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Chairman Ortiz and members of the subcommittee, on behalf of the Port of 

 Houston Authority, thank you for permitting us to submit testimony regarding a 

 unique and unprecedented approach to address environmental interests and concerns 

 regarding dredge material disposal anticipated from the proposed Houston Ship 

 Channel widening and deepening project. 



THE HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL AND THE PORT OF HOUSTON 



It is no exaggeration to say that the Houston Ship Channel is one of the most 

 important economic lifelines between our nation and the world. Houston's favorable 

 geographic location provides easy access to the entire world business community 

 through key ocean, land and air routes. Nearly 100 shipping lines connect Houston 

 with more than 250 world ports. Four major railroads provide cargo distribution 

 throughout the United States and more than 1 60 trucking lines service the rest of the 

 nation via the Texas and interstate highway system. 



These factors have made the Port of Houston a preferred gathering and 

 distribution point for shippers transporting goods to and from the Midwestern and 

 Western United States. 



We are proud to report that last year a total of 5,280 ships flying the flags of 

 77 different nations called on the Port of Houston. In addition, approximately 35,000 

 barges navigated the waterway. The combined cargo of these vessels exceeded 1 25 

 million tons. 



All of this has made the Port of Houston the number one U.S. port in foreign 

 tonnage and the third busiest port in total tonnage. It is the eighth busiest port in the 

 world and generates nearly $3 billion a year in revenues. An estimated 29,000 people 

 work in jobs that are directly related to Port of Houston activity and another 1 1 0,000 



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