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GENERAL NEWS

23 August 2010

EarthNC releases new iPhone Navigation App

EarthNC announced that their new iPhone app is now available for the iPhone and will soon be available for the Android system. The new EarthNC apps will have all of Waterway Guide marina, bridge and anchorage information integrated into the seamless NOAA charts with a deep search function, automatic geo-referencing, real time weather sources, satellite views and offline caching. The app gives the user direct links to Waterway Guides database and web site information. The app will be compatible with both iPhone and iPad and the Android version is currently under development and will be available soon.

Chuck Baier,
General Manager
Waterway Guide Publications

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08 August 2010

Asian Carp found above electrical barrier may have been planted there

The following is a press release from the Asian Carp Coordinating Committee.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Chris McCloud
August 5, 2010 (217) 785-0075

Testing complete on Bighead Asian Carp Found in Lake Calumet

Fish could have lived most of its adult life above Electric Barrier Defense System

CHICAGO- A six-year-old Bighead carp that was caught in the waters of Lake Calumet just outside Lake Michigan in late June may have lived nearly its entire life in waters of Great Lakes origin according to tests and analysis conducted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC).

The tests were conducted by the SIUC Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center.

The tests looked at chemical markers in the inner ear bones, or otoliths, of the fish. Otoliths incorporate chemicals into their structure that are unique to the environments in which they live. They have been used in recent years to reconstruct the environmental history of individual fish or fish stocks.

"The inferences about the environmental history of this fish should be viewed as preliminary and inconclusive given the data limitations and assumptions. But it is very plausible that this fish originated in the Illinois River and then moved or was transported to Lake Calumet or Lake Michigan during the early portion of its life" said Dr. Jim Garvey, director of the SIUC Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center.

The Bighead carp, which measured 34.6 inches and weighed nearly 20 pounds, remains the only Asian carp found above the electric barrier despite extensive sampling and search operations since June 22 throughout the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS).

"While this report does not have all the answers, it does suggest to us that the fish caught in Lake Calumet last month may have been put there by humans, perhaps as a ritual cultural release or through bait bucket transfer. It underscores the need for the public to be even more vigilant and educated about Asian carp and the importance of not furthering the spread of these invasive species," said Illinois Department of Natural Resources Assistant Director John Rogner.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will continue to work with nearly 60 Chicago area bait shops in September to test for Asian carp DNA and educate bait shop owners on how to tell the difference between Asian carp minnows and other fish with similar characteristics that are commonly used as bait.

Sampling above the electric barriers also remains an important and continued effort in the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework, which includes both short and long term actions to stop the migration of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

Sampling and monitoring will continue at five fixed sampling stations throughout the Chicago Area Waterway System as detailed in the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) Sampling and Monitoring plan to search for Asian carp.

Barrier defense operations will also continue to remove silver or Bighead carp in downstate waters where the fish are known to be present.

To view the entire control framework and to receive the latest updates on sampling efforts in the CAWS,

log on to www.asiancarp.org.

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20 July 2010

Five Great Lakes States file new Asian Carp Suit to close Illinois Waterway

The following is from the website  of the Michigan attorney General.

July 19, 2010

LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox announced that his office filed suit today in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to take emergency action to block Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan, and accelerate efforts to develop a permanent solution to protect the Great Lakes. Attorneys general from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Ohio have joined Cox in his effort to protect the Great Lakes, due to the Army Corps' dismal record of inaction in confronting Asian carp.

"President Obama and the Army Corps of Engineers have failed to fight Asian carp aggressively," said Cox. "Asian carp will kill jobs and ruin our way of life. We cannot afford more bureaucratic delays - emergency action must be taken to protect the Great Lakes."

The lawsuit is supported by affidavits from experts at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE) and Wayne State University, and includes a motion for preliminary injunction seeking immediate action to address the threat that Asian carp will enter Lake Michigan. The imminence of this threat was made clear by the recent capture of a live bighead carp in Lake Calumet, six miles from Lake Michigan and beyond any barriers. The lawsuit is based on:

1) Public Nuisance: By failing to stop Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes, the Corps allows grave and likely irreparable harm to the aquatic resources of the Great Lakes and the shared public rights to them; and

2) The Administrative Procedures Act: The federal Administrative Procedures Act allows legal challenges to federal agency decisions that are arbitrary or unlawful.

Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), a sponsor of legislation to confront Asian carp, said, "I applaud the Attorney General's latest filing, which provides the urgency we need to protect the Great Lakes from impending ecological disaster. It is my hope the District Court will take this case up immediately. With the recent discovery that an Asian Carp has been found in Lake Calumet, past all barriers to the Great Lakes, it is clear that we need to act swiftly to close the locks, while working on permanent hydrological separation."

In the lawsuit, Cox points to the Army Corps' recent failures to implement commonsense emergency actions to stop Asian carp, and the Administration's denial of the request by Ohio for a new Carp Summit, even after the recent discovery of Asian carp in Lake Calumet. Despite mounting evidence over the last several months that Asian carp are present in Chicago waterways, the Army Corps has refused to temporarily close the O'Brien and Chicago Locks, failed to apply fish poison in every location that tested positive for Asian carp eDNA, failed to comprehensively address all pathways linking Lake Michigan with carp-infested Illinois waterways, and failed to sufficiently accelerate the evaluation of a permanent separation of the Great Lakes Basin from the carp-infested Chicago Area Waterway System.

The lawsuit filed today calls for the Corps to use all available efforts to block Asian carp passage in the waterways linked to Lake Michigan, including:

· Use block nets, other physical barriers and fish poison at strategic locations to block or kill Asian carp that have already swam through the O'Brien lock, dangerously close to Lake Michigan;

· Install and maintain block nets and other physical barriers in the Little Calumet River, where no barrier of any kind currently exists;

· Temporarily close the O'Brien and Chicago Locks, except as needed to protect public health and safety;

· Temporarily close sluice gates at the O'Brien Lock, the Chicago River Controlling Works, and the Wilmette Pumping Station, except as needed to protect public health and safety;

· Install and maintain screens on all sluice gates mentioned above to reduce the risk of fish passage when gates are open.

· Accelerate efforts to complete a feasibility study of a permanent hydrological separation of the Great Lakes Basin from the Mississippi River within the next 18 months, with reports at six and 12 months.

The lawsuit makes clear that all of the requested action would be subject to exceptions to prevent flooding, allow access for emergency responders, and any other action necessary to prevent serious threats to public health and safety.

Earlier this year, Cox petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene to address the threat of Asian carp. The Supreme Court declined the take up the case, but did not rule on the merits of the legal claims by Michigan and other Great Lakes states.

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08 July 2010

Dometic publishes "Oil Spill Guidance" bulletin for a/c systems

The following is from the Dometic USA website.

 Guidance Notes for Oil Spills

Effect on Marine Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Systems
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has created a situation that can be detrimental to the water-cooled air conditioning (A/C) and refrigeration systems typically used on boats. Boat owners and operators with water-cooled systems onboard are advised to take extra precautions to protect their equipment if affected by oil-contaminated waters.

Dometic Marine does not recommend the operation of any water-cooled equipment in water contaminated by spilled crude oil. The intake of even small amounts of oil into the condenser coils and pumps may cause damage to the equipment.

If your boat has been operated in or exposed to oil-contaminated water, please contact your dealer for service recommendations.

PREVENTIVE & CORRECTIVE ACTIONS
The effects of crude-oil contamination on water-cooled A/C and refrigeration equipment are not thoroughly known. Based on what is known, however, Dometic recommends the following preventive and corrective actions:

Boat owners and operators are advised to avoid areas of contaminated water if it can be done safely.
If a vessel is expected to be in oil-contaminated water, close the seacock to prevent water entering the pump AND disconnect power to the water-cooled equipment to prevent unintentional operation of the equipment.
If oil-contaminated water is expected at the vessel's slip, remove the vessel from the water until the contamination has been contained or removed.
If oil-contaminated water contacts the vessel, do not start or do not continue operating the water-cooled equipment. This will greatly reduce the amount of cleaning required to get the equipment back in service.
If a vessel has been in oil-contaminated water with its water-cooled equipment in operation, the equipment's condenser coil and water-delivery pump should be cleaned as soon as possible.
CLEANING/REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE
Always dispose of all parts and cleaning materials according to local environmental regulations. If cleaning chemicals are used, choose products with the least impact on the environment.

