RESOLUTION
NO.
A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, GA ENCOURAGING AND REQUESTING THAT THE
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROCEED TO REMOVE SNAGS IN THE APALACHICOLA RIVER
CHANNEL AS PROPOSED; RESOLVING THAT ANY AND ALL PERMITS SHOULD BE GRANTED AND
ISSUED TO ENSURE THAT THIS ACTIVITY IS INITIATED AND COMPLETED AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE; AND, RESOLVING THAT ANY CHALLENGE OR OBJECTION SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN OR
DENIED.
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, GA has a long history of reliance upon
commercial and recreational navigation, including access to the Gulf of Mexico
via the Apalachicola River;
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, GA seeks to ensure that safe and reliable
navigation for its residents, visitors and commercial operators is continued;
WHEREAS, the United States Congress has authorized development of the
Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System, including a navigational channel
and three locks to support navigation from Eufaula, Alabama, Columbus and
Bainbridge, Georgia, and other communities to Apalachicola, Florida, and
further has directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain the
navigational infrastructure;
WHEREAS, development of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System was
intended to enhance economic growth and business development in southeastern
Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and western Florida, including especially
through the fostering of commercial and recreational navigation;
WHEREAS, that promise of increased prosperity has not been fully realized, due
in part to impediments to navigation;
WHEREAS, snags in the navigational channel threaten safe navigation and imperil
human life, well-being, and property;
WHEREAS, the removal of impediments to navigation is critical to the continued
development and expansion of private and commercial utilization of the
Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System;
WHEREAS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has undertaken to begin removal of
snags from the navigational channel consistent with the requirements for safe
navigation and has implemented new technologies to improve efficiencies,
including a shearing method to remove trees and other snags and impediments to
navigation while reducing adverse environmental consequences;
WHEREAS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has applied for an Environmental
Resource Permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
pursuant to an application that proposes reasonable conditions for the
protection of natural resources and the environment;
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection subsequently issued
a notice of intent to issue the permit;
WHEREAS, the Florida Wildlife Federation, Inc., and Apalachicola Bay and River
Keepers, Inc., have filed a petition for a formal administrative hearing in
opposition to the issuance of the Environmental Resource Permit, making various
allegations and claims pertaining to environmental and legal issues;
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, GA is confident that the conditions proposed by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are sufficient for the protection of the
natural resources and environment of affected areas;
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, GA is greatly concerned about the risks to
life, well-being and property of citizens and visitors, and the need to prevent
damages to private and commercial vessels operating in the navigational channel;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES:
That the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is encouraged and requested to proceed to
remove the snags in the Apalachicola River channel as proposed; that any and
all permits should be granted and issued to ensure that this activity is
initiated and completed as soon as possible; and, that any challenge or
objection to approval of the permit application is without merit and should be
withdrawn or denied.
____________________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia held on the
22nd day of October, 2013, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote
of ______ members of Council.
Councilor Allen voting____________.
Councilor Baker voting____________.
Councilor Barnes voting___________.
Councilor Davis voting____________.
Councilor Henderson voting________.
Councilor Huff voting_____________.
Councilor McDaniel voting_________.
Councilor Pugh voting_____________.
Councilor Thomas voting___________.
Councilor Woodson voting__________.
______________________________ ______________________________
TINY B. WASHINGTON, CLERK TERESA PIKE TOMLINSON, MAYOR
Navigation on the Apalachicola River:
Your Support Is Needed for Desnagging
September 2013
BACKGROUND
? On May 29, 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) applied to the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for a permit to desnag
the Apalachicola River. FDEP notified the public of its intent to issue the
permit on January 31, 2013.
? Apalachicola Riverkeeper and Florida Wildlife Federation oppose the permit,
and they filed a petition for an administrative hearing on March 8, 2013.
? In response to the environmental groups, FDEP may schedule an administrative
hearing and allow the groups to argue against removing snags from the river.
STATUS
? The Corps' last permit to authorize desnagging expired on February 25, 2005,
and the river has not been desnagged since then. As a result, trees and other
snags have accumulated. That presents serious safety risks to boaters.
? The Corps' proposal includes reasonable conditions for the protection of
natural resources and the environment. The Corps has gone to great lengths to
develop new techniques to minimize environmental impacts.
? However, AR and FWF are seeking additional conditions that would limit the
Corps' desnagging operations and jeopardize navigation and safety. The Corps
will not accept those conditions, nor will the Corps proceed with desnagging
activities without a permit.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
? Please contact FDEP to tell them how important navigation on the
Apalachicola River is to you. Urge the Department to issue the permit to the
Corps as proposed. If you or people you know participate in boating activities
on the Apalachicola, be sure to include information about that, and be as
specific as possible. Send comments to:
Honorable T. Vinyard Jr., Secretary
Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, M.S. 35
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000
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