By A.J. Panian, Leader Times, Kittanning, Pa
Saturday, August 9, 2003
URL for article below is http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/leadertimes/s_148927.html
By next May, most lock and dam systems in Armstrong County will most likely be open to recreational boaters for only eight hours a day on weekends and holidays.
Scheduled cuts to service hours at Locks 5 to 9 (Freeport to East Brady) on the Allegheny River in the county are set for October.
It's possible in years to come even more cuts will be made to accommodate a steady decrease in federal funding to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, which is responsible for lock and dam upkeep and operation.
Everyone involved seems to agree that any hope for preserving lock and dam accessibility for the county's recreational and commercial boaters must come from citizen participation.
"First of all, we have to get all the people together on this issue (of lock schedule cuts)," said U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-12th. "I think the key is interaction (between representative and constituent). There's so many demands (on Congress), and most of them are for federally-funded initiatives, so it's very important that people send in not just postcards, but well-reasoned letters explaining their concerns."
In the past, Murtha said such voter input has had positive results.
"Look at the (Rail-To-Trails) project. Congress was ready to cut all funding for it out of the budget. Nobody was interested at first, but now the trails ... are loaded with people," Murtha said.
"The volume of feedback is not as important as the kind of message conveyed."
A significant volume of unified feedback about the lock schedule could be just the thing to turn heads in federal government, according to Bill Lynch, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2187, who represents Corps employees in the Pittsburgh District.
"The pleasure boaters have to start getting involved, as well as the businesses along the river that cater to pleasure boaters," Lynch said. "If they start bothering congressmen and senators by sending them faxes, sending them e-mails, sending them letters, they can get the schedule cuts changed." Lynch said commercial enterprises dependent on upper Allegheny River commerce need to get active, too.
The message should be specific: the Corps' Pittsburgh District needs more money — specifically for the upper Allegheny, Lynch said. Since Congress controls where money does or doesn't go, Lynch said, voters are the key.
"(Congress) has to know that people are concerned about what's going on," said Lynch.
"(The Corps) is looking for places to cut money, and the best places to do it are on the upper Allegheny and the upper Mon rivers because there isn't anybody there to complain."
By law, an executive branch agency like the Corps is prohibited from lobbying Congress for additional federal funding, according to Dick Dowling, Pittsburgh District public affairs officer.
"We have to deal with facts and accept the judgment of the elected representatives who are working for the taxpayers, so we work with what authorizations federal government provides from one year to the next," Dowling said.
But Dowling did not deny judgment of elected representatives on the lock schedule cuts could be swayed by loud voter opposition.
"Congress can, any time it wishes, provide more money (for an agency like the Corps)," Dowling said.
Dowling suggests funding for automating the lock systems to make them operable by remote control.
It's something that is being lobbied for by U.S. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan of West Virginia. He is attempting to allocate $5 million for automating locks on the Monongahela River that are facing schedule cuts similar to those set for the upper Allegheny.
"(Congress) would have to decide whether it's worth (the money) to install automated equipment on the upper Allegheny, perhaps as a demonstration of how this technology could be used," Dowling said.
The challenge in acquiring such funding is that the Allegheny River is just one of many inland waterways nationwide in need of additional funding during a time when federal dollars are being reserved for what currently are higher priorities.
"(Acquiring funding) is a challenge right now with the tax cuts and the war. The solutions are there but they take money and with budget the way it is money's hard to come by. But that's what (Congress is) trying to work towards," said Brad Clemenson, spokesman for Rep. John Murtha.
An influx of voter concern on lock schedule cuts can only help, according to George Boyle, founder and president of the group "Boaters Are Voters," which includes roughly 650 members.
"As a recreational boater, you should be able to go anywhere on the navigable waters of the United States and be uninhibited by restrictions on the locks," Boyle said.
However, Boyle has found that in the three years since Boaters Are Voters was established, only he has followed through in lobbying government on the lock schedule cut issue.
"They expect me to do it. They pay their $10 a year supporting fee, and then they expect me to go to all the meetings in Harrisburg and Washington, and I represent them," Boyle said. "But the majority of them won't do anything themselves.
"I ask my members to write their congressmen (concerning the issue), and I don't know if I get six letters out of all the members. If you don't get proactive, you'll have to wind up being reactive, and I'd rather be proactive."
The reason people should feel concern about the issue is obvious, Boyle said.
"The recreational boating industry is a viable industry. It spends and generates a lot of economic impact, and there's a lot of people (in Congress) who can vote (in favor of preserving it) if properly motivated," Boyle said. "Anything Congress wants, Congress gets; they just have to want it."
For more than two decades, Murtha said he's continually stressed to his peers in Congress the importance of preserving recreational resources in rural areas with low populations.
