Washington, DC – Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (MI-13) and the Michigan Congressional Delegation continues their aggressive push to protect the Great Lakes from an invasion of Asian carp, calling on federal agencies to quickly finish and submit to Members a comprehensive response plan by February 5, 2010.  The Members' directive to the U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency follows testing on January 19, 2010, positively identifying Asian carp eDNA in Calumet Harbor, Illinois, which abuts Lake Michigan.  The EPA’s website says the carp “would disrupt the food chain that supports the native fish of the Great Lakes. Due to their large size, ravenous appetites, and rapid rate of reproduction, these fish could pose a significant risk to the Great Lakes Ecosystem.”

Previously, the delegation successfully persuaded EPA and Office of Management and Budget to dedicate an additional $13 million to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to fend off the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

All 17 Members of the delegation signed onto the letter.  Below is the Members’ letter:

January 21, 2010

The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy                                                           
Assistant Secretary of the Army, Civil Works                                  
U.S. Department of the Army                                                           
108 Army Pentagon, Room 3E446                                                    
Washington, DC 20310-0108   

Admiral Thad W. Allen
Commandant
United States Coast Guard   
2100 Second St., SW 
Washington, DC  20593                                                        

The Honorable Lisa Jackson                                                              
Administrator                                                                                     
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency                                            
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.                                                          
Washington, DC  20460     

The Honorable Sam Hamilton
Director
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240

Dear Secretary Darcy, Administrator Jackson, Admiral Allen, and Director Hamilton: 

It is with great concern we write to you today.  As you know, the Asian carp poses one of the most serious threats to the Great Lakes to date.  Should the carp get into the Lakes, the ecological and economical damage would be devastating. 

We understand that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Coast Guard have been working hand in hand to address the carp as a result of recent positive environmental DNA (eDNA) detection, and we applaud those efforts.  However, we are very alarmed at the length of time it is taking to formulate a comprehensive response plan.  The first positive detection of eDNA above the electric dispersal barrier was in November 2009, with subsequent positive detections.  We are also dismayed at recent comments made to the media that several hundred carp would need to be detected before the federal agencies would change their current plan of dealing with this invasive species. 

The threat of the carp has been evident for many years, and it is not going away.  As such, we request that the completed comprehensive response plan be submitted to members of the Michigan delegation no later than close of business, Friday, February 5th.  Please include in that plan any additional authorities necessary to address the carp in a comprehensive manner. 

We know you understand the urgency of the threat to the Great Lakes and look forward to continuing to work with you in a constructive manner.  Should you have any questions and to submit the comprehensive plan, please contact Joy Mulinex at Joy_Mulinex@levin.senate.gov.