I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4146 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 6, 2012 Mr. Ellison (for himself, Mr. Paulsen, and Mr. Walz of Minnesota) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Army to take actions to manage the threat of Asian carp traveling up the Mississippi River in the State of Minnesota, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Upper Mississippi Conservation and River Protection Act of 2012 or the Upper Mississippi CARP Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act, the following definitions apply: (1)

Alternative technology barrier

The term alternative technology barrier includes an electric barrier, acoustic barrier, bubble barrier, and such other barriers as the Secretary determines appropriate. (2)

Asian carp

The term Asian carp means— (A)grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella); (B)silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix); (C)bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis); and (D)black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus). (3)

Lock and Dam 2

The term Lock and Dam 2 means the lock and dam located on Mississippi River mile 815.2 upstream of Hastings, Minnesota. (4)

Lock and Dam 4

The term Lock and Dam 4 means the lock and dam located on Mississippi River mile 752.8 in Alma, Wisconsin. (5)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers. (6)

Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam

The term Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam means the lock and dam located on Mississippi River mile 853.9 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

3.

Feasibility study on temporary closure of Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock

(a)

Study

The Secretary shall conduct a study on the feasibility of temporary closure of the lock at the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam to manage the threat of Asian carp traveling up the Mississippi River in the State of Minnesota. (b)

Potential impacts

In conducting the study, the Secretary shall assess the potential impacts, including environmental and economic impacts of— (1)temporary closure of the lock; and (2)continuing to operate the lock. (c)

Consultation

The Secretary shall carry out the study in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and appropriate Federal, State, and local entities. (d)

Public comment

In conducting the study, the Secretary shall provide an opportunity for, and take into consideration, public comment. (e)

Report

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study.

4.

Feasibility study on use of other Asian carp control measures

(a)

Study

The Secretary shall conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing control measures at the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam to manage the threat of Asian carp traveling up the Mississippi River in the State of Minnesota. (b)

Types of control measures

The study shall include an examination of each of the following: (1)Permanent closure of the lock. (2)Modified lock operations. (3)Use of an alternative technology barrier. (4)Such other control measures as the Secretary determines appropriate. (c)

Potential impacts

In conducting the study, the Secretary shall assess the potential impacts, including environmental and economic impacts of— (1)implementing each of the control measures to be examined under subsection (b); and (2)not implementing any control measures. (d)

Consultation

The Secretary shall carry out the study in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and appropriate Federal, State, and local entities. (e)

Public comment

In conducting the study, the Secretary shall provide an opportunity for, and take into consideration, public comment. (f)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study.

5.

Closure of locks to prevent spread of Asian carp

(a)

Discretionary closure

The Secretary may close the lock at the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam if the Secretary determines in writing, based on the assessment of potential impacts under section 3(b), that closure of the lock is justified as a method to manage the threat of Asian carp traveling up the Mississippi River in the State of Minnesota. (b)

Mandatory closure

The Secretary shall close the lock at the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam if the Secretary determines that— (1)one or more live adult Asian carp has been captured above Lock and Dam 2; or (2)one or more juvenile Asian carp has been captured above Lock and Dam 4. (c)

Period of closure

If the Secretary closes the lock under this section, the Secretary may reopen the lock after the Secretary determines in writing that adequate measures are in place to manage the threat of Asian carp moving upstream of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam. (d)

Emergency operations

Nothing in this section shall prevent the Secretary from carrying out emergency lock operations necessary to mitigate flood damage.

6.

Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework

The Council on Environmental Quality shall incorporate the Upper Mississippi River and tributaries, the Minnesota River, and the St. Croix River into the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework of the Council.

7.

Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that, to the maximum extent practicable, Federal agencies researching Asian carp control technologies should partner with State and local shareholders, giving priority to those collaborative partnerships in which the State and local shareholders contribute to the cost of the research.