1. We have been expecting this lawsuit for many months.
2. This extreme lawsuit attacks not only channel deepening, but all maintenance dredging.
3. We remain confident that the channel project and maintenance dredging are economically, environmentally, and legally sound.
4. Our support among the Northwest Congressional delegation remains strong.
5. Support for this project continues to grow among business, labor union, agricultural, maritime, and community groups throughout the Northwest.
   

On March 30, Northwest Environmental Advocates (NWEA) filed their lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in Seattle challenging NOAA Fisheries’(formerly the National Marine Fisheries Service) “no jeopardy” Biological Opinion for the channel deepening project. In addition, NWEA is now challenging the Biological Opinion for the annual maintenance dredging that maintains the current 40-foot deep navigation channel.

The channel project has undergone unprecedented levels of economic and environmental analysis. Major scientific reviews of this project were conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service pertaining to all potential environmental impacts for long-term survival of twelve listed species and their critical habitat in the lower Columbia River.

In addition, Sustainable Ecosystem Institute assembled an independent panel of seven expert scientists from around the country to extensively and thoroughly review the best available science associated with these issues. That re-consultation process was an open and transparent scientific review and included many project opponents. The scientists concluded that this project posed no anticipated measurable impacts to the endangered species and their habitat.

The Corps issued their favorable Biological Assessment in January 2002. NOAA Fisheries and USFWS completed their extensive review and issued favorable Biological Opinions in May 2002. Six approved ecosystem restoration features and extensive monitoring were added to ensure that the project leaves the river and estuary better off than before the project began.

The project then underwent additional scrutiny and review by Oregon and Washington environmental agencies before they issued water quality permits and coastal zone management approvals in June 2003.

Finally, the Corps issued their Record of Decision in January 2004, which concluded the environmental regulatory review process.

Each of those reviews included a high level of public involvement through public hearings and written comment periods. The thorough nature of both federal and state environmental reviews gives us great confidence that the project is legally defensible.

A decade of rigorous analysis has proven that the channel project is economically, environmentally, and legally sound. The future viability of our seaports and over 40,000 workers in our region depend on us moving this project forward.

Lawsuit Also Challenges Annual Maintenance Dredging:
The NWEA lawsuit to stop channel deepening also reveals the true intentions of these extreme environmental activists: limiting or ending ALL dredging on the river. They want to stop the yearly operations and maintenance (O&M) dredging that ensures the current 40-foot deep-draft channel in the lower Columbia River -- and the 14-foot shallow-draft channel from Portland/Vancouver to Lewiston, Idaho. They are trying to cut off the Northwest's transportation lifeline to world markets.

Extensive monitoring of O&M dredging activities has occurred since 2001, which supports conclusions made by the federal and bi-state agencies in issuing environmental approvals. In fact, annual dredging and disposal has become much more environmentally-friendly in recent years as new technologies have been developed and new disposal practices have been adopted.

The Columbia River transports $14 billion of local cargo to world markets each year. Businesses and farms in urban and rural communities across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and the Midwest depend on the channel to ship wheat, barley, peas, paper products, potatoes, grass seed, yurts, and hundreds of other products to international customers. Over 40,000 jobs averaging $46,000 in annual wages depend on maritime commerce. A deeper channel – that is maintained annually – will enable our manufacturers and growers to retain access to deep-draft ships and transport their products even more efficiently.

Now is a critical time for business, labor, agricultural, maritime, and community organizations to stand together in fighting for both a deeper channel and the ability to annually maintain that depth – all in an environmentally responsible manner. Scarce federal resources should be spent on infrastructure and jobs – not frivolous lawsuits.

Congressional Members Write To Appropriators:
Strong support for the channel project continues to be demonstrated by U.S. Senators and Representatives from Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. This support is clearly evident by their recent joint letters to the Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee requesting $15 million for the Columbia River Channel Improvement Project in FY2005.

The first letter was sent to Senate appropriators by: U.S. Senators Max Baucus (MT), Conrad Burns (MT), Maria Cantwell (WA), Larry Craig (ID), Mike Crapo (ID), Patty Murray (WA), Gordon Smith (OR), and Ron Wyden (OR).

A second letter was sent to House appropriators by U.S. Representatives Brian Baird (WA), Earl Blumenauer (OR), Peter DeFazio (OR), Jennifer Dunn (WA), Doc Hastings (WA), Darlene Hooley (OR), George Nethercutt (WA), Butch Otter (ID), Denny Rehberg (MT), Greg Walden (OR), and David Wu (OR).

The Coalition greatly appreciates the recent efforts put forth by these Congressional members to actively advocate for this critical funding to sustain international trade, jobs and the overall economic health of the Pacific Northwest. Please thank them for their support!

Senator Patty Murray Named “Port Person Of The Year”:
On March 26th, U.S. Senator Patty Murray was honored by the American Association of Port Authorities as “Port Person of the Year”. The award was presented for her work by advancing numerous maritime initiatives in her roles as Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee and as a member of the new Homeland Security Committee.

The Coalition congratulates and thanks Senator Murray for her tireless efforts on behalf of ports in general and the channel deepening project in particular.

Coalition Keeps Expanding:
We welcome the following organization who officially joined the Coalition during the past two weeks:

• Montana Grain Growers Association
  

Did You Know?
Dredging of the Columbia River navigation channel has occurred since the 1860’s. For over 30 years the channel has been maintained at a federally-authorized depth of 40 feet. The channel is only 600-feet wide (enough room for two large ships to safely pass each other) and runs just over 100 miles from Portland/Vancouver out to the mouth of the river near Astoria.

Please contact us with any questions, concerns, or information requests. Thanks for your partnership in building a stronger economy through maritime trade.

Dave Hunt, Executive Director
Theeme Holznagel, Office Manager
Columbia River Channel Coalition
(503) 285-6343 (voice), (503) 285-6350 (fax)
CRCC@ChannelCoalition.com (e-mail)