ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the White House Council on Environmental Quality are hosting a public meeting in Bloomington Jan. 27, 2014, from 4 - 7 p.m. to discuss the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study, or GLMRIS, report that was submitted to Congress Jan. 6, 2014, and to allow for public comment. The report presents a range of options and technologies available to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species, such as Asian carp, between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins through aquatic connections.
Meeting information:
Monday, January 27, 2013
4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Minnesota Valley Refuge Visitor Center
3815 American Blvd. East
Bloomington, MN 55425
A presentation on the report will begin at 4 p.m. and will be followed by a comment period. To view the report and details on the public meeting or to register to speak, visit http://glmris.anl.gov/glmris-report/. Comments will be accepted for the administrative record until March 3, 2014.
The report identifies eight potential alternatives, from continuing current efforts to complete separation of the watersheds. It evaluates the potential of these alternatives to control the inter-basin spread of 13 aquatic nuisance fish, algae, virus, crustaceans and plants in all life stages with high or medium risk for transfer.
The options concentrate on the Chicago Area Waterway System, or CAWS. The CAWS is a complex, multi-use waterway and is the primary direct, continuous inter-basin connection between the Mississippi River Basin and Lake Michigan. The report provides a description of various evaluation criteria, like estimated cost and timeline information, which can be used by stakeholders to compare plans. However, this report is not a decision document and does not rank, rate or make a recommendation.
Media availability: There will be opportunity for media interviews at 3:15 p.m. Please coordinate with press contact prior.
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Release no. 14-002