NCGA
Urges Members to Stand Up for Lock Modernization at Corps Hearings (6-7-04)
The U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers’ final series of public
hearings on the upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers navigation
study begins today in Davenport, Iowa, representing the last
chance for corn growers to voice their support of badly needed
lock modernization
initiatives.
In May, the Corps announced its plans to seek approval of a plan
that calls for construction of seven new 1,200-foot locks and the
eventual expansion of five 600-foot locks to 1,200 feet. The agency
scheduled eight public meetings in various upper Mississippi basin
locations and Washington, D.C., to gather public comments on the
proposal.
NCGA President Dee Vaughan said grassroots participation in these
hearings is important, and he encouraged growers to voice their
support of an immediate start to pre-engineering and design work
for the new locks.
“This is a crucial series of meetings, and it’s imperative
that growers weigh in on this issue,” Vaughan said. “Even
if they can’t be there in person, we’re encouraging
them to submit written comments to the Corps and write their congressmen.”
Vaughan said economic studies show that failure to make navigation
improvements will decrease farm income by $364 million annually
by the year 2020, proving just how important a well-maintained,
modern system is to corn growers.
Hearings will be held in the following locations: