GLIN==> U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Reschedules Ann Arbor Public Comment Meeting on Great Lakes Study (UNCLASSIFIED)

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Due to weather conditions, the public scoping meeting scheduled for Thursday,
Feb. 3, 2011 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Corps, has been rescheduled
for Tuesday, March 8 for the same time and at the same location: from 2:00
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest, located
at 1275 S. Huron St. The purpose of the meeting is to gather input on the
Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study, GLMRIS. The public is
invited to attend to provide comments on GLMRIS. Identical presentations
about the study will be given at 2:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., each followed by
the comment period. The purpose of GLMRIS is to evaluate a range of options
and technologies to prevent the transfer of aquatic nuisance species, ANS,
between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River through aquatic pathways. 

Using input obtained during the scoping period, the Corps will refine the
scope of GLMRIS to focus on significant issues, as well as eliminate issues
that are not significant from further detailed study. Issues associated with
GLMRIS are likely to include, but will not be limited to: significant natural
resources, such as ecosystems and threatened and endangered species;
commercial and recreational fisheries; recreational uses of the lakes and
waterways; effects of potential ANS controls on waterways uses such as: flood
risk management, commercial and recreational navigation; and statutory and
legal responsibilities relative to the effected waterways. 

In addition to Ann Arbor, the Corps will hold upcoming public scoping
meetings in the following metropolitan locations: St. Louis, Mo.; Vicksburg,
Miss; Milwaukee, Wis. and New Orleans, La. Specific meeting venues and dates
will be announced in Federal Register notices, the GLMRIS Web site and other
media.

The public scoping comment period will end on March 31, 2011. If you plan to
make an oral comment, please register on the GLMRIS Web site. Oral comments
will be limited to three minutes per commenter. Comments can also be
submitted electronically through the Web site. Each scoping meeting will
consist of two separate three-hour sessions to allow as many attendees as
possible. 

An ANS is a nonindigenous species that threatens the diversity or abundance
of native species; the ecological stability of infested waters; or the
commercial, agricultural, aquacultural or recreational activities dependent
on such water. As a result of international commerce, travel and local
practices, ANS have been introduced and spread throughout the Great Lakes and
Mississippi River basins. Connected primarily by man-made channels, ANS
transfer was impeded historically by the poor water quality of those
waterways. Recent water quality improvements have lessened that impediment
making it more likely for ANS transfer between the two basins to occur.
	
For more information regarding GLMRIS, the meeting agenda and scoping
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, visit the GLMRIS Web
site at www.glmris.anl.gov or call Dave Wethington, GLMRIS project manager,
at 312-846-5522 or e-mail at David.M.Wethington at usace.army.mil. Social Media:
Facebook.com/glmris and Twitter @GLMRIS.



Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE