Free Republic

Faced with federal budget reductions for four consecutive years, the Pittsburgh District of the Army Corps of Engineers is trying to reduce its 770-employee staff without resorting to layoffs. The Pittsburgh District, facing the same funding problems as other corps districts nationwide, has "insufficient funds to continue supporting staffing at the levels we have done in the past," said Karen Auer, a spokeswoman. She said eligible employees are being offered early retirement. The deadline for accepting is next week.

<p>The hearts of the people of Western Pennsylvania go out to people in the cities and villages of the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Russia and Romania. They are suffering flooding of a magnitude in some areas unprecedented in more than 150 years. We here remember floods very well.</p>

<p>Barge industry officials call it a silent but growing problem. Aging infrastructure, including locks and dams on the upper Ohio River, are quietly choking the flow of goods in and out of the region.</p> <p>The problem was demonstrated in early July, when delays caused by routine repairs on the Montgomery lock had barge operators waiting as long as three days to move gas, coal, iron ore and other products in and out of the port of Pittsburgh. One barge company operator estimated the delays were costing the region more than $100,000 a day.</p>