Asian carp crisis heading to Congress; Michigan representative wants to force closing of 2 Illinois locks

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., introduced a bill on the House floor to force the closing of two locks and expand the powers of the Army Corps of Engineers to stop migration of the invasive species before it reaches the Great Lakes in large numbers. The bill, dubbed the Carp Act, comes one day after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a similar motion from Michigan's attorney general.

"I believe (Asian carp) pose a serious and immediate threat to the Great Lakes, and we can't wait around to act," Camp said.

The Carp Act would force the closing of the O'Brien Lock and Dam in the Calumet-Sag Channel and the Chicago River Controlling Works at the mouth of Lake Michigan.

In addition, the bill would grant the Army Corps authority to control the spread of Asian carp through the use of fish poisons, commercial fishing, harvesting and other means.

Army Corps spokeswoman Lynne Whelan declined to comment. The federal agency will be in attendance at the Thompson Center on Thursday when Illinois officials discuss a long-term approach to controlling Asian carp.