Lower Mon Project Work Continues On and On

Valley Independent
6 September 2010
By Chris Buckley

The Lower Mon project - begun in 1992 - was scheduled for completion in 2004.

But 18 years into the major reconstruction project involving three locks and dams facilities in the region, it appears
the work might not be completed for another 20 years.

The source for the delays is money, or moreover the lack of sufficient funding on a steady basis.

But companies that move coal and cargo along the nation's river system are pushing a new plan to increase by 30 percent to 45 percent the tax they pay on the diesel fuel they burn. The additional money would be directed to work on deteriorating locks and dams.

Federal budget constraints have slowed construction on deteriorating locks and dams. Western Pennsylvania has 23 locks - more than any region in the nation - so the need is greater here.

The proposal has the support of U.S. Rep. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown. Critz's district includes the Lower Mon Project that includes aging facilities in Charleroi and Elizabeth.

"The Inland Waterways Trust Fund is broke, which has limited the Army Corps from being able to aggressively repair and/or replace our nation's system of locks and dams," Critz said.

"Currently, there are two leading proposals for fixing this problem: raise the diesel tax, or create a lock usage fee. A lock usage fee would put our region at a disadvantage because western Pennsylvania has more locks than any other region nationwide.

"Regardless, this is an issue that Congress must address because our locks and dams are absolutely vital to western Pennsylvania's economic and recreational well being."

Critz's predecessor and former boss - the late John P. Murtha, a Johnstown Democrat - fought hard to bring money to the two Valley river projects.

Since 1986, companies that use the rivers have paid a federal tax that now amounts to 20 cents on every gallon of diesel fuel used in their operations.

That money goes into the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, used to pay for the modernization and maintenance of the waterways systems. The fund and federal appropriations are supposed to pay equal shares to cover major projects.

But when federal appropriations began slipping in the late 1990s, and costs rose, project delays followed.

Nowhere is that likely more prevalent than on the Lower Mon Project.

The project was broken into several major phases, including:


Steve Fritz, Lower Mon project manager, said the project has been boosted for now by $84 million in federal stimulus received in 2009. That money is being used to cover construction of the river wall and upper and lower guard walls. That work will continue through the end of 2011.

When that stimulus money runs out, plenty of unfinished work will remain.

At Lock 4, the remainder of the river chamber will still have to be completed.

That would be followed by dredging in the area of Lock and Dam 3 in Elizabeth.

Crews will then have to complete the remaining chamber at Lock and Dam 4 and relocate municipal facilities in the vicinity of Lock and Dam 3.

After Lock and Dam 3 is removed, municipal facilities will also have to be relocated throughout the Valley.

None of that work is funded.

"If the Inland Waterways Trust Fund isn't fixed soon, that will push out the projected finish to 2030, and the cost will balloon to $1.7 billion in today's dollars," Fritz said.

The project was originally estimated at $750 million. To date the Army Corps has spent about $638 million, including the stimulus funds.

The condition of Lock and Dam 4 is also a concern. It was built on 12-inch diameter timber piles in the 1930s.

They are at maximum stress, Fritz said.

"If a failure at the lock and dam occurred, it would require electric companies to move coal by rail - the next cheapest form of transportation - thus electricity cost would soar," Fritz said.

Currently, there is one operational chamber at Charleroi. In recent months, a log caught in Lock and Dam 4 caused major delays.

"It's an 80-year-old facility and it's not in great shape," Fritz said. "It could break down.

"You're talking this 80-year-old equipment. You can't predict how long it will operate."

While awaiting additional funding, the Army Corps spends millions to keep the aging facilities running. Army Corps spokesman Jeff Hawk said the Corps is spending $2 million a year to keep Lock 3 operational and $10 million to stabilize the dam.

"We're plugging money into a lock and dam we'd like to blow out of the water," Hawk said of the facility that would eventually be removed under the plan.

Supporters are working to include the proposed funding plan in the federal water resources and development legislation set for action after Congress returns Sept. 13. If that fails, it could be included in President Barack Obama's budget for the next fiscal year

Chris Buckley can be reached at cbuckley@tribweb.com or 724-684-2642.