Coast Guard Issues Preventative Measures Against Carp

The US Coast Guard has implemented restrictions on boaters to try and block Asian carp from moving through the Chicago sanitary and ship canal, and into Lake Michigan,

Here is the text, with contact information and additional materials:

U.S. Coast Guard establishes safety zone and regulated navigation area near Romeoville, IL.

http://greatlakesrestoration.us/?p=184

CLEVELAND – The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Sector Lake Michigan has issued a safety zone and regulated navigation area on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, in Romeoville, IL.

The regulated navigation area is from mile marker 295 to 297.5, and the safety zone is between mile markers 296.1 and 296.7.

The regulation has been established to protect mariners and the environment.

In summary, the regulation states all vessels (towboats, barges,recreational craft) are prohibited from transiting the safety zone if they intend to carry water attained from one side of the barrier and discharge that same water, in any form, within or on the other side of the safety zone. This applies to vessels north- and south-bound.

If vessels intend to discharge water, they must request permission from the Captain of the Port Sector Lake Michigan prior to transiting and any subsequent discharge will be done in a biologically sound manner.

This regulation serves as a precautionary measure to prevent the possible movement of live Silver or Asian carp, their viable eggs, orgametes from these carp across the fish barrier through discharge of non-potable water.

There is no direct evidence that this is an actual bypass vector, but the ACRRW Executive committee agrees it is a prudent measure to eliminate the possibility.

As a precautionary effort, industry has been voluntarily complying with this practice since September.

CLICK HERE for a full copy of the regulation http://greatlakesrestoration.us/action/wp-content/uploads/12-18-2009-CSSC-Safety-Zone-and-RNA.pdf


Pranas Pranckevicius, CISSPU.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes National Program Office 77 West Jackson Blvd. G-17J Chicago, IL 60604-3590

pranckevicius.pranas@epa.gov


312 353-3437

Tel 312 385-5446

Fax www.epa.gov/greatlakes