EMERSON CRITICIZES WETLANDS PLAN

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson Monday called for a halt to what she called "a clandestine, orchestrated effort to turn back the clock on our way of life."

Emerson expressed concern over a memorandum to be signed by President Clinton titled, "Enhanced Protection of Wetlands and Water Resources," which, she said, could curtail many important Mississippi River and tributaries flood-control programs.

Emerson, a Republican from Southeast Missouri's 8th District, was among a number of people who testified before the Mississippi River Commission, which started its annual high-water inspection trip on the lower Mississippi River Monday. Also among those testifying were port authority representatives and Little River Drainage District officials.

The first part of the tour, held aboard the Corps of Engineers motor vessel Mississippi docked at Cape Girardeau, will continue down river for meetings in Memphis, Tenn., and Greenville, Miss., before concluding on Friday with a meeting in New Orleans.

The commission inspects the lower Mississippi from Cape Girardeau to New Orleans and holds public hearings in the spring and fall. The seven-member commission includes R.D. James of New Madrid, the only member from Missouri.

"Clinton's memorandum, dated March 31, would put a new meaning on wetlands," said Emerson. "The new revisions would make it impossible to build another port authority, improve another levee or maintain existing drainage structures. In fact, the wording of the new memorandum requires all pending and ongoing projects to meet a series of new tests and requirements that would render the Corps helpless to help the people they have pledged to protect."

The memo says, "It is especially important to ensure that any new safeguards are reflected in the ongoing implementation of the nation's large flood-control program the Mississippi River and tributaries program." The memo directs the secretary of the Army, in cooperation with the secretaries of Interior and Agriculture and the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to chart a new direction for the nation's largest flood-damage-reduction program.

"If written and implemented as described and directed, these changes are the kiss of death to the lower Mississippi Valley and every other area of the country that has flood-control projects in place, in plans, or in the process," said Emerson.

"I am asking everyone to join me in stopping this effort," she said. "Call your representatives, senators, state legislators and governors to rise against this directive and demand it be rescinded. I don't mean ask, I mean demand that it be rescinded. And you can use me as a point contact. We must act today for the good of the valley and the country.

U.S. Sens. Christopher Bond and John Ashcroft submitted remarks in a letter that said: "We believe that that broad mission of the Corps of Engineers is vital to this country, and that funding shortfalls place that mission at risk. Some may criticize the cost of programs but not those of us who understand their value. It's not whether to fund increases but how to fund increases."

The commission president, Maj. Gen. Philip R. Anderson reported on Mississippi River issues and projects.

Anderson said the current Mississippi River flood-control project is about 87 percent complete, and the $10 billion spent on the project thus far has provided protection amounting to more than $244 billion. He told the group of more than 60 people that there shouldn't be major flooding along the river this spring.

Last year Congress funded river flood-control projects to the tune of $309 million. President Clinton's budget request for fiscal 2001 maintained fiscal 2000 funding levels, but some members of Congress including Emerson are seeking $370 million for flood-control and navigation efforts.