Chapter 5 Port Development and Redevelopment— A Problem and an Opportunity 



I. BACKGROUND OF FEDERAL POLICY 



The material in this chapter comes from a 

 report of the same title by the U.S. Army Corps of 

 Engineers. The Corps of Engineers, through the 

 Rivers and Harbors Acts, has the basic statutory 

 responsibility for the planning, development, and 

 maintenance of the Nation's navigable waterways 

 and harbors. The material has been made available 

 through the courtesy of the Director of Civil 

 Works, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Depart- 

 ment of the Army. 



Since colonial times coastal harbors and chan- 

 nels, and later those on the Great Lakes, have 

 played an important role in the Nation's commer- 

 cial and industrial growth. Early settlers used 



harbors and coastal rivers as arteries for trade and 

 opening new areas for settlement. Colonists 

 cleared snags and other obstructions from seg- 

 ments of main coastal streams and constructed 

 port facilities to accommodate trade with 

 European countries. 



National interest in and support of improved 

 navigation facilities were evidenced even prior to 

 estabUshment of the Union. In 1787, two years 

 prior to adoption of the Constitution, the North- 

 west Ordinance was passed,' representing the first 

 National declaration of navigation development 

 policy. That Act declared inland navigable waters 

 to be common highways and forever free. 



'U.S.C.A. Constitution, Art. 1, §§ 1-9. 



Figure 1. Virtually every population and industrial center is also a major port (Port of New 

 York Authority photo) 



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