Condenser Coil - If oil-contaminated water has entered the condenser coil, the entire piping system must be flushed or cleaned to remove the oil.

Water Pump - If oil-contaminated water entered the seawater pump, follow the procedures below.

Pump impellers exposed to oil must be replaced. Otherwise, the impeller will swell in the pump and fail, which could cause pump or equipment damage.
O-rings and gaskets must be replaced.
All hoses and parts (coolers, seawater strainers, etc.) between the water intake and the pump must be checked for oil. If found, remove all parts and clean of all oil residue. If the oil can not be removed, replace the part, hose, or pump.

RETURN TO SERVICE
The long-term effects of oil on a cooling-system, its pump, parts and hoses are unknown. After the oil spill has been resolved and the system has been cleaned, we advise boat owners and operators to be diligent in monitoring their equipment for symptoms of cooling problems. Watch for high-pressure (HP) faults that are more frequent than before.

These Guidance Notes may be revised in the future as more knowledge is gained regarding this subject.

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01 July 2010

Asian Carp in Indiana's Wabash River....could enter Lake Erie in flood conditions

The following is from Freep.com.

Congressional staff were briefed late Wednesday on the discovery that Asian carp have been moving upstream in the Wabash River in Indiana, far from any locks or the electric barriers in Illinois built to deter carp, and that flooding could send the fish into the nearby Maumee River in Ohio, which leads into Lake Erie.

"The news that Asian carp in the Wabash River in Indiana are mere miles away from the Great Lakes basin is yet another alarm calling us to address this clear threat," said Sen. Carl Levin in a statement.

The breeding population is not a surprise in the Wabash, because it's part of the Mississippi River basin, which is full of Asian carp. The threat is the nearness of the Maumee, a river that drains into the Great Lakes. Congressional staff were told that the headwaters of the two rivers are three-quarters of a mile apart in an area prone to floods, and that the carp are now in the Wabash, a few dozen miles from the headwaters.

The situation is similar to Illinois' Des Plaines River, which runs parallel to the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal for several miles in Illinois. That river, like the Illinois River, has plenty of Asian carp in it. Although there is an electric barrier on the canal, officials fear that flooding on the Des Plaines could wash carp into the canal past the electric barrier.

For the entire article click here.

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24 June 2010

Michigan legislators want quick action after Asian Carp find

From detroitnews.com:

Nathan Hurst / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington -- Michigan legislators are taking a multi-pronged approach to prompt federal authorities to act quickly in response to Wednesday's find of a live, 20-pound Asian carp in Lake Calumet near Chicago.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, said she is lobbying agency heads throughout Washington to get immediate action to keep the invasive carp from reaching Lake Michigan, where environmental experts say the hungry fish could quickly wreck native fish populations. The carp, which have migrated northward through the Mississippi River since escaping from southern fish farms in the 1990s, have big appetites and the ability to quickly clean out food sources for native species.

Stabenow said she's asked Illinois officials to close the locks and canals connecting Lake Michigan to Lake Calumet and the Mississippi River basin. She's also asking for the water to be poisoned where the carp was found to kill any others that might be nearby.

Asian Carp found in Lake Calumet, beyond electrical barrier

The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) announced today that one Bighead Asian carp has been found in Lake Calumet along the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). This is the first physical specimen that has been found in the CAWS above the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's Electric Barrier System.
RCC agencies will enact immediate measures to remove any additional Asian carp found during sampling efforts, including but not limited to electrofishing and netting.

"We set out on a fact finding mission and we have found what we were looking for," said John Rogner, Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). "This is important evidence and the more information we have about where Asian carp are, the better chance we have of keeping them out of the Great Lakes."

The Bighead carp was found in Lake Calumet which sits between T. J. O'Brien Lock and Dam and Lake Michigan. The find was made in the northwest corner of the lake near Harborside Golf Course, approximately six miles downstream of Lake Michigan by a commercial fisherman contracted by the Illinois DNR during routine sampling efforts in the area. The fish was measured to be 34.6 inches long and weighed 19.6 pounds.

This capture represents the first Asian carp discovered above the electric barrier system and just the second in the Chicago Area Waterway System.

