Washington Waves for July 22, 2024
Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Committee on the Marine Transportation System (CMTS) is seeking information on the types of planning guidance, documents, datasets and federal funding opportunities used in planning for long-term environmental change in U.S. ports and to identify barriers to action.
CMTS is requested that information from anyone who works in or adjacent to climate resilience planning and execution in ports. The information will be analyzed to assess whether the needs for this type of planning are being met and to identify where improvements could be made.
For this request, ‘‘port’’ means any waterways, shoreside infrastructure, and/or intermodal connections that work together as a transportation system, and “‘user” includes port authorities, officials, employees, consultants and/or anyone that uses a port.
CMTS said comments are sought by August 29 via www.regulations.gov, under Docket No. DOT-OST-2024-0044. Mailed paper submissions will not be accepted due to time constraints.
For additional information, contact Heather Gilbert at 202-366-3612 or heather.gilbert@ cmts.gov.
Corps Reforms
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has not addressed four of 19 reforms set forth in a 2014 law to speed up historically delayed feasibility studies on whether and how to do water resources projects, such as improving navigation channels and managing flood risks, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Generally, GAO reported, the four reforms that have gone unaddressed “require the Corps to make information on the reforms publicly available.”
“The Corps said it doesn’t have enough funds to implement some of the reforms,” GAO stated, added the Corps has not communicated that need to Congress. “We recommend, among other things, that it do so.”
GAO also cited a recommendation it made to the Corps in 2019 to develop a plan to comprehensively evaluate the impacts of accelerating feasibility studies. GAO said the Corps agreed with that recommendation but, as of May 2024, has not implemented it.
In its report, GAO repeated that recommendation along with several others to help ensure the Corps addresses provisions related to public transparency, including providing Congress with its funding needs.
Coast Guard Report
The Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance announced the publication of the 2023 Flag State Control Domestic Annual Report.
“This report highlights U.S. domestic fleet inspection, deficiency, and marine casualty statistics and serves as a powerful tool that highlights trends, identifies key performance indicators and draws attention to findings over the past calendar year,” the Coast Guard stated.
The Coast Guard added: “The report presents information reflecting the U.S. Flag fleet including: barges, cargo vessels, passenger vessels, vessels operating on the Outer Continental Shelf, research and school ships, fishing vessels and towing vessels.”
Key findings in the report include:
• In 2023, the U.S. Flag fleet contained 17,577 vessels subject to inspection, with Coast Guard marine inspectors conducting 20,647 inspections. The number of inspections has continued to increase since 2020.
• There were 1,821 reportable marine casualties reported in 2023 involving 2,146 inspected vessels. The number of reportable marine casualties was a slight decrease from 2022.
• In 2023, there were 38 Flag State detentions, a decrease of one from 2022.
For additional information, contact CG-CVC@uscg.mil.
New Corps Chief
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III announced that Maj. Gen. William Graham Jr. has been selected to serve as the next commanding general and chief of engineers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Graham, who also was nominated to the grade of lieutenant general by President Joe Biden, currently serves as the deputy chief of engineers and deputy commanding general.
If confirmed by the Senate, he will succeed Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon.
Polar Icebreakers
The Biden Administration announced an Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact) with Finland and Canada to produce polar icebreakers, strengthen each nation’s shipbuilding and industrial capacity and send a message to China and Russia.
According to the White House announcement, the trilateral arrangement consists of enhanced information exchange, collaboration on workforce development and an invitation to allies to purchase icebreakers built in American, Canadian or Finnish shipyards.
The announcement cited the Coast Guard’s work with Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards to build the first Polar Security Cutters and deliver new American-made icebreakers to the service’s polar icebreaking fleet.
“These vessels will be the first American-built heavy icebreakers in over 50 years,” the White House stated.
An official at a White House briefing said ICE Pact also will reinforce the message to Russia and China that the United States and its allies intend to “doggedly pursue” collaboration to increase their competitive edge in industries like shipbuilding, build a world-class polar icebreaking fleet, project power into the polar regions and promote peace and prosperity in the Arctic and the Antarctic.