"We started 25 years ago promoting recreation and tourism in these parts of the country mainly because we were losing so many commercial and industrial businesses at the time," Murtha said. "An appealing alternative was, and is, recreation, because it helps attract young people to an area. The Allegheny River is such a valuable in that respect.
"As we turn the corner in Armstrong County with Northpointe (business park) and electro-optics, there is an opportunity to attract young people to the area, and they have to have things to do."
In light of that, Murtha said he's trying to earmark $400,000 in funding for the upper Allegheny that would enable the county's locks to remain open at their current schedules for one more year.
"We're careful not to be overly optimistic," Murtha said.
Every February and April, Mark Devinney, vice president of sales for Freeport Terminal, Inc., and Mea Scholl, a county resident who sits on the Port of Pittsburgh Commission board of directors, travel to Washington, D.C., to give area congressmen suggestions about operations and maintenance on the Allegheny in advance of the annual budget and appropriations process.
In an effort to keep attention on the Allegheny, Scholl said the Port of Pittsburgh Commission is attempting to convince federal government officials to designate the Allegheny a laboratory river, on which funding for special projects can be more easily dispersed.
"We could test different products," said Scholl, using as an example a remote control indicator built into a lock which would allow tow and barge operators to transport goods in all weather.
Mike Ferris, president of River Navigation Coalition, said he's already proposed to the Corps the idea of a lock user's fee for registered recreational boaters in the state.
"We thought, 'Well, why don't we come up with a user's fee. By God, if we're recreational boaters, let's pay our share'," Ferris said. "Boaters could pay an additional fee when they register their boat and get a sticker to put on their windshield (that would permit them to pass through the locks)."
When asked who would be responsible for collecting such a fee, the River Navigation Coalition suggested the state control an application process and fee and collect the money.
"We'll give them a dollar out of the $5 user fee for collecting it, which would make them happy, then send the other four dollars to the Corps for the purpose of supporting low-rivers that have become more recreational than they are commercial," Ferris said.
But there is a problem.
"The RNC was set up as a non-profit organization, so we go ahead and start collecting money for this purpose, and then we find out the Corps can't accept it by law," Ferris said. "That takes an act of Congress to do that."
According to Donald Strimbeck of Upper Monongahela River Association, the U.S. House and Senate have already met to receive their preliminary versions of the fiscal year 2004 appropriations bill for Energy and Water Development, which includes lock and dam funding.
They are now in recess until early September, when they'll convene for a joint conference to discuss and finalize their versions of the bill.
"It would appear that our last chance this year for lock hours action will be the conference between the House and Senate regarding these water-related appropriations bills," Strimbeck said. "We hope our West Virginia and Pennsylvania members of Congress are on the conference committee or have influence with those on the committee. The last act (will be when) the House and Senate pass the compromise bills and the president signs them."
Regardless, Devinney said a strong show of voter support for preserving the usability of the county's locks can make a difference now and in the future.
"You need to take part in the democratic process," Devinney said. "You don't even need to own a boat (to be concerned about this issue). Go sit on that beautiful waterfront you have here and watch the Gateway Clipper come up for that autumn cruise. You have an interest.
"Hopefully, people all over Kittanning and all over the Allegheny Valley will say 'That's right, my Congress person could use just a tap on the shoulder (concerning this issue)."
But Dowling did not deny that judgement of elected representatives on the lock schedule cut issue could be swayed by a powerful and tangible voter opposition.
"Congress can do whatever it wants to representing the will of the people, and Congress can, any time it wishes, provide more money (for an agency like the Corps). It can provide special money," said Dowling.
By special money, Dowling means funding for special projects, like automation of lock systems to make the operable by remote control. It’s something that is currently being lobbied for by U.S. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan of West Virginia’s First Congressional District. He is attempting to allocate $5 million for the automation of several locks located on the upper Monongahela River facing schedule cuts similar to those set for the upper Allegheny locks.
"(Congress) would have to decide whether it’s worth (the money) to install automated equipment on the upper Allegheny perhaps as a demonstration of how this technology could be used," said Dowling.
The challenge in acquiring such funding is that the Allegheny River is just one of many inland waterways nationwide in need of additional funding during a time when federal dollars are being reserved for what currently are higher priorities.
"(Acquiring funding) is a challenge right now with the tax cuts and the war. The solutions are there but they take money and with budget the way it is money’s hard to come by. But that’s what (Congress is) trying to work towards," said Brad Clemenson, spokesperson for Rep. Murtha.
An influx of voter concern on the issue of lock schedule cuts can only help, according to George Boyle, founder and president of boater activist group called "Boaters Are Voters," which includes roughly 650 members.
"As a recreational boater, you should be able to go anywhere on the navigable waters of the United States and be uninhibited by restrictions on the locks," said Boyle.
However, Boyle has found that in the three years since Boaters Are Voters was established only he has followed through in lobbying government on the lock schedule cut issue.
