Thank you again for standing with me to protect hundreds-of-thousands of Michigan jobs and the Great Lakes from the immediate crisis posed by Asian carp.
Your efforts over the past month have helped put the pressure on President Obama and Washington, and although most in D.C. continue to stand in the way of a desperately needed solution, some have begun taking notice.
Because you care so deeply about this issue, I wanted to send you a quick update to keep you aprised of the latest developments.
Late yesterday the Obama administration set a February 8th date for a meeting with the governors from Michigan and Wisconsin. If Governor Granholm can get the locks closed in such a summit it would be good news for Michigan and the Great Lakes. Meanwhile, I will continue to pursue all avenues to ensure we protect the Great Lakes and our jobs from the threat of Asian Carp.
The U.S. Supreme Court is still considering Michigan's request to close Chicago-area locks connecting carp-infested waterways to Lake Michigan and has set a deadline for other states and interested parties to submit briefs by February 19. President Obama continues to defend the narrow interests of his home state but others are beginning to act.
Over the course of the last week, thanks in large part to your efforts, new bi-partisan efforts to protect the Lakes have been launched by lawmakers in our State and Nation's capitol.
Congressman Camp and Senator Stabenow launched the CARP Act, Michigan's full Congressional delegation has signed a letter asking the President's administration to act quickly and state lawmakers have formed the Michigan House Shoreline Caucus and are preparing to file an amicus brief with the Supreme Court backing Michigan's request to protect jobs and close the locks.
Below you will find links to recent media coverage of these and other positive developments.
Unfortunately, there is still much more work to be done. The most recent carp DNA evidence, found in Lake Michigan, indicates this invasive species may be setting up shop inside the Great Lakes as we speak. The front door to Lake Michigan remains wide open even as these waterborne aliens threaten to devastate the Lakes' $7 billion fishery and hundreds of thousands of jobs connected to the health of the Lakes. The need for each of us to act has never been greater.
Thank YOU for standing up and making a difference.
Sincerely,
Mike Cox Attorney General
Carp Invade, Threaten Great Lakes Ecosystem
PBS News Hour with Jim Lehrer Monday, January 25, 2010
But when small traces of carp DNA showed up beyond the barriers, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox asked the Supreme Court to order Chicago to close the locks that link the river to the lake.
"They are ecological and economic danger to the Great Lakes. And, quite simply, they are biological terrorists," (said Cox). "And if they get in our Great Lakes, and hit, impact the ecology and the economy of eight different states, two different Canadian provinces, it could cost billions."
Mich. House Republicans to ask U.S. Supreme Court to protect Great Lakes from Asian carp
Grand Haven Tribune Thursday, January 28, 2010
This week, state Rep. Arlan Meekhof, R-Olive Township, created the Michigan House Shoreline Caucus with nine other Republicans to submit an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court in support of Cox's lawsuit to block the carp.
"Action needs to be taken to stop the carp invasion into the Great Lakes before it's too late," Meekhof said. "Not stopping the carp risks the loss of valuable fisheries and recreation opportunities that are desperately needed to support commercial interests and the quality of life for all residents in the region. We applaud the attorney general's fight to stop the carp, and the lawmakers in the Shoreline Caucus are doing what we can to help that effort, including submitting our supporting arguments to the Supreme Court."
Last week, while the Supreme Court was discussing a rejection of Attorney General Mike Cox's request for an injunction to close the Chicago waterway's locks on an emergency basis, researchers were preparing a report announcing they had found "environmental DNA" from Asian carp in Lake Michigan at Calumet Harbor. While more tests need to be done, the discovery gives credence to "anecdotal" spottings of Asian carp in Lake Michigan and Lake Erie reported over the last two years. It also means the carp are already in the lake...
To be fair, there was quick action by Michigan Rep. David Camp, R-Midland, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee. He introduced legislation Wednesday to immediately halt the potential entry of the carp into the Great Lakes, according to The Associated Press. He titled his bill the CARP ACT, which he said stands for Close All Routes and Prevent Asian Carp Today. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, introduced the bill in the Senate the next day.
All 17 members of the Michigan congressional delegation -- U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Carl Levin, D-Mich., and 15 members of the U.S. House, including Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph -- are to be commended for their efforts to inject a sense of urgency in the issue of Asian carp in the Chicago River bearing down on Lake Michigan.
We join them in calling for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency to develop a strategy immediately to fend off the carp species that are threatening the Great Lakes.
The lawmakers have called for a comprehensive response from the agencies no later than Feb. 5. That is plenty of time, and there is no time to lose.
