A coalition of conservation groups argued Tuesday that a new long-term water resources proposal ought to focus more on restoration of the Upper Mississippi River and resist industry-backed proposals to change the formula for paying for lock and dam expansion.
In a report called "Restoring America's River," the coalition said the federal government's main environmental restoration program has been shortchanged for years.
It added that proposals to raise the amount of fuel tax that barges pay — but change the existing formula for how major projects are funded — would burden taxpayers with hundreds of millions of dollars in new costs.
"This is irresponsible," said Josh Sewell, senior policy analyst with Taxpayers for Common Sense, a member of the coalition. The group also included the Izaak Walton League, the Sierra Club and the National Wildlife Federation.
The report comes amid debate over a new water resources bill. The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan measure in May, and a House committee is expected to act when Congress returns from its August recess. It has been several years since Congress passed a long-term water resources act.
The conservationists said the Senate bill, which passed by a wide margin and got the votes of all four lawmakers representing the Quad-Cities, short-circuits environmental safeguards in the name of efficiency. And they said that if it becomes law, it would mean less public input and environmental review of proposals along the Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway.
"We think we should have a lot of scrutiny and vetting of these projects," said Rachel Dawson, legislative representative for the National Wildlife Federation.
The proposal to change the funding formula for the Inland Waterways Trust Fund is backed by a lot of barge, agriculture and port organizations.
It would raise the 20-cents-per-gallon fuel fee by 6 to 9 cents, but have the federal government pick up the costs of reconstruction projects totaling $100 million or more. Currently, such costs are shared by the federal government and the trust fund, but the new threshold would shift the cost of dam rehabilitation projects to the federal government, the Congressional Research Service says.
The Senate bill did not include the provision to raise the fuel tax because revenue measures must originate in the House. But some new reports have indicated there might be some sympathy there to include it.
Debra Colbert, senior vice president of the Waterways Council Inc., said the coalition's report is out of touch.
"Our nation’s working waterways continue to provide the safest, most cost-competitive, fuel-efficient, traffic congestion-relieving, environmentally beneficial way to move America’s goods to the world and for use domestically," she said.
Colbert added that the benefits of investments in inland waterways far outweigh their costs.
"The WRDA (Water Resources Development Act) reauthorization ahead will provide a great opportunity to enhance our lock and dam infrastructure to the benefit of our national economy for decades to come," she said.
Environmentalists argue that there is not enough traffic along the Mississippi River — and that it has, in fact, flatlined or diminished over the years — thus negating the need for expanding locks.
Barge interests say the locks, which were built decades ago, are aging and do not accommodate modern industry needs. They say other interests also benefit from the lock and dam system.
The environmental coalition also said it would like to see more money devoted to the Environmental Management Program, which is authorized to receive $33 million per year. In 2012, Congress approved $17.8 million.
The coalition also says the program should be expanded so more projects can be done, including bluff areas and tributaries.
Original Publication URL: http://qctimes.com/news/local/study-new-river-law-should-emphasize-restoration/article_29868973-c126-5175-8848-4d7103d803fd.html
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