Ehrlich on Washington column, October 23, 2000

NEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1 407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 205 1 5 Week of October 23, 2000 Working to Ensure the Viability of the Port of Baltimore Since its establishment, the Port of Baltimore has been the engine that drives employment and economic growth in the State of Maryland. The economic importance of the Port and its overall impact on the State are difficult to overstate. An estimated 126,000 jobs are linked to the Port. Proper maintenance dredging of the waterways, as well as the deepening of the C&D Canal are necessary to keep this vital component of our economy viable throughout the 21st century. The journey up the Chesapeake Bay to Baltimore can be costly, particularly for ships coming from northern ports. There is, however, a distinct geographic advantage over other East Coast cities. As the farthest inland port, located in the middle of the coastline, the Port is within a day’s reach of 1/3 of U.S. households. Deepening the C&D Canal would make it less expensive for larger vessels journeying from the north to come to Baltimore and allow the Port to make full use of its strategic location. Maintenance dredging is necessary to ensure safe passage for vessels coming into the Port. One of the most difficult issues which arises with dredging is what happens to the material removed. Placement of dredged material is an issue of concern for all Marylanders. The State currently has an estimated available capacity of 30.9 million cubic yards (mcy) for the next five years, but it needs 48.9 mcy to meet the Port’s needs during that time. The Chesapeake Bay is an irreplaceable treasure and I will continue to support the full analysis of all proposed sites for dredged material. I have been working with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Garrison Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground to consider the viability of options at Aberdeen, particularly where material might be placed in areas of shoreline erosion. Now that Site 104 has been eliminated as a location to place dredged material, the Maryland Port Authority (MPA) is reviewing its options at other sites. This process must be honest, fair and based on solid scientific analysis. Lack of public confidence in the process leading to a decision about a particular site is a guaranteed ingredient for failure. Commitments made about sites in the past have not always been honored. Hart-Miller Island is just one example. I remain absolutely opposed to raising the dikes or changing the time schedule at the Hart-Miller site.