WASHINGTON, D.C. — A capital development plan for modernizing lock and dam infrastructure on the inland waterways system has taken the form of a bipartisan U.S. House bill, introduced March 14 by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) and cosponsor Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.).

The Waterways are Vital for the Economy, Energy, Efficiency and Environment Act – WAVE 4 – would ensure America’s inland waterway system continues to meet the demands of stakeholders and the public. It would do this by applying objective criteria when prioritizing construction and major rehabilitation projects, revising current stakeholders and beneficiaries’ cost-sharing of projects to as much as 30-45 percent higher than currently assessed and reforming the Army Corps of Engineers’ project delivery process.

The navigation industry would absorb the majority of the new cost-sharing assessments for waterways infrastructure improvement projects, resulting in job growth, export growth and other economic benefits created by waterway commerce, according to Illinois’ Lipinski.

“A healthy, vibrant inland waterways system is vital to the movement of goods and materials in this country and essential to connecting our business and industry to the global marketplace,” Lipinski stated.

“This bill ensures that all of the key stakeholders are working together to use our resources wisely and prioritize the projects that will benefit the waterways industry and the economy as a whole.”

Whitfield said as many locks surpass their 80th year of service, it is not possible to have reliable transportation for the 21st century on the foundation of early 20th century construction.

“Our aging infrastructure jeopardizes efficient waterborne commerce and highlights the need for the WAVE 4 Act that will implement a comprehensive plan to improve project management, and put in place an objective investment strategy that will prioritize our infrastructure needs,” he said.

The Illinois Corn Growers Assoc. (ICGA), along with the Waterways Council, Inc., issued a statement urging lawmakers to incorporate elements of the WAVE 4 bill – along with its Senate companion bill, the Reinvesting in Vital Economic Rivers and Waterways (RIVER) Act – into a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill.

“We’ve got one bill on the Senate side and one on the House side this time,” commented Jim Tarman, ICGA field development representative. “This and other bills will improve the existing process in place and encourage the Corps to communicate better and monitor low water more efficiently and flexibly.”

Without significant changes to the current lock and dam funding system, only six current inland waterways projects can be completed using available appropriations, while other long-neglected infrastructure needs will remain unmet, Whitfield warned.