AAPA CALLS PORT SECURITY FUNDING ?INSUFFICIENT?

AAPA CALLS PORT SECURITY FUNDING ôINSUFFICIENTö    The American Association of Port Authorities, which represents 150 ports in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean, has expressed concern that the Bush administration’s budget plan 'lacks designated funds for key port security initiatives.”
   “The nation’s ports remain without Federal help that is necessary to secure U.S. water borders,” said Kurt J. Nagle, president Alexandria, Va.-based AAPA.
   “While we had been hopeful the (2004) budget would include money specifically for port facility security grants, we find ourselves disappointed,” Nagle said.
   To date, less than $200 million in federal funds has been announced for port security grants, about one-fifth of the amount the Coast Guard says is required for first-year costs, Nagle said.
   U.S. Coast Guard estimates released in December placed first-year port security costs at $963 million, followed by recurring annual expenses of $535 million.
   AAPA praised the Bush administration for increased allocations to the U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Coast Guard. “Ports derive considerable benefit from (such) programs being appropriately funded,” Nagle said.
   However, the administration’s plan to shift the federal share of navigation channel construction for deep-draft vessels from general funds to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund “would run counter to the user fee’s purpose, which is maintenance of channels,” Nagle said.
   “It’s a serious concern to ports when the federal government suggests complete abdication of its financial responsibility for navigation channel construction,” he said.