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Letter to Honorable Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of the Department of Defense - Norton Calls on Defense Secretary to Withdraw Proposed Rule Restricting Public Access to Washington Channel, Announces Bill to Block Rule

Letter

Date: Feb. 9, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Technology and Communication Defense Military Personnel Environment

Dear Secretary Austin:

I write to request that you direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to withdraw the proposed rule (COE-2019-0010) restricting public access to the Washington Channel (Channel) next to Fort McNair in the District of Columbia and that you prohibit USACE from proposing a similar rule. This rule is arbitrary, capricious and unnecessarily restricts recreational and commercial access to the Channel without providing any benefits to Fort McNair. I also will be introducing legislation to block this proposed rule. On January 27, 2021, I hosted a public meeting with the U.S. Army, USACE and District of Columbia residents and officials to discuss the proposed rule, and D.C. residents and officials overwhelmingly opposed the rule.

During the public meeting, Fort McNair officials cited threats to military assets as the reason to restrict access to the Channel, but did not address whether any less restrictive measures could provide the same security. The Washington Navy Yard and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, which also have access to D.C. rivers, do not have restricted zones on their shorelines. D.C. residents and officials are particularly concerned that the proposed restrictions could cause injury by forcing kayaks and other recreational boats into the same space as water taxis and cruise ships.

Congress passed my bill to redevelop the Southwest Waterfront, and the Wharf will be one of the sites most affected by the proposed rule. The Wharf has reinvigorated community engagement on the waterfront and has generated considerable tax revenue for the District. The Channel is increasingly used for regional transportation (water taxis) and recreation (kayaking, paddle boarding, boating and river events). The stretch of the Channel past Fort McNair in Southwest is the only connection to the Potomac River.

Thank you for considering my request. Please respond in writing by March 2, 2021.


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