The first Asian carp was found on December 3 in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) below the electric barrier system and just above the Lockport Lock and Dam.
Intensive sampling operations on the CAWS by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first began on February 17 in an attempt to locate either Silver or Bighead Asian carp above the Electric Fish Barrier System.
Previous sampling actions throughout the last four months above the barrier did not produce any Silver or Bighead carp.
Additional sampling actions on Lake Calumet above T.J O'Brien Lock and Dam will include IDNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fishery biologists supported by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and commercial fishermen. Commercial fishing nets and electrofishing gear will continue to be used in Lake Calumet and additional resources will be deployed to begin sampling up the Calumet River leading to Lake Michigan. Electrofishing and sampling efforts in Lake Calumet and the Calumet River will continue throughout the next several weeks.
During these activities every effort will be made to minimize the impact to waterway users and provide as much advanced notice of any possible waterway restrictions.
"This issue is an extremely high priority for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and we will continue to work directly with our partners and stakeholders to implement the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework using all available tools and techniques," said Mike Weimer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Regional Director of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Program. "We remain firmly committed to achieving our collective goal of preventing Asian carp from becoming established in Great Lakes waters." The sampling effort is an important and continued effort in the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework, which includes both short and long term actions to stop the migration of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.
Sampling and monitoring will also continue at five fixed sampling stations throughout the Chicago Area Waterway System as detailed in the RCC's Sampling and Monitoring plan to search for Asian carp. Commercial fishing operations will also continue to remove Silver or Bighead carp in downstate waters where the fish are known to be present.
"The Army Corps of Engineers will continue to operate the locks and dams in the Chicago Area Waterway System for Congressionally authorized purposes of navigation, water diversion, and flood control. We will continue to support fish suppression activities by modifying existing structures such as locks as requested by other agencies to support this common goal," said Colonel Vincent Quarles, Command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District. "At this time there is no intention to close the locks."
Short and long term control efforts as part of the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework include:
• Operations to reduce propagule pressure on barriers
• Increased fish collection effort and population suppression
• Evaluation of modified and structures operations in support of fish suppression activities
• Emergency measures to prevent bypass of fish between (1) Des Plaines River and CSSC and (2) I&M Canal and CSSC during flood events
• Increased biological control efforts
• Barrier operations
To view the entire control framework and to receive the latest updates on sampling efforts in the CAWS, log on to www.asiancarp.org.

Photo on home page courtesy Il Dept of Natural Resources

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11 June 2010

FWC asks boaters to slow down in areas of oil spill cleanup operations

Because of the large number of oil containment booms and cleanup equipment being deployed around the state in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Boating and Waterways Section is asking boaters to slow down where oil cleanup is under way.

The FWC encourages all boaters to operate at slow speed within 300 feet of all authorized booms. Boaters operating near any oil-containment booms or cleanup equipment should exercise extreme caution and comply with all applicable navigational rules. Oil-skimming equipment is large and cumbersome, and it is restricted in its ability to maneuver. As a result, boaters should be prepared to stay clear of these vessels when operating near them.

Failure to operate at slow speed in these areas could result in injury, damage to vessels and damage to the containment booms. Additionally, the wake that results from a vessel operating above slow speed in areas where a boom has been deployed can reduce the effectiveness of the boom, resulting in further environmental damage.

FWC officers and local marine units will be on the water encouraging boaters to operate at slow speed in those areas where cleanup efforts are under way.

For more information, go to MyFWC.com/Boating.

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07 June 2010

Volvo Penta cautions about engine damage from Gulf oil spill

by Volvo Penta of the Americas, Inc.

Since the April 20, 2010, oil rig explosion, millions of gallons of crude oil have spewed into the Gulf of Mexico.

Since the April 20, 2010, oil rig explosion, millions of gallons of crude oil have spewed into the Gulf of Mexico. The oil has reached the shore in Louisiana, and is likely to extend eastward and impact other Gulf States, including Florida.

"This disaster has and will affect an overwhelming number of Americans, their businesses, their recreation, and our natural resources," said Clint Moore, president of Volvo Penta of the Americas. "We hope that containment and clean up efforts are successful and swift in order to protect our nation's waterways. And, we encourage Volvo Penta owners to be proactive in protecting their boats during this difficult time."

