Search Returns No Asian Carp Near O’Brien Lock; BusinessLeaders Suggest Carping, Not Carp The Growing Threat
SPRINGFIELD, IL - After a one week temporary closure of a two mile stretch of the Little Calumet River near the Thomas O’Brien lock to search for Asian carp above current barriers, the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee announced yesterday that no specimen were found. This recent closure and poisoning marks the second extensive search resulting in no evidence of Asian carp above the electric barriers. As a result of this latest development Un-Lock Our Jobs released the following statement:
“These temporary closures unnecessarily disrupt commerce throughout the region and do so based on shaky science,” said Mark Biel, executive director of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois. “By the Army Corps’ own admission, discovery of eDNA above the barriers should be considered preliminary and does not indicate the presence of actual Asian carp. So, I have to ask, when is it enough? What is it going to take to prove the current barriers are effective?”
Biel continued, “It’s becoming increasingly clear that other regional stakeholders are not interested in a comprehensive solution to this problem. The recent letter from five Great Lakes states demanding immediate lock closure, in fact, offered no solution – only baseless demands. Now Congress is weighing in as well, calling for further study of a long term plan to separate the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River; a plan that would reverse nearly 160 years of economic prosperity driven by waterway commerce. Such unproductive rhetoric suggests that political carping is becoming a higher priority for some than stopping the real live carp.”
Michael Borgstrom, president and owner of Wendella Sightseeing, added, “Name one business that can keep its doors open, remain profitable and keep employees in their jobs if they only operate two or three days a week. Under the current proposals being considered by the Federal government and trumpeted by neighboring states, that’s what’s being asked of my company and the hundreds of others that depend on the river to do business. Shutting down commerce fails to stop the spread of Asian carp, and it’s certainly not a regional approach to solving this problem.”
Un-Lock Our Jobs is a coalition dedicated to protecting the essential waterway connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River corridor. A project of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois, coalition members represent agriculture, business, labor, river communities, and concerned citizens working towards a comprehensive solution to stop the spread of Asian carp, while leaving the Chicago locks open to commerce.
To speak with Mr. Biel or Mr. Borgstrom or any Un-Lock Our Jobs experts, please contact Lisa Burgess at lisa@unlockourjobs.org or (202) 257-0983.
The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois (CICI) is a statewide trade association whose goals are to ensure the viability and promote the interests of the chemical industry. CICI was founded in 1951 with 16 members. Currently, there are 209 members representing over 700 facilities in Illinois. CICI members employ over 48,000 people in Illinois that make an average wage of $81,400.
Wendella Sightseeing, Co. Inc., a Chicago family owned and operated business is entering its’ 74th season as one of Chicago’s premier sightseeing and tourism venues. Founded in 1935 by Albert Borgstrom, a Swedish immigrant, Wendella is now in its third generation with Michael Borgstrom serving as its President. The company has been and continues to be an integral part of activities associated with expanded use of the Chicago River and the city’s evolving lakefront.
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