Letter To Mr. Darcy, Secretary of the Army Corps of Engineers

Letter

McCaskill: Semo Port Crucial To Regional Economy

As the economy is starting to recover, a critical Missouri port is facing a suspension of operation that would seriously hurt the region's economy. Today, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill sent a letter to the Secretary of the Army Corps of Engineers questioning the decision not to dredge the harbor at the Southeast Missouri (SEMO) Regional Port Authority. Each year the area must be dredged to maintain a sufficient water level for barges to enter and exit the port. McCaskill stressed the importance of this project to the movement of agricultural goods and urged the Army Corps of Engineers to make the project a top priority.

"I have serious concerns about the process used to determine project funding, especially in light of the importance of this harbor to the agriculture economy of the state and region," McCaskill wrote. "Area producers use this harbor to ship nearly one million tons of corn, rice, fertilizer and other items each year."

On a recent trip to New Madrid, McCaskill learned the port was not going to be dredged and may have to shut down operations as early as Labor Day. The port has shipped close to a million tons of essential cargo each of the past two years. After learning that the project was not on the list for dredging this year, McCaskill is urging the Corps to find alternative solutions to help area producers continue to ship products essential to Missouri's agricultural economy.

The full text of the letter is below.

Dear Secretary Darcy,

It has come to my attention that the St. Louis District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) did not receive funding for the dredging of the harbor at the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority (SEMO Port). I have serious concerns about the process used to determine project funding, especially in light of the importance of this harbor to the agricultural economy of the state and region. Therefore, I write today to clarify why this important project was not funded and to call on the Corps' to complete the much needed dredging at this port.

Port officials, in consultation with the St. Louis Corps District, have determined that the minimum level of funding needed for dredging in the SEMO Port is $360,000. The State of Missouri and the SEMO Port have affirmed, however, that they do not have sufficient state matching funds to complete the dredging work.

As you know, the ability to get cargo in and out of SEMO Port is critical to the farm economy of the state and region. Area producers use this harbor to ship nearly one million tons of corn, rice, fertilizer and other items each year. I urge you to assist SEMO Port and the St. Louis District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by initiating a Corps led dredging of this harbor.

Again, thank you for taking the time to help address this matter. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact Corey Dukes in my office at 202-224-6154.

Sincerely,

Senator Claire McCaskill

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