U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed reorganization plan : hearings before the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress, first session, May 6, a

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by  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Public Works and Transportation. Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight

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ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROPOSED
U.S.
REORGANIZATION PLAN
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vs. Arny Corps of Enji.eers Propos...
HEARINGS
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
INVESTIGATIONS AND OVERSIGHT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION
HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIONS
ONE HUNDRED THIRD CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
MAY 6, AND 11, 1993
SERIAL NO. 103-23
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Printed for the use of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROPOSED
REORGANIZATION PLAN
HEARINGS
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
INVESTIGATIONS AND OVERSIGHT
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED THIRD CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
MAY AND
6, 11, 1993
SERIAL NO. 103-23
Printed for the use of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
72-424 WASHINGTON 1993
:
ForsalebytheU.S.GovernmentPrintingOffice
SuperintendentofDocuments,CongressionalSalesOffice.Washington,DC 20402
ISBN 0-16-044046-7
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION
NORMAN Y. MINETA, CaUfomia, Chair
JAMES L. OBERSTAR, Minnesota BUD SHUSTER, Pennsylvania
NICK JOE RAHALL II, West Virginia WILLIAM F. CLINGER, Jr., Pennsylvania
DOUGLAS APPLEGATE, Ohio THOMAS E. PETRI, Wisconsin
RON DE LUGO, Virgin Islands SHERWOOD L. BOEHLERT, New York
ROBERT A. BORSKI, Pennsylvania JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma
TIM VALENTINE, North CaroUna BILL EMERSON, Missouri
WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI, IlUnois JOHN J. DUNCAN, Jr., Tennessee
ROBERT E. WISE, Jr., West Virginia SUSAN MOLINARI, New York
JAMES A. TRAFICANT, Jr., Ohio WILLIAM H. ZELIFF, Jr., New Hampshire
PETER A. DeFAZIO, Oregon THOMAS W. EWING, IlUnois
JAMES A. HAYES, Louisiana WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland
BOB CLEMENT, Tennessee JENNIFER DUNN, Washington
JERRY F. COSTELLO, Illinois Y. TIM HUTCHINSON, Arkansas
MIKE PARKER, Mississippi BILL BAKER, CaUfomia
GREG LAUGHLIN, Texas MICHAEL A. (Mac) COLLINS, Georgia
PETE GEREN, Texas JAY KIM, CaUfomia
GEORGE E. SANGMEISTER, IlUnois DAVID A. LEVY, New York
GLENN POSHARD, IlUnois STEPHEN HORN, CaUfomia
DICK SWETT, New Hampshire BOB FRANKS, New Jersey
BUD CRAMER, Alabama PETER I. BLUTE, Massachusetts
BARBARA-ROSE COLLINS, Michigan HOWARD P. (Buck) McKEON, CaUfornia
ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, District of JOHN L. MICA, Florida
Columbia PETER HOEKSTRA, Michigan
LUCIEN E. BLACKWELL, Pennsylvania JACK QUINN, New York
JERROLD NADLER, New York
SAM COPPERSMITH, Arizona
LESLIE L. BYRNE, Virginia
MARL\ CANTWELL, Washington
PAT DANNER, Missouri
KAREN SHEPHERD, Utah
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
JAMES E. CLYBURN, South CaroUna
CORRINE BROWN, Florida
NATHAN DEAL, Georgia
JAMES A. BARCIA, Michigan
DAN HAMBURG, California
BOB FILNER, California
WALTER R. TUCKER III, CaUfornia
EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas
Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
ROBERT A. BORSKI, Pennsylvania, Chair
BARBARA-ROSE COLLINS, Michigan, JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma
Vice Chair JOHN J. DUNCAN, Jr., Tennessee
ROBERT E. WISE, Jr., West Virginia SUSAN MOLINARI, New York
LUCIEN E. BLACKWELL, Pennsylvania WILLIAM H. ZELIFF, Jr., New Hampshire
LESLIE L. BYRNE, Virginia WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland
JAMES A. BARCIA, Michigan BILL BAKER, CaUfornia
BOB FILNER, California BUD SHUSTER, Pennsylvania
EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas (Ex Officio)
(VACANCY)
NORMAN Y. MINETA, CaUfomia
