GLIN==> Coast Guard establishes safety zone

U.S. Coast Guard establishes safety zone and regulated navigation area
near Romeoville, IL.
http://greatlakesrestoration.us/?p=184

CLEVELAND – The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Sector Lake
Michigan has issued a safety zone and regulated navigation area on the
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, in Romeoville, IL. The regulated
navigation area is from mile marker 295 to 297.5, and the safety zone is
between mile markers 296.1 and 296.7.

The regulation has been established to protect mariners and the
environment.

In summary, the regulation states all vessels (towboats, barges,
recreational craft) are prohibited from transiting the safety zone if
they intend to carry water attained from one side of the barrier and
discharge that same water, in any form, within or on the other side of
the safety zone. This applies to vessels north- and south-bound. If
vessels intend to discharge water, they must request permission from the
Captain of the Port Sector Lake Michigan prior to transiting and any
subsequent discharge will be done in a biologically sound manner.

This regulation serves as a precautionary measure to prevent the
possible movement of live Silver or Asian carp, their viable eggs, or
gametes from these carp across the fish barrier through discharge of
non-potable water. There is no direct evidence that this is an actual
bypass vector, but the ACRRW Executive committee agrees it is a prudent
measure to eliminate the possibility. As a precautionary effort,
industry has been voluntarily complying with this practice since
September.

CLICK HERE for a full copy of the regulation
http://greatlakesrestoration.us/action/wp-content/uploads/12-18-2009-CSSC-Safety-Zone-and-RNA.pdf
_______________________
Pranas Pranckevicius, CISSP
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office
77 West Jackson Blvd.  G-17J
Chicago, IL  60604-3590
pranckevicius.pranas at epa.gov
312 353-3437 Tel
312 385-5446 Fax
www.epa.gov/greatlakes