Water Resource News: Arkansas Basin Development Association Volume 12 Number 2

• Description: Water Resource News: Arkansas Basin Development Association Volume 12 Number 2
• State: CO
• Date: 8/6/2001
• Title: Water Resource News: Arkansas Basin Development Association Volume 12 Number 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

FArkansas YI Legislature
Passes Port Funding Program
Raymond Butler, executive
director of the Gulf Intracoastal
Canal Assoc., announces that the
GICA has a new address: 2010
Butler Drive, Friendswood, Texas
77546; phone [phone]; FAX:
(281) 992 -4383.
The West Central Regional
Office of the Arkansas Game and
Fish Commission has a change of
address: 1266 Lock and Dam Road,
Russellville, Ark. 72802. The phone
numbers remain the same: (501)
967 -7577, or toll free 1- 877 -967-
7577.
Although everyone
continues to call it by its old name,
the Corps of Engineers' Waterways
Experiment Station (WES) in
Vicksburg, Miss., has had a new
name for a while. It is now known
as the Corps' Engineering Research
and Development Center.
The Arkansas Basin
Development Association, Inc.,
welcomes new member Timmle
Lynn Hunter, executive director,
New Madrid County Port Authority,
New Madrid, Mo.
Correedton: In our recent
Spring issue, figures were incorrect
regarding funding needs for the
construction of anew warehouse by
the Fort Smith Port Authority. The
warehouse will be about 60,000 sq.
ft in size. The authority is working
with the Arkansas Departrr:ent of
Economic Development to fund
about $800,000 towards
construction. Other funds would
come from a $1.6 mtllflon industrial
revenue bond issue.
Page 8
A number ofport- related bills were introduced duringthe
83rd Arkansas Legislative Session. A major step forward was the
passage of HB 1696, which implements a program to fund public
port infrastructure.
HB 1696, now ACT 1546, states that the Arkansas
Waterways Commission, in partnership with the Arkansas
Department of Economic Development, may "establish rules
and regulations for eligibility for awarding funds to any public
port authority to aid in the development of port infrastructure,
including engineering and construction costs."
"The Arkansas Waterways Association and its members
have been very active in supporting this program," Frank Ivey,
executive director of the association, said. "It is an excellent
beginning to ensure that Arkansas' waterways are competitive."
The House Interim Committee on Public Transportation
and the Senate Interim Committee on Public Transportation,
Aging and Legislative Affairs will review the rules and
regulations.
The bill provides that the Arkansas Waterways
Commission will administer the program, including specifying
eligibility and the application procedure.
"While no funding mechanism was tapped this time, we
will be working to identify possible funding mechanisms and
implement those during the next legislative session," executive
director Paul Revis said.
****40*
REVIS RESIGNS FROM
ARKANSAS WATERWAYS COMMIISSION
Paul N. Revis, executive director of the Arkansas
Waterways Commission for the past seven and one -half years,
has resigned effective June 30, 2001. Revis previously retired as
former Chief of Operations for the Corps' Little Rock District.
He currently serves as president of the Arkansas Basin
Development Association, Inc.
The Arkansas Waterways Commission is in the process
of searching for a replacement.
The ABDA would like to thank Paul for his tireless
efforts in support of the entire Arkansas River Basin and wishes
him a long and fulfilling retirement with his family.