(Ex Officio)
(II)
CONTENTS
Proceedings of: Page
May 6, 1993 1
May 11, 1993 429
Summary ofsubjectmatter VII
MAY 6, 1993
TESTIMONY
Bartlett, Hon. Steve, Mayor, Dallas, TX, accompanied by J. Scott Carlson,
assistant city attorney, city ofDallas, TX 36
Boxer, Hon. Barbara, U.S. Senator from California 9
Evans, Hon. Lane, a Representative in Congress from Illinois 13
Foglietta, Hon. Thomas, a Representative in Congress from Pennsylvania 13
Gardner, Frank, vice president, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District,
Chicago, IL WV 48
Gilley, J. Wade, president, Marshall University, Huntington, 28
Hoffman, Joseph K., chairman, Great Lakes Commission 48
Ives, Paul Lane, Jr., chairman. Joint Executive Committee for the Improve-
ment and Development ofthe Philadelphia PortArea 21
Jones, Barbara, Director, Government and Public Relations, Delaware River
PortAuthority 21
Kaul, N.G., Director, Division ofWater, New York State Department ofEnvi-
ronmental Conservation, accompanied by Richard Konsella, chief, flood con-
trol projectsection. Division ofWater 41
LaRue, John P., executive director, Philadelphia Regional PortAuthority 21
Leonard, Donald J., representative of the North Central Division Concerned
Employees 48
Quinn, Hon. Jack, a Representative in Congress from NewYork 41
Weldon, Hon. Curt, a Representative in Congressfrom Pennsylvania 13
Wise, Hon. Robert E.,Jr., a Representative in Congress from WestVirginia ... 13
PREPARED STATEMENTS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Blackwell, Hon. Lucien E., ofPennsylvania 11
Molinari, Hon. Susan, ofNewYork 8
Quinn, Hon. Jack, ofNewYork 359
Rahall, Hon. NickJ. II, ofWestVirginia 27
Saxton, Hon. H. James, ofNewJersey 8
Sundquist, Hon. Don, ofTennessee 7
Zeliff, Hon. William H., Jr., ofNewHampshire 13
PREPARED STATEMENTS SUBMITTED BY WITNESSES
Bartlett, Hon. Steve 59
Boxer, Hon. Barbara 71
Evans, Hon. Lane 74
Foglietta, Hon. Thomas 76
Gardner, Frank 77
Gilley, J. Wade 82
Hoffman, Joseph K 88
Ives, Paul Lane, Jr 94
Jones, Barbara 100
Kaul, N.G 105
(III)
IV
Page
LaRue, John P 114
Leonard, Donald 119
Wise, Hon. Robert E., Jr 366
SUBMISSIONS FOR THE RECORD
Operation Mountain Storm, statement 33
Sturdivant, John N., national president, American Federation ofGovernment
Employees, AFL-CIO, statement 32
ADDITIONS TO THE RECORD
Statements received from Members ofCongress(House & Senate):
Clement, Hon. Bob, ofTennessee 370
CoUins, Hon. Barbara-Rose, ofMichigan 372
Feinstein, Hon. Dianne, ofCalifornia 374
Hughes, Hon. William J., ofNewJersey 377
Leach, Hon. JamesA., ofIowa 379
Moseley-Braun, Hon. Carol, ofIllinois 393
Pelosi, Hon. Nancy, ofCalifornia 399
Porter, Hon. John Edward, ofIllinois 404
Simon, Hon. Paul, ofIllinois 407
Schumer, Hon. CharlesA., ofNewYork 409
Othercorrespondence:
Delaware River Port Authority, Harry J. Kennedy, Jr., manager, govern-
ment, letter 418
Town ofMatewan, WV., Hon. JohnnyW. Fullen, Mayor, letter 419
MaritimeAdvisoryCouncil ofNewJersey, letter 420
Miller, Matt, Board of Directors member, Huntington, WV, Regional
ChamberofCommerce, letter 422
WaterwaysAssociation ofPittsburgh, ArthurParker, executive vice presi-
dent, letter 424
CityofWilliamson, WV., Hon. Sam G. Kapourales, Mayor, letter 426
MAY
11, 1993
TESTIMONY
Dickey, Dr. G. Edward, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army of Civil
Works 448
Griffis, F.H. (Bud), professor of civil engineering (construction) and Director
ofthe National Centerfor Infrastructure Studies at Columbia University .... 500
Smith, Kenneth J., president. CoastalAdvocate, Inc., Ship Bottom, NJ 500
Williams, Lt. Gen. ArthurE., Commander, U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers 448
PREPARED STATEMENTS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Barcia, Hon. JamesA., ofMichigan 447
Inhofe, Hon. James M., ofOklahoma 430
Quinn, Hon. Jack, ofNewYork 431
ZelifT, Hon. William H., ofNew Hampshire 444
PREPARED STATEMENTS SUBMITTED BY WITNESSES
Dickey, Dr. G. Edward 511
Griffis, F.H. (Bud) 516
Smith, Kenneth J 522
Williams, Lt. Gen. ArthurE 525
SUBMISSIONS FOR THE RECORD
Dickey, Dr. G. Edward, ActingAssistant Secretary ofthe Army, Civil Works,
responses to post-hearing questions submitted by Representative Eddie Ber-
nice Johnson 497
V
Johnson, Hon. Eddie Bemice, a Representative in Congress from Texas, Opin-
ion of the American Law Division of the Congressional Research Service,
Subject: "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Reorganization: The Mississippi
RiverCommission and Division OflTice Site Selection" 435
Williams, Lt. Gen. Arthur E., Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
Annualizedworkload projections by District 470
Charts:
Minorities and women in Division HQs (as percentofworkforce) 492
ADDITIONS TO THE RECORD
Statements received from Members ofCongress:
Barcia, Hon. JamesA., ofMichigan 531
Yates, Hon. Sidney R., ofIllinois 534
OtherCommunications:
Committee to Save SPD (COTOSS) San Francisco, CA., B. Getzen, state-
ment 539
Green BrookFlood Control Commission, Green Brook, NY, resolution 546
New Jersey Alliance for Action, Inc., Edison, NJ., Ellis S. Vieser, presi-
dent stfltdTiGrit 04y
Port of New York and New Jersey, Lillian C. Liburdi, director. Port
Development, letter 552
StateofNewYork, LegislatureofErie County, clerk's office, resolution .... 555
U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers reorganization plan 557

6
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May5.1993 Si'o'Si'^^r;'"
TO: Members,SubcommitteeonInvestigationsandOversight
FROM: SubcommitteeStaff
RE: SUMMARYOFSUBJECTMATTERforHEARINGSONTHEUS.ARMY
CORPSOFENGINEERSPROPOSEDREORGANIZATION PLAN. Thursday.
May6. 1993. Room2167.10:00a.m.andaproposed secondday. Tuesday.May
U. 1993. Room2253.1:30p.m.
OnNovember19.1992. theU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers(Corps)announceda
majorreorganizationplanwhichwouldeliminate2.600full-time jobsand transfer
5,000employees. Theplan, whichisunderreviewbySecretaryofDefenseAspin,
callsforareductionin thenumberofDivisionofficesfrom11to6. amodificationin
Headquartersoperations, andarestructuringofDistrictoffices. TheCorpsestimated
thecostofimplementation tobe$215millionandaimualsavingsof$115millionby
1995.
TheSubcommitteeon InvestigationsandOversightwillhold twodaysof
hearingstoexamine theCorpsreorganizationplan. Thefirstdaywillbeginat10:00
a.m. inRoom 2167RaybumHouseOfficeBuildingwheretestimonywillbe received
fromMembersofCongressandotherpartiesaffectedbythereorganizationplan. A
proposed seconddayofhearingswillbeginat1:30p.m. inRoom2253Raybum
Building. TestimonywillbereceivedfromCorpsofficialsandarepresentativeofthe
academiccommunity.
Abackgroundsummaryofeventsleadingtotheproposed reorganizationanda
discussionoftheissueswhichareexpectedtobeaddressedatthehearingfollows.
(VII)
VIII
-2-
BACKGROUND
TheCorps' Missions
TheprimarymissionsoftheCorpsofEngineersaremilitaryconstructionand
waterresourcedevelopment. Incarryingoutthosemissions, theCorpsperformsa
numberofroles, includingdesignandconstruction,regulatoryoversight,emergency
operations, projectmanagement,andoperationsandmaintenance.
Inaddition toitsprimarymissions, theCorpshasperformedengineeringtasks
in thepastforotherentities, includingconstructionactivitiesfor theU.S. Postal
Service, NASA, and thecountriesofIsraelandSaudiArabia. CurrentlytheCorpsis
performingworkforEPAinconstructiongrantsmanagement andinthe Superfund
program. TheCorpsalsohasasignificantroleinthedevelopmentofmagnetic
levitationpassengertrains. This "support-for-others"functioncould becomealarger
partoftheCorps' work programintheeventofa reorganization.
TheNeed forReorganization
AccordingtoCorpsofficialswithwhomsubcommittee staffspoke, thenature
oftheCorps' workprogram hasundergonesignificantchangeover thepastdecade,
promptingthe need foranorganizational reassessment. Duringthe firsthalfofthe
1980s, increased militaryexpendituresmeantadditionalworkfor theCorpsof
Engineers. However, themilitaryconstructionprogrampeakedin1987andtheCorps
isfacedwiththeprospectofasharply-reducedmilitaryconstructionprograminthe
yearsahead. At thesametime, theCorps'civilworksprogramemphasishaschanged
fromnewconstructionprojectstotheoperationandmaintenanceofexistingprojects.
SeeAtUchment1foracomprehensiveoutlineofCorpsresponsibilities.