Separate funding is requested for operation and maitenance and construction in Mobile Harbor. On the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint, I am happy to report that unofficial figures show 1985 as a record-setting year for commercial use of what is popularly known as the TriRivers. Tonnage shipped on the system was approximately 1,237,274, which represents an increase of 26,274 tons over 1984 and the second straight year that tonnage has exceeded one million tons. When you consider the decreased movement of grain and coal nationally, this is great news for the Tri-Rivers, and it graphically illustrates that industry and shippers are regaining confidence in the reliability of the system. It is this reliability that we must continue to nurture and build in the days ahead. The Corps has listed $5,907,000 in its budget for operation and maintenance and the Tri-Rivers Waterway Development Authority is asking for the full Corps capability of an additional $1.5 million. Also requested is $300,000 for a basin economic impact study, and operation and maintenance money for the Walter F. George Lock and Jam below Eufaula and the George W. Andrews Lock and Dam at Columbia. The Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway System, which flows from the ccal-dominated Warrior Basin in northwest Alabama, through various industrial sites around Birmingham, down to the Port of Mobile, has a system of modern locks and dams with one exception, the William Bacon Oliver lock and dam near Tuscaloosa. The operational efficiency of this waterway is seriously impaired by the bottleneck caused by this one remaining substandard lock. It is a pre-World War II lock and is smaller in size than the other five. The small size necessitates tows having to The Corps is asking $11,948,000 for the Warrior-Tom and the Mr. Chairman, I join you in being pleased with the progress made on another of our State's great waterways, the Tennessee-Tombigbee, which is well underway; and I would like to mention one small project in our State that has been of personal interest to me for a number of years, and that is the serious erosion problem at Fort Toulouse in Autauga County. If more attention is not shown, we will see one of our historic sites literally washed away. As you know, your subcommittee has already appropriated funds to help with the erosion problem but the Corps'authorization has been bottled up for years in water bills that have never passed. Fort Toulouse is included in HR 6 and SB 1567 which I understand will go to conference soon and it is my hope that this much-sought authorization can be accomplished. May I close, Mr. Chairman, by expressing my appreciation to you personally for the guidance and leadership you have shown these Alabama projects for your years on this Committee. grateful to you. Alabama is, indeed, Mr. BEVILL. Bill, you are talking about the Tri-Rivers Project there. You certainly deserve a lot of credit on that. Now, for the first time that waterway is navigable the year round. I remember at least one or two new large industries were going to locate there until they learned the water was not navigable year round. But now that won't ever happen again, because it is navigable. I think that is commendable. Mr. DICKINSON. There was a commitment to build there and then when they learned that, they did, in fact, pull out. It was a disappointment at the time, but as you say, we think we have obviated that problem for the future, and we look forward to green lights ahead. If I might beg off now, I have another meeting that I would like to attend, and I appreciate you taking me first and out of order. I know I will be leaving you in capable hands between the gentleman from Jasper and the gentleman from Mobile. Mr. BEVILL. I did want to, before you get away, point out to them, too, that you and our good friend and colleague, Congressman Bill Nichols, worked so hard getting an authorization bill through the House so that this committee could fund it, which it did, the other erosion problem at Fort Toulouse. I remember we were accusing our good friend and colleague, of course, in jest, Congressman Bill Nichols, that he was very interested because his washing of Indian skeletons down from his district rather than down in Alabama across into our district. He was very concerned, because he has been voting those skeletons all those years. Then when they wash on down into Bill's district, Bill Dickinson's district, he would start voting them. Thank you very much. Mr. DICKINSON. Thank you. Mr. BEVILL. We are also pleased to hear from our colleague, Mr. Sonny Callahan. You may proceed. Mr. CALLAHAN. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before your committee and to meet with my two colleagues, Mr. Myers and Mr. Rudd, and especially you, Mr. Chairman, being from my home state. I said it at a breakfast meeting this morning that Alabama▬▬ Mr. BEVILL. It is all right to say it again. Mr. CALLAHAN. Alabama could indeed ill afford not to have you here in Congress. You are a tremendous compliment to our State, and not only do the people of Alabama appreciate the services that you give to them, but the rest of the people in America, as well. I am proud to serve with you and especially being from that area of the State that depends so heavily upon the ability of this committee to understand our needs. You have been most generous in your time and your efforts, and we, the people of southwest Alabama, truly appreciate that effort and that consideration that you have so graciously given to us during, especially, your tenure as chairman of this committee. I request, Mr. Chairman, $30.368 million in operation and maintenance funding for the Coosa and Alabama Waterway. This repre sents the Corps of Engineers capability on various segments on the system. No funding will be requested this year to extend the project from Montgomery to Gadsden, but I am encouraged that State officials and dedicated local interest continue to pursue this work. It is to their credit that they have such a large delegation here with us today. I strongly support their efforts and their testimony. I am very pleased that Tenn-Tom has been completed. Shipments on the Tenn-Tom are growing and include coal, agricultural prod ucts, metals and petroleum products, paper wood products and chemicals. Recreational use is heavy, and my prepared statement requests adequate O&M funding for the project. I also want to lend my support to the Black Warrior, the Warrior and the Tombigbee River System. My statement will request the Corps' capability for operation and maintenance and start up funding for the new Oliver Lock and Dam. Mr. Chairman, I regret, also, as Mr. Dickinson did, my schedule will not permit me to be here during testimony on the Black Warrior, Warrior and Tombigbee System, and the Tenn-Tom. I fully endorse the request which will be given by these groups and am submitting statements in behalf of these important waterways. Mr. BEVILL. Without objection, those statements will be put in the appropriate places on each of the projects. Mr. CALLAHAN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am also submitting a separate statement requesting funds for Mobile Harbor and related projects in the Mobile area. As you know, these projects have no official representation, so I appreciate the opportunity to lend them my support in this manner. Start-up funding for Fiscal Year 1987 for deepening in Mobile Harbor Channel is essential. Some of the other projects which are important to me are the Three Mile Creek Flood Control Project, the Bayou La Batre Channel, Perdido Pass, Gulf Coast Intracoastal Waterway, Dog and Fowl River Projects, Dauphin Island Channel, the Bayou Coden Channel and Bon Secour. Finally, Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you again for the leadership you have exhibited with respect to water transportation, both in Alabama and in the nation, and most specifically I am deeply appreciative of your work last year to insure authorization of the Mobile Harbor deepening project. Thank you for letting me appear today on behalf of the Coosa Alabama and the other Alabama Waterway projects. [The statement of Hon. Sonny Callahan follows:] STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE SONNY CALLAHAN APRIL 14, 1986 COOSA-ALABAMA WATERWAY Mr. Chairman, members of the subcommittee, I am happy to appear here today to voice my support for the fiscal year 1987 appropriation request for the Coosa-Alabama River System. For operation and maintenance along the system, $30,368 million is requested in FY 1986. Specifically, $10,343,000 is required for O&M on the Alabama River; $4,336,000 for the Millers Ferry Lock and Dam; $3,448,000 for the Robert F. Henry Lock and Dam; $8,233,000 for Allatoona Lake in Georgia; and $4,008,000 for Carters Lake in Georgia. The total funding level, while above the budget recommendation, is necessary to ensure proper maintenance of the river system. Without adequate maintenance, the river will not achieve maximum efficiency and navigation will be impeded. Operation and maintenance work on the Alabama River will keep hydro power plants in good condition and will allow dredging and routine maintenance work to continue to provide us with the most energy-efficient means of transportation. If we do not provide adequate funds for dredging, snagging, spoils dispo |