The WVPPA in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard has aided in the development, establishment and the leadership of the Tri-State Port Security Committee.  The purpose of the Tri-State Port Security Committee (PSC) is to provide a framework to identify risks, communicate and coordinate resources to mitigate threats and consequences within the United States Coast Guard, Huntington Marine Safety Office (MSO) Jurisdictional Boundaries.  

Through the PSC, Strictly Business of Huntington, West Virginia was successful in receiving a grant for $750,000 dollars to facilitate the development of a Proof of Concept for a webbased, communication system. This system will be used as the media in which the various stakeholders of the Huntington MSO will be able to manage the flow of information within it’s geographical boundaries.  Both the Tri-State Port Security Committee and the Strictly Business Proof of Concept are being considered for nationwide adaptation.  The Huntington MSO will be the only Inland River MSO to receive a Port Security Assessment (PSA) from the Office of Homeland Defense.  Findings from this PSA will also have national implications.

Working with public and private partners such as the West Virginia Statewide Addressing and Mapping Board (WVSAMB), Rahall Transportation Institute, The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE), West Virginia Office of Emergency Services (WVOES), West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) and other Port Security Committee members and stakeholders to establish memoranda of understanding (MOU) to successfully apply for a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Port Security Grant Program – Second Round.  

Upon notice to proceed and receipt of funding commitment the project team will be able to stand up a working port security spatial decision support (PSSDS) database (GIS) within six weeks.  The PSC will be able to perform conditional security assessments/gap analysis using ancillary data and commercially avaiblabe off-the-shelf software (COTS) GIS applications.  This task includes integration and geo-coding of many existing spatial data sets with sensitive security information (SSI) on port assets (facilities and infrastructure) with the Port of the Huntington, Tri-State. 

In addition, TSA grant money would be used to develop enhanced digital mapping and aerial photography that accurately positions and identifies missing SSI essential port assets within the Port of Huntington-Tri-State sphere of influence.  The enhanced digital mapping and aerial photography would be used to update the prototype system with new more spatially accurate mapping content.  The updated prototype system would be used to perform the final security assessment including gap analysis utilizing the new spatial data within a commercially available off-the-self (COTS) GIS application.  The final project would provide spatial data in USACOE Spatial Data Standards for Facilities, Environment and Infrastructure (SDSFEI) format to the Tri-State Port Security Committee lead (USCG MSO Huntington) and its designated stakeholders (WVOES, et.al)

Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIGP)

The WVPPA in cooperation with the Upper Monongahela River Water Trail SIG, Vision 2020 and the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce was successful in its bid for a federal Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIGP) of $100.000. The formal announcement will come sometime is early spring 2003.  The purpose is to install public docks and other shore side facilities and attractions for transient non-trailerable boats.  Facilities must be targeted for boats over 25 feet in length, and be primarily for short-term use.  Funding is derived from Federal taxes on fuel used by pleasure boats.

Inland River System, Marine Domain Awareness

Members of the WVPPA staff have met with public authorities at several locations around the State of West Virginia in an effort to develop or enhance the development of Public Port facilities and transportation efficiency.  The WVPPA has facilitated the creation and/or expansion of several Port Districts.

The WVPPA has been involved in numerous activities to continue raising Inland River System, Marine Domain Awareness.  The WVPPA and the Maritime Industry provided support for the “Kanawha, Navigation Through History” educational program.  This program allowed for 2,000 plus local school age children to gain a first hand, interactive look at the history and workings of the Kanawha River.  The WVPPA continues to support the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) based, West Virginia Department of Transportation Sponsored  “Connecting WV and the World” program as well as appearing on the Alan McVey Show, “Spotlight West Virginia”.  The WVPPA works with the Huntington District Waterways Association, DYNAMO, ORBITS, POWERS and numerous other waterborne advocacy groups promoting the development and diversification of the Inland River System. 

Local Port District Authorities Activities

The Buffalo/Putnam Port District now includes all jurisdictional boundaries of Putnam County, West Virginia.  The Local Port Authority District requested and has received full “Powers and Duties Resolution” from the WVPPA.  Key projects within the Port District include the reinternment of the 664 Native Americans taken from the Archeological Site in Buffalo, West Virginia.  The development of a Public Port Website.  Continue Marine Domain Awareness activities.  Continue recruitment of potential industries to the Public Port site. The Local Port Authority continues to look for other opportunities to enhance transportation efficiency within the Port District.

The Kanawha Valley Local Port Authority District now consists of all jurisdictional boundaries that include the area 20 miles left and right of the center line of the Kanawha River and from the Putnam County line, West Virginia to the Raleigh County line, West Virginia. The Local Port Authority requested and has received full “Powers and Duties Resolution” from the WVPPA.  Key projects within the Port District include the North Charleston Tank Farm and Distribution Center.  This project, in cooperation with DOW Chemical, will allow the Local Port Authority to market the excess capacity of the tank farm.  The continued planning of the Public Port in South Charleston.  This project, when completed, will allow the Local Port Authority to use the FMC Brownfield Remedied site for the development of a public drumming facility, warehousing and container on barge activities.  The development of a Mater Plan and a Commodities Flow study is currently underway.  The Local Port Authority continues to raise Inland River System Marine Domain Awareness through an aggressive Public Outreach Program.  The Local Port Authority continues to look for other opportunities to enhance transportation efficiency within the Port District.

The Weirton Port Authority District now includes all jurisdictional boundaries of Brooke and Hancock Counties, West Virginia. The Local Port Authority requested and has received full “Powers and Duties Resolution” from the WVPPA.  Key projects within the Port District include the Browns Island Readaptive Use Study.  The possible recruitment and development of a barge and towboat building company to the Port District. The Local Port Authority continues to look for other opportunities to enhance transportation efficiency within the Port District.

The Cabell/Wayne Port District is being considered for an Inland Container Port.  This multimodal facility will be located in Prichard, West Virginia and is currently under study by the West Virginia Department of Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railroad, Nick Rahall Transportation Institute, Marshall University and Clemson University. This Inland Container Port would grant public access to both the International Markets of the Virginia Port Authority as well as, the Container Port of Columbus, Ohio.

The Jackson County Port Authority District now includes all jurisdictional boundaries of Jackson County, West Virginia.  The Local Port Authority requested and has received a full “Powers and Duties Resolution” from the WVPPA.  These changes would allow the Local Port Authority to be more aggressive and responsive in assessing and meeting the transportation needs and efficiency of the Polymer Alliance Zone. The Local Port Authority continues to look for other opportunities to enhance transportation efficiency within the Port District.

Inland Port Development (Intermodal)