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March 12, 2008
Congressman Zach Wamp said the Inland Waterways Trust Fund is running low on funds, and that may ultimately imperil the continued funding of the Chickamauga Lock.
Rep. Wamp said annual funding for the $309 million project to rebuild the lock at Chickamauga Dam is in the current Bush budget.
But he said the decline in the trust fund revenue may cause problems within about two years.
According to the Treasury Department, Inland Waterway Trust Fund revenues in fiscal year 2006 fell to $80.8 million, the lowest level since 1993.
Officials said there is a great deal of uncertainty about the cause of this decline and if reduced revenues will persist.
Rep. Wamp said the trust fund is an important source of revenue for the Chickamauga Lock project.
He said some other major waterway projects have been getting a large share of the trust fund.
Rep. Wamp said it is an annual battle to keep the Chickamauga funding going, and the shortage in the trust fund will make it that much harder.
Rep. Wamp also said the funding he has been able to obtain for the Chickamauga Lock is classified as an "earmark" - a category of federal spending that some in Congress want to eliminate.
He was interviewed on Talk Radio, 102.3 on the Live and Local program with Robert T. Nash and Mary Anne Williams.
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