Port of Lake Charles to get $49M

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has set aside $49 million to pay for dredging along the Calcasieu Ship Channel to get the waterway back to its original 40-foot depth.

Official said Thursday that the funds would come from the Consolidated Security Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations bill for the 2009 fiscal year.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter said the money will allow the Port of Lake Charles to resume normal activity along the ship channel, which was disrupted by excessive silt deposited during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

He said ships were having to be short-loaded by 2 feet because of the depth of the channel. He said that was costing the refineries more money.

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Information from: American Press, http://www.americanpress.com