THEBES, Ill. - Colonel Chris Hall (right), commander of St. Louis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, speaks to Martin Mettel (left), senior manager bulk sales of AEP river operations, about the river dredging operations on the Mississippi River, Dec. 18, 2012. The Coast Guard, the USACE and the river industry are working together to ensure the navigational safety of barge traffic. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Carlos Vega.