Congressman Walter B. Jones and several congressional colleagues have joined forces to call on the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers to meet its statutory mandate to perform an assessment of the maintenance dredging needs along the Atlantic and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways.
According to Jones, a 2014 law required the Corps to complete the assessment by September of last year, but the Corps failed to do so.
In a letter, sent two days ago to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, Congressman Jones and his colleagues called on the Corps to follow the law and expedite completion of the assessment.
“ Maintaining the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at its authorized depth is important for the economy of Eastern North Carolina and the southeastern United States ,” said Congressman Jones. “ Clogged waterways mean lost jobs. This report will help all stakeholders better understand the needs going forward. The senior leadership of the Corps needs to get on the ball and follow the law so those needs can be addressed. ”
The joint letter comes on the heels of Congressman Jones making a similar demand earlier this year.