DeLauro Presses For Federal Funds New Haven Harbor Maintenance

Asks For $10 Million to Be Included in Next Year'sBudget

WASHINGTON,DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) today pressed the Office of Management andBudget and the Army Corp of Engineers to include funding for New Haven harbormaintenance in next year's budget. The New Haven harbor has not beendredged since 2004 and the need for work to be done was further heightened by HurricanesIrene and Sandy.

"Thechannel now needs 800,000 cubic yards of sediment dredged to restore theshipping channels to their federally authorized depth and width," shewrote. "Without maintenance dredging in the next year, it is possiblethat terminal operators will be required to restrict harbor traffic during thelow tide periods, which will severely limit the flow of cargo intoConnecticut's largest port."

ThePort of New Haven is the largest in Connecticut and the third largest in NewEngland, making it a critical part of the state's economy.

Thefull letter is as follows:

DearDirector Zients and Lieutenant General Bostick:

Iwrite to urge you to include $10 million in the President's budget request forFiscal Year 2014 for the Army Corps of Engineers New England District toperform maintenance dredging in the New Haven harbor.

TheNew Haven harbor was last dredged in 2004, and it is my understanding that itis a top priority for maintenance dredging for the Army Corps of Engineers NewEngland District. While New Haven was due for regular maintenancedredging in the coming year, the 2011 and 2012 hurricane seasons resulted insignificant shoaling in the New Haven harbor with Hurricanes Irene and Sandy,which have significantly degraded the shipping channels. As a result, thechannel now needs 800,000 cubic yards of sediment dredged to restore theshipping channels to their federally authorized depth and width.

Withoutmaintenance dredging in the next year, it is possible that terminal operatorswill be required to restrict harbor traffic during the low tide periods, whichwill severely limit the flow of cargo into Connecticut's largest port. The New Haven harbor needs to return to its federally authorized channel depthof 35 feet and a width of 400-800 feet, so that the harbor can continue toaccommodate ships ranging of up to 40,000 deadweight tons.

ThePort of New Haven is not only critical to Connecticut's economy as the state'slargest port, but it is also critical to the entire region as the 3rd largestport in New England and the 51st largest port in the country, which handled 10million tons of cargo in 2010. New Haven is also the 5th largest portwith respect to the volume of domestic refined petroleum products, supplyingmuch of the region with 8 million tons of gasoline, diesel fuel, and heatingoil in 2010. Additionally, the Port of New Haven supplies BradleyInternational Airport with jet fuel via pipeline.

Itis critical not only to Connecticut's economy and energy security, but also tothat of our neighboring states, that the authorized depth of the federalchannel be maintained as not to disrupt or limit the flow of cargo andpetroleum through the Port of New Haven.

Sincerely,

RosaL. DeLauro