GLIN==> U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Solicits Public Comment on Great Lakes Study (UNCLASSIFIED)

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

CINCINNATI- On Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) is holding a public scoping meeting in Cincinnati from 2:00 p.m. to
8:00 p.m. at the University of Cincinnati - Tangeman University Center,
located at 2766 UC Main St., to gather input on the Great Lakes and
Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS). The public is invited to attend
this scoping meeting and 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), such as Asian carp, between the Great Lakes and Mississippi
River through aquatic pathways. 

Using input obtained during the scoping period, USACE 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 Cincinnati, USACE will hold upcoming public scoping meetings
in the following metropolitan locations: Ann Arbor, Mich.; 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.

	
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Media is encouraged to take advantage of the media opportunity for one-on-one
interviews with the key agency representatives prior to official start of the
2:00 p.m. meeting from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.


Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE