CHICAGO, IL – Environment Illinois, along with an array of prominent national and Great Lakes
conservation NGOs, is calling on President Obama to radically change
the federal response to the ongoing Asian carp crisis.
In a formal
letter sent this morning, the groups express their alarm at “the lack
of coordinated action and urgency shown by federal agencies in
advancing real solutions to the carp crisis.” Saying “it is time for a
new sheriff in town,” the sharply worded letter includes a request for
the appointment of a White House “federal incident commander” to ensure
appropriate coordination and instill the transparency that has been
missing in the response to date.
Noting last week’s capture of a live
bighead carp beyond any defenses in the Chicago Waterway System, the
groups also call for greater speed in the federal response. In
particular, the Army Corps of Engineers’ Interbasin study of permanent
solutions is behind schedule and could take up to seven years to
suggest a fix.
The letter expresses strong support for
the leadership and proposals of U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Debbie
Stabenow on this issue and is signed by the Alliance for the Great
Lakes, Environment Illinois, Freshwater Future, Great Lakes United,
Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, National Wildlife Federation,
Natural Resources Defense Council, Prairie Rivers Network, and Sierra
Club.
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Read the full letter.
