15 April 2002

Mr. Donald C. Strimbeck
P. O. Box 519
Granville WV 26534-0519

Dear Mr. Strimbeck:

I have received a response from an official with the Corps of Engineers regarding my inquiry on your behalf. I have enclosed a copy of this correspondence for your reference.

I regret that I was unable to provide this information to you in a timelier manner due to delays resulting from new screening procedures for mail delivered to the U.S. House of Representatives. As you will note, I am advised that the Corps of Engineers does not intend to reduce its operating schedule at any lock during the current fiscal year. I hope you find this information helpful.

Please don't hesitate to contact me again if I can be helpful in any way. I want to be of all possible service.

ABM:ra

Enclosure

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Pittsburgh District, Corps of Engineers
William S. Moorhead Federal Building
1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15222-4186

Operations and Readiness Division

17 January 2002

Honorable Alan B. Mollohan
House of Representatives
Washington DC 20515

This is in response to your letter of December12, 2001 written on behalf of your constituent Mr. Donald Strimbeck regarding the operating hours at Morgantown, Hildebrand and Opekiska Locks located on the upper Monongahela River. Mr. Strimbeck believes that in January 2002 the locks in question will have their days and/or hours of service reduced and the practice of breakdown maintenance will be invoked.

The Pittsburgh District does not envision reducing its schedule of operations at any lock on any of its waterways during the current fiscal year. Funding for Corps operations is provided on a year-to-year basis, so no one can make any predictions or promises beyond each one-year period. The current fiscal year, for which we have funding, runs through the 2002 recreational boating season, and ends September 30, 2002.

The Pittsburgh District leadership remains committed to providing quality service to its commercial and recreational navigation partners, to the extent possible within current and future budget constraints. Should changes become necessary in future fiscal years, we will work with our partners and government leaders to coordinate where limited funds can best be spent to provide navigation services.

We are currently evaluating both hours and seasons of operation for both the Allegheny River and the upper Monongahela River in accordance with current and projected traffic. Once our proposals regarding changes in seasons or hours of operations are fully developed, we will share them with you and other members of Congress.

Regarding the issue of preventive versus breakdown maintenance, there has been no change in our maintenance philosophy on the Monongahela River. We continue to perform routine preventive maintenance to prevent breakdowns.

In the meantime, if the Corps of Engineers can provide you with any additional information on the operation of the upper Monongahela River, please contact Robert Bonazza, Project Manager, at 412-395-7263.

Sincerely,

/s/ Raymond K. Scrocco

Colonel, Corps of Engineers

District Engineer