Dec 21: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has published and released for comment the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Control Paper: Inventory of Available Controls for Aquatic Nuisance Species of Concern – Chicago Area Waterway System. USACE will be hosting two (2) conference calls regarding the paper on January 10 and February 8, and is accepting comments on the paper through Friday, February 17, 2012 [76 FR 79167-79168, 12/21/11].
The purpose of the ANS Control Paper is to identify the range of options or technologies available to prevent the ANS of Concern transfer in the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). Each selected Control was identified as one that is potentially effective at preventing the transfer of the 39 ANS of Concern-CAWS via aquatic pathways. The organisms were previously identified as non-native species to be the initial focus of Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS). The paper does not contain specific recommendations, rank the effectiveness of the Controls, or identify constraints, impacts, regulatory requirements or technological feasibility of application.
Controls include those that modify flow within a waterway, such as hydrologic separation of the basins, those that modify the water quality of a waterway, chemical application to ANS, collection and removal of ANS from a waterway, as well as other types of Controls currently in research and development. USACE has prepared a fact sheet for each of the 27 ANS Controls.
USACE will consider comments received during the comment period, and will update the ANS Control Paper in spring 2012. An updated, final report will be posted on the GLMRIS website. Using the information contained in the paper, USACE will develop screening criteria consistent with study objectives and refine the list of ANS Controls to determine which warrant further consideration. USACE will formulate plans comprised of one or more of the screened ANS Controls in consideration of four criteria: completeness, effectiveness, efficiency and acceptability. USACE will then evaluate and compare the effects of the alternative plans.
Access the Control Paper website and link to the complete report, fact sheets, commenting form & instructions and related information (click here). Access the FR announcement (click here). [#GLakes]
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