USA: Red River Dredging to Receive Additional Funds

U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., announced that the Army Corps of Engineers will provide $3.6 million in additional federal funding for dredging on the Red River Waterway. The decision comes after Sen. Landrieu and the Louisiana congressional delegation urged the Corps to provide the necessary investments in the waterway.

Sen. Landrieu secured $7.56 million for maintenance dredging on the waterway in last year’s omnibus appropriations bill, but vowed to push for more funds. The additional funding comes from money provided in the FY 2012 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act.

“Between 2008 and 2009, the Red River Waterway had the largest increase in tonnage of any waterway in the nation, and has continued to increase with the expansion of gas exploration in the Haynesville Shale. Dredging on this waterway is vital for industry and business,” said Sen. Landrieu, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security.“These additional funds, which the Louisiana delegation fought hard to secure, will help ensure that the waterway is properly maintained and dredged, so that commerce can continue to move efficiently through our region. We will continue pushing to ensure that the Red River and Louisiana’s other critical waterways receive the funding they need for proper maintenance.”

“Industry leaders, waterway users and shippers as well as recreation enthusiasts from throughout the Red River Waterway region are relieved and excited to learn of the additional funds for dredging purposes.

Proper and consistent dredging is the lifeblood of our river system. It means commerce flows, jobs stabilized, industries and communities served and recreation activities preserved. We cannot thank our Congressional delegation enough for understanding the importance of this critical funding,” said Ken Guidry, Executive Director of Red River Waterway Commission and Richard Brontoli, Executive Director of the Red River Valley Association.

The Red River Waterway had a 34 percent increase in tonnage from 2008 to 2009. To date, over $543 million in private, state and local funding has been invested in infrastructure at the five public ports and three largest private terminals. The Red River’s funding level in the Fiscal Year 2012 budget was insufficient for proper maintenance and threatened this investment.

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Dredging Today Staff, February 15, 2012