UPPER MONONGAHELA COMMITTEE FOR BETTER BOATING
DONALD C. STRIMBECK
P. O. Box 519
Granville WV 26534-0519

Wednesday 15 November 2000

Representative Alan B. Mollohan
2346 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515-4801

RE: LOCK HOURS

Dear Congressman Mollohan:

Thank you for your letter of 2 November, forwarding COL Ridenour's response to you concerning our "lock hours" issue. We of course do not fault the US Army Corps of Engineers (COE), when they follow current law in setting lock hours. In barest essence, current law requires that the COE set lock hours based on the needs of commercial river traffic. And, while the COE may consider recreational boating and fishing and related needs when setting lock hours, the COE is not required by law to equate such needs as equal to the needs of river commercial traffic.

Therefore, our committee would like for Congress to pass legislation that remedies this situation. The vehicle for accomplishing this correction perhaps is the proposed National Recreation Lakes Act, suitably modified to address our "lock hours" concerns. We hope that this proposed legislation will be revived when the new Congress convenes next January. We further hope that you and Senator Byrd will assist with developing this legislation and getting it passed. Then, we hope that you, and Senator Byrd, through your eminent positions on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, will see that adequate funds are provided for this legislation.

We greatly appreciate your interest and assistance, and the like help from Senator Byrd, concerning our "lock hours" issue.

Sincerely,

Donald Strimbeck, Secretary
Upper Monongahela Committee for Better Boating

cc:
(1) Senator Byrd
(2) Representative Deal
(3) Representative Wamp
(4) Representative Shuster
(5) Representative Saxton
(6) Mick Blackistone, NMMA & NRLC