It recieved this communication today:
Dear Daniel,
I am writing to let you know about two upcoming public hearings on January 27 and February 3, being conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers, that impact our efforts to keep the Asian carp out of our Great Lakes.
As you know, I have been leading the fight in Congress to stop the spread of Asian carp into our Great Lakes, calling for the closure of the locks between the Chicago waterway and Lake Michigan, and making sure that federal and state officials have all the tools and resources they need. I have also been very vocal in calling on federal officials to implement a permanent ecological separation between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin, which I believe is ultimately the only solution that will truly safeguard our waters and stop the carp.
In order to move forward with a permanent separation, the Army Corps must complete a study that explores options and technologies to help prevent the transfer of invasive species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins. The Asian carp issue is just one issue being looked at by the Army Corps in their "Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study." The Army Corps of Engineers is holding public meetings throughout the Great Lakes states, including two public meetings in Michigan, to help them determine the scope of the issues to be addressed in their study. The Michigan meetings will be held on January 27 in Traverse City and February 3 in Ann Arbor. Comments can also be submitted on-line until March 31, 2011. To learn more about the public meetings or to register to speak at the hearings, you may visit the Interbasin Study website at:
http://glmris.anl.gov/.
It is my hope that the Army Corps hears how important this issue is to Michigan's lakes and our economy, and that they move forward quickly on their study so we can get to work separating the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River basin.
As you know, the Great Lakes are part of our way of life in Michigan. I will continue to fight to protect our most precious natural resources that are so important to our culture and our economy.
Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator
