News

Inland Waterways Users Board Reactivated

After a long wait, the Inland Waterways Users Board (IWUB) has been reactivated and a full complement of members appointed or reappointed. An email from Mark Pointon, the designated federal officer and executive secretary of the IWUB, notified members of the board’s reactivation. 

The IWUB was temporarily deactivated along with other federal advisory committees as the secretary of defense conducted a “zero-based review” of federal advisory committees early last year, soon after the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

The IWUB is an advisory board established to monitor the Inland Waterways Trust Fund and to make recommendations to the Army and to Congress on investment priorities using resources from the fund.

For service on the IWUB, organizations, rather than individuals, are named. Each organization nominates its own representative. This differs from the procedure in some of the other advisory committees, whose members may be nominated directly by the president. The list of IWUB members includes a combination of some members serving a second term, some returning former members who had cycled off the board and a new member. The term of service is for the period of January 31, 2022, through January 30, 2024. Organizations and representatives are:

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• American Commercial Barge Line – Martin Hettel; 

• Bruce Oakley Inc. – Dennis Oakley;

  Canal Barge Company – Spencer Murphy; 

  Cargill Inc., Cargill Marine & Terminal – Jeff Webb; 

  CGB Enterprises – Lance Rase; 

  Continental Cement Company – David Loomes; 

  Ingram Barge Company – Daniel Mecklenborg; 

  Kirby Corporation – Matt Woodruff; 

  Marquette Transportation Company – Damon Judd; 

  SCF Marine Inc. – Tim Power; 

  Shaver Transportation Company – Rob Rich.

Currently, Maj. Gen. Butch Graham, the deputy commanding general for civil and emergency operations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is the board’s executive director.

Members were told they would be contacted for a scheduled meeting “in the near future.”