{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=337755", "Jaime Herrera Beutler Raises Questions, Concerns over CRC\u2019s Low Bridge Height during Coast Guard Permit Comment Period", "2013-06-12", "2013", "2013-06", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Jaime Herrera Beutler", "H001056", "herrerabeutler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler submitted comment to the U.S. Coast Guard voicing concern with the current Columbia River Crossing (CRC) design and its impact on upriver commerce.\u00a0 The Coast Guard\u2019s public comment period for the CRC permitting process ends on June 20.\u00a0 In her letter, Jaime refers to previous correspondence with the Coast Guard asking that any final outcome from the permitting process protect free navigation of the river and the regional economy.  The text of the letter follows, and a PDF of the original letter is available here: Rear Admiral Keith A. Taylor  \nDistrict Commander  \nThirteenth Coast Guard District  \n915 2nd Avenue, Room 3590  \nSeattle, WA 98174-1067 Dear Admiral Taylor: I am writing to provide comment for the Application for the Proposal to Replace the Existing Movable I-5 Bridge across the Columbia River, Docket ID: USCG-20136-0286.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0  As you are aware, I and other Members of the Pacific Northwest Congressional Delegation whose districts are upriver of the Columbia River Interstate Bridge have previously written to your office to voice our concerns with the serious limitations of the current design for the Columbia River Crossing (CRC).\u00a0\u00a0 The height restrictions of this design have the potential to negatively impact not just current upriver businesses whose cargo must pass under the bridge to reach their intended markets, but could also provide a chilling impact to future business development due to the permanent, impassable nature of the design for larger vessels and cargoes.\u00a0  In addition to the grave concerns with the height restrictions of the current design, other important questions and concerns have been raised that deserve your attention:\n \n    The CRC Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) analyzes a bridge that has a height of 95 feet, but no analysis has been\u00a0 provided for the re-working of the design to accommodate 116 ft. of clearance.\u00a0\u00a0 Given that the DEIS fails to analyze a bridge clearance that is 21 feet higher than the LPA\u2019s design, how does this affect the permit application under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?\u00a0 Is a Supplemental EIS going to be required before a permit can be issued?\n    When the Glenn Jackson Bridge was permitted, the analysis determined that a clearance of 144 ft. would be required in order to ensure that navigation wouldn\u2019t be impeded on the Columbia River.\u00a0 Have the standards for river navigation changed?\u00a0\u00a0 If not, can you explain how a clearance of 116 ft. complies with the findings for the Glenn Jackson Bridge? \n    A great deal of focus has been given to providing mitigation for the three metal fabricators that are located upriver of the Interstate Bridge.\u00a0 I am concerned that no alternatives have been considered which would eliminate the need for taxpayer-funded mitigation, and would ensure their continued ability to freely operate from their current sites of operation and support hundreds of local jobs.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t the need for such substantial mitigation point to serious design flaws that limit navigation?\u00a0\u00a0 I would offer that building a bridge without adequate clearance is an unfortunate choice that could be remedied through the redesign of this project.\u00a0 \n \nThe Columbia River, the 3rd largest river in the nation, is a vital navigation link that provides for tens of thousands of jobs, and more than $20 billion in annual cargo revenues.\u00a0\u00a0 The importance of protecting our river commerce, both now and in the future, cannot be understated.\u00a0\u00a0 I urge you to do all you can to ensure that the final outcome of the permitting process protects the free navigation of the river and our regional economy. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.\u00a0\u00a0 For your reference, copies of my previous correspondence have been attached.\u00a0\u00a0 In addition, I have included a letter from Congressman Duncan Hunter, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation to Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., noting his strong concerns with the Columbia River Crossing project. Previous Correspondence Click here for the January 30, 2013 Letter to the Coast Guard from Northwest Members of Congress Click here for the May 7, 2013 Letter to the Coast Guard from Chairman Duncan Hunter", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=337755"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8391959127038717, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}