Sessions Comments On Army Corps Decision To Keep River Locks Open Following Letter, Public Meeting
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: October 11, 2012
U.S.
Sen. Jeff
Sessions (R-AL), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Environment
and Public Works, issued the following comments today after the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers announced its revised lock operation plans for
the Alabama and Chattahoochee Rivers. Sessions
organized a letter advocating for the change in plans:
"I'm
pleased that, after receiving our letter last month, the Army Corps
held a public meeting to hear from stakeholders and ultimately agreed
not to close the Alabama River and Chattahoochee River locks. Alabamians
have a right to utilize the incredible natural resources of our state and I am glad that the Army Corps has changed course. We
will continue to monitor the situation."
BACKGROUND
On September 17, Sessions organized a letter
signed by U.S. Representatives Jo Bonner, Martha Roby, Mike Rogers,
Robert Aderholt, Mo Brooks, Spencer Bachus, and Terri Sewell to U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy regarding the
Corps' decision to implement operational changes
at several locks in Alabama. The
letter expressed concerns with
the Corps' decision and stated that "the Corps should not proceed with
implementing its level of service initiative in this manner." Instead,
the
letter explained that "all stakeholders should be provided with a
meaningful opportunity to offer comments on the proposal," and it urged
the Corps to "work directly with our constituents to address
site-specific needs, such as necessary accommodations
to ensure operation of locks for important events such as large fishing
tournaments, busy recreational seasons (particularly the summer months),
and other times when reliable lock service is necessary and warranted."
The
letter also urged the Corps to "evaluate all possible options that will
both maximize the efficient use of taxpayer funds while also ensuring
that our nation's marine
highways remain open to all Americans."
Today, the Corps announced revised lock operation plans for the Alabama
and Chattahoochee Rivers beginning February 1, 2013. Under the
revised plan, the locks on these rivers will be manned 10 hours per day, four days per week. Commercial
boats will be allowed to lock through 24 hours per day, 7 days per week by scheduling an appointment. The
Corps also committed to modify lock operating hours to accommodate special events such as large fishing tournaments.
