[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 16, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER BASIN PROTECTION ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2002

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3480, the 
Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act. I'd like to thank Mr. 
Kind, my colleague on the Upper Mississippi River Task Force for all 
his hard work on this legislation.
  The Upper Mississippi River Basin has a significant problem with 
sediment, which has a variety of harmful effects. Sediment is directly 
linked to soil erosion, which is harmful to the family farmer. It 
creates a need for over $100 million each year in dredging of the main 
shipping channel of the Mississippi River. Sediment fills wetlands and 
impacts recreation and tourism on the Mississippi. While the problems 
of sedimentation are documented, there is inadequate scientific data on 
the amounts and sources of sediment and nutrients flowing into the 
River basin because local, state and federal efforts are not 
coordinated.
  This legislation develops a coordinated public-private approach to 
reducing nutrient and sediment losses in the Upper Mississippi River 
basin. The bill establishes a water quality monitoring network and an 
integrated computer-modeling program using information gathered from 
existing federal, state and local programs. This data will provide the 
baseline numbers needed to make scientifically sound and cost-effective 
decisions.
  Mr. Speaker, this is good legislation which will help alleviate the 
problems of sedimentation and nutrient loss that are common in the 
Upper Mississippi River Basin. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this bill.

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