Many boaters are concerned about the impact of the oil on their engines while sitting at the dock or during operation in waters where oil may be present. Like many other aspects of this disaster, there is uncertainty regarding the long term effect of mooring or operation of a boat in oil infested waters. Most manufacturers, including Volvo Penta, have not performed formal testing of engines under these unique and extreme conditions. Because of this uncertainty, all boat owners need to exercise special diligence to protect their boat investment.

Volvo Penta's experience shows that ingestion of even small amounts of oil into the cooling system of the engine may cause damage to the engine and/or many of its subsystems. Sterndrive components or other running gear may also be damaged by submersion in oil contaminated water. In order to avoid expensive repair bills and long term damage, owners are encouraged to contact their Volvo Penta dealer for service recommendations if a boat has been operated or exposed to oil contaminated water. Volvo Penta has issued specific service and repair recommendations for its authorized dealers to address this unique issue.

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03 June 2010

Florida law caps sales tax on boat purchases at $18k

What a deal.

The following is taken from a Marine Industries Assoc. of South Florida News Release.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - JUNE 1, 2010 - In what amounts to a major victory for Florida's struggling marine industry, a measure limiting the sales‐use tax on boat purchases now is poised to become law. Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed the larger Jobs for Florida Bill, CS/SB‐1752, which contains the Florida Boat Sales‐Use Tax Cap legislation on May 28, 2010. The $18,000 Boat Sales and Use Tax Cap will take effect on July 1, 2010, effectively bringing Florida's boat dealers and brokers into parity with their competitors in
other states and nearby countries, where sales taxes on boats have been far lower. "

To read the entire release click here.

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14 May 2010

FLIR Systems purchases Raymarine

The following is the FLIR Systems Press Release.

FLIR Systems Announces Acquisition of the Stock of Raymarine Holdings

PORTLAND, OR, May 14, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- FLIR Systems, Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!flir/quotes/nls/flir (FLIR 29.02, -1.22, -4.03%) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with the Administrator of Raymarine plc to acquire all of the outstanding shares of its wholly owned subsidiary, Raymarine Holdings Limited. The transaction value of approximately $180 million includes repayment of all of Raymarine's indebtedness and approximately $24 million in proceeds to Raymarine plc which is equivalent to 20 pence per ordinary share. The acquisition represents the entire business operations of Raymarine and its subsidiaries.

Raymarine, a world leader in the marine electronics industry, provides the most comprehensive range of electronic equipment for the recreational boating and light commercial marine markets. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, Raymarine reported revenue of approximately $170 million.

The acquisition furthers FLIR's strategy in the marine market by dramatically increasing its maritime distribution network with the addition of Raymarine's 1,000 dealer outlets and 400+ marine OEMs, nearly all of which are additive to FLIR's existing distribution. FLIR plans to expand Raymarine's product line breadth by integrating thermal imaging cameras with Raymarine's display, radar and autopilot product lines to create the broadest, most effective, and easiest to use suite of products in the marine electronics industry.

"We are pleased to announce this strategically compelling transaction," commented Earl Lewis, President and CEO of FLIR. "Raymarine is a leading brand in the industry and has an outstanding reputation for high quality marine electronics equipment. When fully integrated, we expect to have a significant marine electronics business as part of our Commercial Systems business. I welcome Raymarine's employees to FLIR."
FLIR anticipates this transaction will be neutral to 2010 earnings, excluding one-time charges, and accretive in subsequent years.

About FLIR Systems FLIR Systems, Inc. is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of thermal imaging and stabilized camera systems for a wide variety of thermography and imaging applications including condition monitoring, research and development, manufacturing process control, airborne observation and broadcast, search and rescue, drug interdiction, surveillance and reconnaissance, navigation safety, border and maritime patrol, environmental monitoring and ground-based security. Visit the Company's web site at www.FLIR.com.

About Raymarine Raymarine is a world leader in the supply of electronic products for the recreational and light commercial marine markets. It manufactures a comprehensive range of marine navigation, communication and safety products including multifunction displays, radars, autopilots, cameras, fishfinders, GPS enabled chartplotters, automatic identification systems and instruments. The Raymarine Group is headquartered in Portsmouth, United Kingdom and maintains offices in the United States, Australia, Singapore, France, Germany and Italy.

