The American Waterways Operators, National Waterways Conference and Waterways Council are asking waterways stakeholders to sign a declaration of support for the Inland Waterways Capital Development Plan. The plan is supported by more than 150 stakeholders, including the National Corn Growers Association and several state corn and soybean organizations as well as numerous agribusinesses. The development plan will be forwarded to Congress and the administration.
“The U.S. Grains Council is keenly aware that, if U.S. grain products are to develop new markets and retain and service our existing international grain customers, it is important to maintain and have access to a well-developed transportation infrastructure,� said USGC President and CEO Thomas C. Dorr.
Earlier this month, the congressionally established Inland Waterways Users Board unanimously endorsed a comprehensive, consensus package of recommendations to improve the reliability of the inland waterways system. Representatives of the barge industry and the Army Corps of Engineers have worked together over the last year to develop the Inland Waterways Capital Development Plan, which will prioritize lock improvement projects, modernize Corps project delivery and revise cost sharing and revenue generation for the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. The plan will strengthen the traditional missions of the Corps without negatively impacting other water resource projects and programs.
More specifically, the proposal will prioritize the completion of navigation systems across the entire system; improve the Corps’ project management and processes to deliver projects on time and on budget; and recommend an affordable funding mechanism to meet the system’s needs. The proposed new funding parameters would necessitate a 30 percent to 45 percent increase (between 6 and 9 cents per gallon) in the existing fuel tax of 20-cents per gallon that is paid by the barge and towing industry, the only users of the system that are currently taxed.
For more information, go to the Waterways Council website at www.waterwayscouncil.org.