I received a call from Congressman Mike McIntrye’s office today advising me that he was unsuccessful in getting money reprogrammed in the Corps budget to dredge Lockwood’s Folly Inlet.  Congressman Jack Kingston (GA) also made calls to the Corps to seek funding for this project.  To dredge the waterway to a depth of 10 feet will cost $800,000 and the Corps simply doesn’t have any funds. 

We cannot stop sending letters and phone calls to Members of Congress and the Senate.  It is critical that we continue to make our needs known.  We need to let Congress know why the AIWW is so important to the nation and to local economies.

The Appropriations Committee, Energy and Water Development Subcommittee is the House committee that would add funds to the Corps of Engineers budget for the AIWW.  They will be holding hearings during the next couple of weeks so it is urgent to send your letters today.

The following is a list of members on the committee.  If one of these committee members is your Congressman, please send your comments to him.  Those marked with an asterisk are key committee members.

*David L. Hobson, OH Chairman                      www.house.gov/hobson/formail.htm

*Rodney P. Frelinghuysen NJ                    Rodney.frelinghuysen@mail.house.gov  

Tom Latham, IA                                            tom.latham@mail.house.gov                              

Zach Wamp, TN                                           fax:  202 225-3494             

*Jo Ann Emerson, MO                            joann.emerson@mail.house.gov                       

John T. Doolittle, CA                                        dolittle@mail.house.gov

John E. Peterson, PA                                        Jordan.clark@mail.house.gov

Michael K. Simpson, ID                             mike.simpson@mail.house.gov

Peter J. Visclosky, IN                                       Thomas.quinn@mail.house.gov

Chet Edwards, TX                                           fax: 202 225-0350

Ed Pastor, AZ                                                 fax:  202 225-1655

*James E. Clyburn, SC                             jclyburn@mail.house.gov

*Marion Berry, AR                                           fax:  202 225-5602

Do not send letters via US mail!  Because of security in DC the mail can’t get through.  You can contact the local district office of any of the above members. A sample letter that you can use to do your part follows:

Hon. David L. Hobson

Chairman, Committee on Appropriations

Energy & Water Development Subcommittee

US House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Hobson:

            The President’s FY 05 budget did not authorize any funds to maintain the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW).  This waterway runs through five southern states and is critical to the nation and the local economies in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. 

The US Army Corps of Engineers has declared the AIWW a “low use” waterway using flawed methodologies.   The number of ton miles traveled is the criteria used to determine whether or not a waterway is to be funded.  Commercial use such as construction vessels, commercial fishing boats and cruise ships are not even considered when deciding the fate of the AIWW.  Recreational boaters don’t even count! The AIWW has been closed in North Carolina at Lockwood’s Folly Inlet since early December and the Corps lacks the funds to re-open it. 

            The following is just a brief list of problems caused by the closing:

• One of the biggest suppliers of fuel to US military bases along the AIWW is not able to get full fuel barges through North Carolina.  These bases are critical to the nation’s security.
• A major cruise line is seriously considering canceling its popular cruise through the AIWW because of the depth problems in some areas.  This will certainly have an impact on the local economy.
• Recreational boaters come from all over the nation to travel the AIWW during the warmer months.  Because of the shallow drafts, many of these travelers will be faced with the extremely dangerous choice of going into the ocean to get to their destinations.
• Commercial shipments that cannot get through the AIWW are being shipped by truck using I-95 and local roads.  Just one barge can add 58 more trucks to the highway and we are not ready to deal with the pollution and congestion this will cause.

The estimate to restore the waterway to its authorized depth of 12feet in each state is:

Virginia, $4.2M; North Carolina, $11M; South Carolina, $6M; Georgia, $19.2M; and Florida$3.2M. 

The AIWW is closing and nobody seems to care!  You can save the AIWW and ensure that our children will enjoy its beauty and benefits in the years to come.  Please allocate the needed funds to the Corps of Engineers FY05 budget.

Thank you,