Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Army Corps Lock Closure Letter From Rep. Halvorson and Rep. Davis

    Uploaded by

    Unlockourjobs
    83 views2 pages
    Letter from Representatives Debbie Halvorson and Danny Davis requesting additional information from the Army Corps of Engineers on the potential economic impacts of lock closure.

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PDF or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    Letter from Representatives Debbie Halvorson and Danny Davis requesting additional information from the Army Corps of Engineers on the potential economic impacts of lock closure.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    83 views2 pages

    Army Corps Lock Closure Letter From Rep. Halvorson and Rep. Davis

    Uploaded by

    Unlockourjobs
    Letter from Representatives Debbie Halvorson and Danny Davis requesting additional information from the Army Corps of Engineers on the potential economic impacts of lock closure.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 2
    Congress of the United States ‘Washington, DE 20515 May 17,2010 MG John W. Peabody U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ‘Commander, Great Lakes & Ohio River Division 550 Main St Room 10032 (Cincinnati, OH 43202 Dear General Peabody: As previously announced, on May 20th, a thre mile stretch ofthe Litle Calumet River below the TJ. O'Brien Lock will be closed, likely uatil May 26°, in order to conduct a Rotenone application that will sample forthe presence of Asian Carp near Lake Michigan. We are writing 1 urge you to make every effort to limit the duration ofthis closure and to effectively ‘communicate with busines stakeholders regarding this operation. ‘Operation of Chicago-area locks, including the O”Brien Lock, is eitical to the movement ‘of commercial goods on the Chicago Arex Waterway System (CAWS), which isa vital link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. In 2007, 16.9 tons of commodities traveled through the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal onthe CAWS. This includes 3.7 milion tons of petroleum products, 3.2 millon tons of sand and gravel, 3 million tons of coal, and 1.8 million tons of iron and steel, Mare than 8,500 jobs are directly tied tothe O”Brien and Chicago Locks; thousands more are impacted indirectly. ven a temporary closure ofthe O'Brien Lock is difficult fr businesses that rely on the ‘waterway system. Uncertainty regarding operation ofthe locks makes it very difficult for ‘businesses to plan long-term, When a temporary closure occurs, federal agencies should make ‘every effort to give suficient notice to waterway stakeholders so they can adjust their operations accordingly. Ideally, affected businesses should be given thirty days notice prior toa temporary closure on the waterway” ‘We understand that the Rotenone application is part of the Administration's ongoing cffort to combat Asian Carp. However, we continue to oppose attempts, through litigation, [eislation, or administrative ruling to close locks on the Chicago Area Waterway System ona prolonged or permanent besis. We are pleased thatthe U.S. Supreme Court on tree separate ‘occasions has rejected motions by Michigan and other states to close the locks. We believe that closure ofthe locks will harm our regional economy and result in te loss of jobs. We are also ‘concermed about the impact lock closure would have on the environment snd on public safety We understand that the Army Corps is stil considering the option of modified structural ‘operation ofthe locks, As sueh, we believe it's essential that any action that would disrupt commercial activity on the CAWS be taken only after a thorough review of al relevant data “This should include a detailed review ofthe evidence related to the spread of Asian Carp, the effectiveness of current control procedures and expected effectiveness of future actions, as well as the economic consequences of commercial disruption. Specifically, we are intrested in receiving an update on which ofthe following items and studies the Army Corps has ullized during your review process: * canal usage statistics forthe portions ofthe CAWS to be impacted; + any assessment of whether specific industries that rely on waterway transportation have

    You might also like