Carp Discussion Of Congressional Panel

By JOHN FLESHER
AP Environmental Writer

A congressional panel is preparing to hear from Obama administration officials about their plan for protecting the Great Lakes from Asian carp.

The House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment has scheduled a hearing on the plan for Tuesday in Washington.

Administration officials said Monday they will spend $78.5 million and take more than two dozen steps to keep the invasive carp from reaching the Great Lakes, where scientists believe they could devastate the fishing industry.

Federal officials are resisting a demand from Michigan and five other states to close shipping locks on Chicago waterways that could provide a doorway to Lake Michigan for the carp.

But the government says it will consider keeping the locks open less frequently and poisoning nearby waters when they're open.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)