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Corps issues decision on Columbia channel project
The administration scraps a “no-new-starts” policy and pledges money for the Columbia
01/12/04
Daily Shipping News
PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued its Record of Decision (ROD) for the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project. The ROD paves the way for beginning construction of the project to deepen the navigation channel and enhance the river's ecosystem, in compliance with Washington and Oregon state approvals issued in 2003. The project also received a recent funding boost as President Bush signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act including $3.5 million for the channel project. The $3.5 million adds to previous Congressional appropriations of $4.5 million in FY 2001 and $2 million in FY 2003. State funding for channel deepening is also fully in place. Washington and Oregon have each appropriated $27.7 million in state matching funds for the project. The Columbia River Channel Improvement Project, sponsored by the Washington Ports of Kalama, Longview, Vancouver, and Woodland and the Oregon Ports of Portland and St. Helens would deepen the shipping channel between the ocean and Portland/Vancouver from 40 to 43 feet, which would enable modern ships to navigate more safely and load Northwest exports more fully. NOAA Fisheries (formerly the National Marine Fisheries Service) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issued favorable “no jeopardy” Biological Opinions in 2002. Additionally, a six-month independent scientific review found no measurable effect on aquatic endangered species. State regulatory agencies in Oregon and Washington issued water quality and coastal zone management approvals in 2003, completing their state environmental reviews. The project’s next step is signing the Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the federal government and the six port sponsors. Additional federal appropriations will then be required to complete project construction."
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