April 2002

Missouri Chapter - American Fisheries Society            Page 6

Web Assistants:

John Fantz

Corps of Engineers Water Project Reviews:  In response to criticism from Republicans (including the white house) and Democrats alike, the Corps of Engineers announced on April 30 that they would suspend work on about 150 water projects until a review of the economics is performed.  The halt applies to all projects with an economic analysis done prior to 1999 and some with later analyses as well.  A list of the projects has not yet been provided.  The halt applies to about a fifth of all Corps construction projects.  The halt is a result of complaints of a pattern of using skewed assumptions and other manipulations of economic studies to support the Corps bias towards large construction projects.

Instream Sand and Gravel Mining update:  The Land Reclamation Commission received over 200 letters regarding proposed new rules intended to limit the damage to streams caused by in-stream gravel mining.  Most of the letters were in favor of the new rules.  However, comments heard at 5 public meetings held late last year were mostly against the new rules.  The Commission received copies of all comments on March 25.  The next meeting of the Commission is on May 30, but this issue has not yet appeared on the agenda for that meeting.