Legislative Update: Fighting Remote Lock & Dam Operations

In recent years, Army Corps leaders have begun championing the promise of remotely operated waterway infrastructure. The ACE Council has been fighting throughout for greater transparency and accountability when it comes to this ill-conceived plan. In a truly promising development, the following has appeared in this year’s Senate Appropriations bill.

Remote Lock Operations Transparency. —The Committee recognizes the need for more communication and guidance regarding the Corps’ implementation of remote lock and dam operations on the inland and intracoastal waterways. The Committee encourages the Corps to engage in active and ongoing communication with the stakeholders in the navigation industry, including the Inland Waterways Users Board, during the conduct of regional assessments related to the implementation of remote lock and dam operations. The Corps is prohibited from using any funds for this effort or related efforts until the Committee is provided with the National assessment completed on lock and dam remote operations and a stakeholder engagement plan.

There’s more to be done to get this in the final Senate/House Appropriations bill, but this is a big step in protecting these jobs from being automated away. A lot of effort went into this from many ACE Council locals getting meetings with congressional staffers, sending people to Capitol Hill for IFPTE’s Legislative Week, the IFPTE ACE Council setting up meetings, and IFPTE President Matt Biggs, IFPTE Legislative Director Faraz Khan, and USACE Lock and Dam operator Mike Arendt (SAM) all spent many hours advocating for this language in an effort to protect these jobs.