GLMRIS: Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study

GLMRIS Study Area

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act

Congressional Authorization

Section 1538 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141 (MAP-21), directs the Secretary to expedite the completion of the report (The GLMRIS Report) for the study authorized by Section 3061(d) of Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2007 and, if the Secretary determines a project is justified in the completed report, to proceed directly to project preconstruction engineering and design (PED).

Further, Section 1538 directs the Secretary to complete the report no later than 18 months after the date of enactment of MAP-21 and to submit an interim report to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives no later than 90 days after the date of enactment of MAP-21 (October 5, 2012).

In completing this report, the Secretary is directed to focus on methods to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins, such as through hydrological separation, while focusing that analysis on specifically named watersheds associated with the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). In addition, Section 1538 directs the efficient use of funds to complete the study.

SEC. 1538. ASIAN CARP.
  1. DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
    1. HYDROLOGICAL SEPARATION.—The term "hydrological separation" means a physical separation on the Chicago Area Waterway System that—
      1. would disconnect the Mississippi River watershed from the Lake Michigan watershed; and
      2. shall be designed to be adequate in scope to prevent the transfer of all aquatic species between each of those bodies of water.
    2. SECRETARY.—The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers.
  2. EXPEDITED STUDY AND REPORT.—
    1. IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall—
      1. expedite completion of the report for the study authorized by section 3061(d) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–114; 121 Stat. 1121); and
      2. if the Secretary determines a project is justified in the completed report, proceed directly to project preconstruction engineering and design.
    2. FOCUS.—In expediting the completion of the study and report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall focus on—
      1. the prevention of the spread of aquatic nuisance species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins, such as through the permanent hydrological separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins; and
      2. the watersheds of the following rivers and tributaries associated with the Chicago Area Waterway System:
        1. The Illinois River, at and in the vicinity of Chicago, Illinois.
        2. The Chicago River, Calumet River, North Shore Channel, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, and Cal-Sag Channel in the State of Illinois.
        3. The Grand Calumet River and Little Calumet River in the States of Illinois and Indiana.
    3. EFFICIENT USE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall ensure the efficient use of funds to maximize the timely completion of the study and report under paragraph (1).
    4. DEADLINE.—The Secretary shall complete the report under paragraph (1) by not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
    5. INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of representatives and Senate, the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report describing—
      1. interim milestones that will be met prior to final completion of the study and report under paragraph (1); and
      2. funding necessary for completion of the study and report under paragraph (1), including funding necessary for completion of each interim milestone identified under subparagraph (A).
(Section 1538 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141 (MAP-21))

Headquarters Implementation Guidance

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters provided the Chicago District with the following guidance:

Download complete MAP-21 implementation guidance PDF 1.6 MB

Water Resources Development Act 2007

Congressional Authorization

Congress authorized USACE to conduct the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study with the following language:

FEASIBILTITY STUDY. The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, local, and nongovernmental entities, shall conduct, at Federal expense, a feasibility study of the range of options and technologies available to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and other aquatic pathways. (Section 3061(d) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007)

Headquarters Implementation Guidance

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters provided the Chicago District with the following guidance:

Download complete WRDA 2007 implementation guidance PDF 210 KB

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