Forward-Looking Statements The statements in this press release by Earl Lewis and the statements regarding the expansion of FLIR's distribution network, expansion of Raymarine's product line breadth, anticipated cost savings through integrated operations, sales, marketing, and general and administrative functions, the estimate of one-time charges, and the expectation that the transaction will be neutral to 2010 earnings and accretive in subsequent years, are forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's and Raymarine's business based, in part, on assumptions made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including the following: the possibility that the transaction will not close or that the closing may be delayed, the possibility that the Company will experience difficulties in the integration of the operations, employees, strategies, technologies and products of Raymarine if the transaction does close, the potential inability to realize expected benefits and synergies, changes in demand for the Company's products, product mix; the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing, constraints on supplies of critical components, excess or shortage of production capacity, the ability of the Company to manufacture and ship products in the time period required, actual purchases under agreements, and other risks discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, and general domestic and international economic conditions. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

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07 May 2010

EPA to address non-sewage discharges from pleasure craft

Trade Only Today reports that the EPA intends to issue a proposed rule for best management practices by next winter.

Brian Rappoli from the EPA spoke Wednesday at the American Boating Congress. According to Rappoli, these practices, mandated by the Clean Boating Act of 2008, will cover discharges like gray water, trash, oil, deck runoff, boat washing, bilge water - "any discharge other than sewage,"

It also will cover best management practices to help control the spread of "aquatic nuisance species" like zebra mussels.

To read the Trade Only Today article, click here.

Senate working on bill to close Chicago locks

The following is from the Detroit News.

Washington -- Chances improved Thursday that a bill ordering an immediate closure of Chicago-area locks and canals to keep invasive Asian carp out of Lake Michigan will head toward passage.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, said in a conference call with reporters that Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., was working with her office on long-term solutions to separating the Mississippi River and Great Lakes watersheds to keep the carp out, and ways to mitigate potential economic and flood control impact on Illinois.

"He's working with us," Stabenow said in response to questions whether Durbin, the Senate Majority Whip, might work to keep Stabenow's CARP ACT bill from hitting the floor of the upper chamber.

Advertisement

Durbin hasn't signaled an intent to co-sponsor the bill, which drew bipartisan support at a Wednesday news conference pushing for its passage.

But Stabenow said his willingness to hammer out provisions for Illinois was a strong step in the right direction.

Gov. Pat Quinn and other Illinois politicians have resisted calls to close any canals and locks around Chicago, arguing the state's shipping industry would suffer while increasing flood concerns for some suburban areas.

The White House and the Supreme Court have rejected earlier calls by Michigan and other Great Lakes states to immediately close the locks.

Stabenow said she hopes to quickly resolve issues for Illinois, including help for rerouting ship-carried cargo via rail and allowing provisions to quell flooding concerns while keeping the locks closed.

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02 May 2010

Best Buy to sell/install marine electronics

According to an article in Boats.com by Ed Sherman, Best Buy is going to sell marine electronics and offer installation through it's Geek Squad.

Ed begins his article stating:

"You heard it here first! I've spent this week working with a group of technicians from Best Buy's Geek Squad so it's official, I'm now a qualified geek. Perhaps more significant to anyone reading this post is that Best Buy is about to announce their entry into the marine electronics equipment market. I have their permission to announce it here. I see this as a natural evolution for a company that has proven its mettle in all areas of consumer electronics, and has been an installer of home theater and high-end audio systems on boats for some time already."

To ready the entire article click here.

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26 April 2010

U. S. Supreme Court stays out of Asian Carp fight!

ABC News reports The U.S. Supreme Court decided Monday not to get involved in a dispute over how to prevent invasive Asian carp from making their way into the Great Lakes.

The justices turned down a new request from Michigan to consider ordering closure of Chicago-area shipping locks to prevent the fish from threatening the Great Lakes. The locks could provide a pathway to Lake Michigan for the unwanted carp.

The court had previously declined twice to order the locks closed on an emergency basis while it considered whether to hear the case. This time, the court rejected a proposal by Michigan and six other states to use a long-standing case involving water diversion from Lake Michigan as a vehicle for seeking to permanently sever a man-made linkage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin.

To read more details click here.