Lawmaker: Engineers must address delay in locks, dams repair
MOON, Pa. – A Pennsylvania congressman is calling on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address delays in a $2.3 billion plan to repair three weathered locks and dams on the Ohio River.
U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus, a Republican, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (http://bit.ly/1MVL0tj ) that the Upper Ohio River Navigation project must be studied before the Army Corps can sign off and send it to Congress for authorization.
The project calls for building new locks at the Emsworth, Dashields and Montgomery locks and dams in Moon and Monaca, about 15 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. Rothfus said a study on the project has taken 13 years and cost $17 million.
The study won’t be submitted again until next year. The project could miss the Water Resources and Development Act of 2016 reauthorization, when federal lawmakers approve such capital projects. The last authorization was in 2014, and the one before that was in 2007.
Tracy Zea, government relations director for the Waterways Council, which represents users of the nation’s river system, said there is concern that the study is being delayed for being too conservative.
“In our view, isn’t that more reason why they should authorize this study?” Zea said. “What happens if there is a failure? You can’t afford to wait an additional two years.”