential benefits of the project,” Rabe said in response to The Oregonian’s review. “The corps’ analysis reconfirms the solid benefits the channel deepening project will provide,” said Ken O’Hollaren, executive director of the Port of Longview and chairman of the Interstate Columbia River Improvement Project. “For every $1 spent, the nation gets $1.71 in return. While that’s impressive in today’s economy, it’s even more valuable to our region where tens of thousands of jobs depend on maritime commerce to make a living.” Six Oregon and Washington ports are sponsoring the project including Portland and St. Helens in Oregon, and Vancouver, Woodland, Kalama and Longview in Washington. “This is a much improved project today because the Corps of Engineers took time to listen to stakeholders from boaters to the lower river communities,” said Bill Wyatt, executive director of the Port of Portland. “The corps sharpened their pencils, made changes, and as a result we better understand the costs and benefits, which have been validated by an outside panel of experts.” Together the six ports are working on a project cooperation agreement with the corps, which would commit the port sponsors to covering 35 percent of the project’s costs. “We believe that this is a very solid project,” Rabe said. “It has a lot of benefits to the nation both from an economic and environmental standpoint.” Environmental modifications made to the report include adding five ecosystem restoration features, reducing impacts to wetlands, forests and agricultural lands, reducing the quantity of sand to be removed from the river bottom and adding steps during and following construction to monitor the effect the work is having on the environment. “Not only would the revised plan protect the existing ecosystem,” said Laura Hicks, project manager with the corps. “It would actually improve conditions in some areas and provide additional habitat for threatened and endangered salmon species.” The project is currently being reviewed by Oregon and Washington for water quality permits and coastal zone management compliance. If the corps gets approval it will then proceed with issuing a record of decision. According to Rabe, the corps hopes to issue the recommendation by spring, at which point it could then submit it to Congress for funding. Construction would be a year out from the point at which funding is provided, and would be scheduled to last about two years. “We won’t submit the package for funding until after we have made our recommendations,” Rabe said. Cody McCullough covers architecture, engineering and construction for the Daily Journal of Commerce. He can be reached by e-mail at codym@djc-or.com or by phone at 503-221-3336.
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