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NFC: Fw: Army Corps Reform Update: February 22, 2001
WHAT'S NEW?
1. Congress Organizing Corps Reform Caucus
2. Federal Court: Snake River Dams Violate Clean Water Act
3. Green Scissors 2001 Report to be Released
4. Upper Mississippi River Navigation Study Scandal =96 Upcoming
Events
**if you do not usually receive these updates and would like to
continue receiving them, please email Kelly Miller at
kmiller at amrivers_org**
1. CONGRESS ORGANIZING CORPS REFORM CAUCUS -- first caucus
organizational meeting expected to take place soon so get on the
phone with your member/legislative assistant, please. (Congressional
switchboard: 202-224-3121)
Get Your Representatives Talking!
Urge your Member of Congress to join in the dialogue of a new HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES corps reform caucus!
Background:
Six House members [Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), Tom
Tancredo (R-CO), John Shadegg (R-AZ), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and
Ellen Tauscher (D-CA)] are seeking support to launch a Corps Reform
Caucus that would ensure that the construction projects of the Army
Corps of Engineers are environmentally sensitive and less wasteful of
taxpayers' dollars. The stated mission of the caucus would be to
provide a forum for interested members of Congress to work together
toward a financially and scientifically accountable Army Corps of
Engineers.
When in action, the Army Corps Reform Caucus hopes to hold briefings
and information sessions on Army Corps issues, gain support for
legislative and regulatory initiatives that serve to promote and
enhance the Army Corps' services, and act as a clearinghouse for the
sharing of ideas and legislation between Members and interest groups.
TAKE ACTION NOW! Visit:
www.americanrivers.org/takeaction
To learn more about efforts to reform the Army Corps, visit
http://www.amrivers.org/template2.asp?cat=2&page=267&id=225&filter=-1
Contact Kelly Miller at kmiller at amrivers_org or 202-347-7550 x3008
with questions.
2. SNAKE RIVER DAMS VIOLATE CLEAN WATER ACT (from AP)
A federal court ruled Friday that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's
operation of four Snake River dams violates the Clean Water Act, a
decision that could cost the agency millions of dollars to modify the
dams to protect endangered salmon. The U.S. District Court in
Portland ordered the Corps to find ways - within 60 days - to lower
water temperatures behind the dams to protect the river's water
quality and threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead.
Friday's ruling will force the Corps to make operational or
structural changes to bring the dams into compliance with the clean
water law. Structural modifications, including changes to the way
water is sent over dams, could cost millions, based on federal
estimates. Environmental groups are supporting removal of four Lower
Snake River dams to bring the Corps into compliance with the Clean
Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.
To learn more about Snake River dams and endangered salmon, visit
www.americanrivers.org/snake
3. GREEN SCISSORS 2001 REPORT TO BE RELEASED TODAY, THURSDAY FEBRUARY
Friends of the Earth, Taxpayers for Common Sense, and U.S. Public
Interest Research Group will release the Green Scissors 2001 report
tomorrow in Washington, DC and in more than a dozen sites across the
country. The new report endorsed by a coalition of 24 environmental,
taxpayer, and consumer groups details 74 federal programs whose
elimination could protect the environment and save taxpayers $55
billion. 14 of these projects and programs entail wasteful spending
and operations by the Army Corps of
Engineers.
For view the Green Scissors Report, visit
http://www.greenscissors.org/
4. UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER NAVIGATION STUDY SCANDAL UPCOMING EVENTS
TONIGHT!! On Thursday, February 22, 2001, NBC Nightly News will air
a "Fleecing of America" segment about the Upper Mississippi River
Navigation Study, featuring senior Corps economist Don Sweeney.
Sweeney filed a whistleblower last February alleging that Corps
economists were ordered to cook the books to justify the $1.2 billion
lock expansion project.
The complaint resulted in numerous investigations, including an
investigation by the Office of Special Counsel and the Army's
Inspector General that substantiated many of Sweeney's claims. The
National Academy of Sciences is completing review of the Corps'
economic and environmental analysis as well. The NAS report is
expected to be released this Monday, February 26, 2001.
For more information on the whistleblower complaint, visit
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/programs/Ecosystems/Mississippi/
For more information on the OSC/IG investigation findings, visit
http://www.osc.gov/armyroi.htm
http://www.osc.gov/documents/osc_d8.pdf
For more information on the Upper Mississippi River Navigation Study,
visit http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/pdw/nav_study.htm