Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Finding of No Significant Impact for Proposed Asian Carp Actions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2010

Contact: Ashley Spratt, 612-713-5314

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for an Addendum to the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Asian carp control in the Chicago Area Waterway System.

The proposed actions are targeted to prevent the establishment of Asian carp in the Great Lakes via the Cal-Sag Channel. The actions proposed in the Addendum include a rotenone treatment of the 2-mile stretch of the Cal-Sag Channel (CSC) below T. J. O'Brien Lock and Dam during May 20-27, 2010, and, support for commercial fishing activities, electrofishing, netting and water sampling in up to a 6-mile stretch of the CSC below T. J. O'Brien Lock and Dam.

The Service has determined these are not collectively a major Federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

The majority of fishes in the rotenone treatment area are rough fish and invasive fishes. The use of rotenone in the CSC would not cause significant adverse effects on the quality of the human environment, and would benefit the Great Lakes ecosystem by reducing the risk of Asian carps becoming established there.

The original EA developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considered seven alternatives for assuring that no Asian carp migrate through the electric fish barrier in the CSSC during a partial shut-down of the barrier in December 2009.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Please visit the Service's Web site at http://www.fws.gov/.