|
NCGA Encouraged by Corps
Plans to Proceed With Navigation Study (8-7-01)
The National Corn
Growers Association (NCGA), which has fought hard for infrastructure
improvements on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, is encouraged
by an announcement last week by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of
its intent to officially resume the Upper Mississippi and Illinois River
Navigation Feasibility Study.
A report is scheduled
to be submitted to Congress in July of 2002, outlining general authorization
alternatives for consideration in the Water Resources Development Act
(WRDA) of 2002.
"NCGA, along
with Midwest Area River Coalition (MARC 2000), has long championed improvements
on the small and antiquated locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi
and Illinois Rivers,," said NCGA President Lee Klein, a farmer
from Battle Creek Nebraska. "These improvements are needed in order
to for the United States to maintain its competitive edge when it comes
to marketing our grain worldwide."
Klein noted that
the Corps has indicated the study will be based on an approach recommended
by a federal task force convened in February under Corps Chief of Engineers
Lieutenant General Robert Flowers. The Corps will continue working with
the U.S. Departments of Transportation, Agriculture and Interior as
well as the Environmental Protection Agency to determine a workable
solution for the future navigation and environmental needs of the Mississippi
and Illinois River systems.
For more information
on spring rise and other transportation issues, visit the NCGA website
at http://www.ncga.com/transportation/main/index.html.
Last
reviewed August 7, 2001
|