Monday 24 March 2003
SENT VIA FAX
Congressman Alan B. Mollohan
2346 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515-4801
RE: Energy & Water Appropriations project requests for FY 2004
Dear Congressman Mollohan:
Please again submit your request for funds to automate lockages on the Upper Mon in WV. Based on meeting we had last Friday with COL Scrocco, District Engineer, Pittsburgh District, US Army Corps of Engineers, you may want to increase the request from $5M to perhaps $8M. This would automate lockages at Morgantown lock in addition to Hildebrand and Opekiska locks, permitting these three locks to be operated from Point Marion lock and dam.
We also ask that you seek $400K to permit Hildebrand and Opekiska locks to operate 24/7 during 1 May - 31 October recreational boating season. It is virtually certain we will shortly receive a $100K Boating Infrastructure Grant for Upper Mon docks that will encourage long-range recreational boaters to visit Upper Mon. But, they won’t come if Hildebrand and Opekiska are open day shift only. We must have extended lock hours over the next few years for the recreational boating season, to develop this recreational boating tourism industry, while we await success with the lockage automation endeavor!
We also ask that Senator Byrd support these requests in the Senate.
Sincerely,
Donald Strimbeck, Secretary
Upper Monongahela River Association, Inc.
CC: Senator Robert C. Byrd, FAX 202-228-0002 and 304-343-7144