Resolution Requesting United States Congress To Authorize And Fund A Demonstration Project On The Upper Monongahela River In West Virginia For Removal And Disposal Of River Trash And Debris

 

Whereas, flowing river trash and debris, consisting of man-made rubbish and naturally-occurring wood wastes, deposits on river banks and at riverside facilities, and accumulates behind locks and dams on our nation's navigable rivers, creates many problems, such as:

(1) Visual and odor pollution;

(2) Water pollution, hazardous to humans and aquatic life, from chemicals and hazardous materials in

man-made rubbish;

(3) Health and safety hazards, for community and industrial water intakes, swimmers, water skiers, marinas, public and private docks and launching ramps, and recreational boaters and river commerce;

(4) Navigation hazards, for commercial tows and recreational and long-range tourist boaters;

(5) Interference with and damage to locks and dams;

Whereas, no workable and cost-effective methodology exists today to deal with the problem of river trash and debris;

Whereas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is charged with the responsibility for our nation's navigable rivers;

Whereas, state and local governments with navigable rivers within their purview cannot solve the river trash and debris problem on their own, but, are willing to partner with the federal government in addressing the river trash and debris problem;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the ------------------------------

(1) Requests that the Congress of the United States authorize and fund a demonstration program to be conducted on the Upper Monongahela River in West Virginia, by the Pittsburgh District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to develop the methods and technology needed to solve the problem of river trash and debris removal and disposal and to develop a national technology base for addressing the river trash and debris problem on all our nation's navigable rivers;

(2) Suggests that the federal role focus on the technology for removing flowing river-borne trash and debris and trash and debris accumulating at the locks and dams. And, that state and local government entities would focus on means for removing trash from riverbanks, providing transportation and disposal sites for collected river trash and debris, educating the public not to illegally dump trash that subsequently gets into streams leading to the river, and, programs that clean up illegal dump sites before they contribute to river-borne trash and debris.

(3) Suggests that a three-phase approach to solving the river trash and debris problem be followed:

(A) Phase 1 would be for the Corps to prepare a report on historical approaches for dealing with river trash and debris removal and disposal, in the United States and world-wide. The report would also address the economic costs to our nation's economy resulting from the river trash and debris problem, and, a cost-benefit analysis rationale for evaluating solutions to the river trash and debris problem. A first draft of said report would be due six months after congressional authorization for the river trash and debris project. The final report would be due six months later. This phase would also include the development of partnering agreements with state and local government entities, and, business, recreational, and environmental entities, within the West Virginia demonstration region. Further, the Corps would establish a steering committee with representation from appropriate entities within the West Virginia demonstration region, to advise on project implementation. The steering committee might also include other organizations within the United States that have an interest in the river trash and debris problem, and/or who have expertise that bears upon the problem.

(B) Phase 2, lasting perhaps one year following the completion of Phase 1, would develop one or more method and technology approaches for dealing with the river trash and debris problem, with recommendations as to the feasibility of each approach, and, a recommendation for the best and first approach to be tried.

(C) Phase 3, lasting perhaps five years, would implement and test the favored approach for dealing with river trash and debris removal and disposal.

(D) Phase 4, a one-year effort, would evaluate results to date, and, propose any further efforts needed to continue to improve on methods and technology for solving the river trash and debris problem.

Adopted unanimously this -- day of ----------, 200--.

/s/ -------, President

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