"They expect me to do it. They pay their $10 a year supporting fee, and then they expect me to go to all the meetings in Harrisburg and Washington, and I represent them," said Boyle. "But the majority of them won’t do anything themselves.
"I ask my members to write their congressmen (concerning the issue), and I don’t know if I get six letters out of all the members. If you don’t get proactive, you’ll have to wind up being reactive, and I’d rather be proactive."
The reason people should feel concern about the issue is obvious, Boyle said.
"The recreational boating industry is a viable industry, it spends and generates a lot of economic impact, and there’s a lot of people (in Congress) who can vote (in favor of preserving it) if properly motivated," said Boyle. "Anything Congress wants, Congress gets; they just have to want it."
For more than two decades, Murtha said he’s continually stressed to his peers in Congress the importance of preserving recreational resources in rural areas with low populations.
"We started 25 years ago promoting recreation and tourism in these parts of the country mainly because we were losing so many commercial and industrial businesses at the time," said Murtha. "An appealing alternative was and is recreation, because it helps attract young people to an area. The Allegheny River is such a valuable in that respect. As we turn the corner in Armstrong County with Northpointe (Industrial Park) and electro-optics, there is an opportunity to attract young people to the area and they have to have things to do."
In light of that, Murtha said he’s currently trying to earmark $400,000 in funding for the upper Allegheny that would enable the county’s locks to remain open at their current schedules for one more year.
"We’re careful not to be overly optimistic (about getting the funding)," said Murtha.
Every February and April, Mark Devinney, vice president of sales for Freeport Terminal, Inc., and Mea Scholl, a county resident who sits on the Port of Pittsburgh Commission board of directors, travel to Washington to give area congressmen suggestions about operations and maintenance on the Allegheny in advance of the annual budget and appropriations process.
In an effort to keep attention on the Allegheny, Scholl said the Port of Pittsburgh Commission is attempting to convince federal government officials to designate the Allegheny a laboratory river, on which funding for special projects can be more easily dispersed.
"We could test different products," said Scholl, using as an example a remote control indicator built into a lock which would allow tow and barge operators to transport goods in all weather.
Mike Ferris, president of River Navigation Coalition, said he’s already proposed to the Corps the idea of a lock user’s fee for registered recreational boaters in the state.
"We thought, ‘Well, why don’t we come up with a user’s fee. By God, if we’re recreational boaters, let’s pay our share’," said Ferris. "Boaters could pay an additional fee when they register their boat and get a sticker to put on their windshield (that would permit them to lock through)."
When asked who would be responsible for collecting such a fee, RNC suggested the state control an application process and fee and collect the money. "We’ll give them a dollar out of the $5 user fee for collecting it, which would make them happy, then send the other four dollars to the Corps for the purpose of supporting low-rivers that have become more recreational than they are commercial," said Ferris.
"The RNC was set up as a non-profit organization, so we go ahead and start collecting money for this purpose, and then we find out the Corps can’t accept it by law," said Ferris. "That takes an act of Congress to do that."
According to Donald Strimbeck of Upper Monongahela River Association, the House of Representatives and Senate have already met to receive their preliminary versions of the fiscal year 2004 appropriations bill for Energy and Water Development, which includes any and all lock and dam funding.
They are now in recess until early September, when they’ll convene for a joint conference to discuss and finalize their versions of the bill. "It would appear that our last chance this year for lock hours action will be the conference between the House and Senate regarding these water-related appropriations bills," said Strimbeck. "We hope our West Virginia and Pennsylvania members of Congress are on the conference committee or have influence with those on the committee. The last act (will be when) the House and Senate pass the compromise bills and the president signs them."
Regardless, Devinney said a strong show of voter support for preserving the usability of the county’s locks can make a difference now and in the future.
"You need to take part in the democratic process," said Devinney. "You don’t even need to own a boat (to be concerned about this issue). Go sit on that beautiful waterfront you have here and watch the Gateway Clipper come up for that autumn cruise. You have an interest.
"Hopefully, people all over Kittanning and all over the Allegheny Valley will say ‘That’s right, my Congress person could use just a tap on the shoulder (concerning this issue)."
Who to contact Citizens wishing to join the voice of support for Tapping the Upper Allegheny, contact:
U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-12th P.O. Box 780 Johnstown, PA 15907-0780 phone: (district) 814-535-2642 (Washington D.C.) 202-225-2065 Mike Ferris, River Navigation Coalition Leechburg RD1, Box 1981, Leechburg, PA 15656 phone: 412-855-6012 e-mail: CaptMike41@aol.com George Boyle, Boaters Are Voters 22 Werner Road Pittsburgh, PA 15238 e-mail: BoatersAreVoters@aol.com
A.J. Panian can be reached at: apanian@tribweb.com
A.J. Panian can be reached at leadertimes@tribweb.com or (724) 543-1303, ext. 241.