A W O President Calls For Board Formation To Set W a t e r w a y s Spending Priorities

A major spokesman for the nation's barge and towing industry said that recent government action to drastically reduce the federal deficit greatly increases the need to establish a government- industry "Users Board," consisting of representatives from the various users and beneficiaries of the nation's inland and coastal waterways system.

"We have entered the Gramm-Rudman era," said Joseph Farrell, president of The American Waterways Operators, the national association for the barge and towing industry. Mr. Farrell's remarks recently were made in an address to the National Coal Association Transportation Seminar in Lexington, Ky.

"I firmly believe that the nation is on course to reduce the breathtaking federal budget deficit of recent years. And well it should be," Mr.

Farrell said.

He said that in light of this current climate of greatly reduced federal spending, that "There should be in place an advisory board made up of waterway system beneficiaries to help government in setting its waterway construction and maintenance priorities." For the barge industry, Mr. Farrell said that new restrictions on federal spending will require that "The priorities must be sharper and performance likely more drawn out," and that such an advisory board could realistically help keep the government aware of the waterway industry's specific needs.

Mr. Farrell proposed that the "Users Board," if created, would be most effective if it were required to report to the U.S. Senate and House Committees that are directly responsible for authorizing federal funds for the nation's waterways.

"What is certain, is that we must all become more efficient in the maintenance and construction of America's ports, waterways and rivers," Mr. Farrell said. "I do not pretend that this will be an easy or painless exercise. But we must undertake it," he said.

For further information on The American Waterways Operators, Inc., write to 1600 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va. 22209, or call (703) 841- 9300.

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