LETTERS: PLANS FOR U.S. RIVERS

To the editor:

The plan of the environmental group, American Rivers, to declare certain rivers as National Heritage Rivers failed to gain support in Congress. Last month President Clinton published a request for comments in the federal register for 10 rivers he intends to designate by executive order as American Heritage Rivers.

The Missouri River is one of those to be designated. Gov. Jim Edgar of Illinois has requested that the Illinois River be nominated, and the upper Mississippi River is targeted for the next round.

A large public objection was raised, and the two-week comment period was extended to Aug. 20. Please forward your comments to President Clinton, Room 360, Old Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20501, and contact your senators and representative.

These types of environmental ideas continue to be politically viable in the upper Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri river valleys because state leaders, agriculture, industrial development, recreation and local environmental interests cannot or will not form a plan to improve our rivers. A major rehabilitation program is needed, but federal and state dollars are not available.

The major interests along our Midwest rivers -- flood control, agriculture and industrial development -- must come together and develop a plan. The many groups that represent themselves as spokesmen for a better use of these most valuable resources must table their specific plans. Then negotiations can begin to use the best ideas and present them to Congress as soon as possible.

Contact your favorite group and politician and tell them we have heard enough talk. Give them your ideas and tell them you want to see a definitive plan. A coalition of federal legislators can deliver if we give them a plan we all support and refuse to be divided by outside interests.

JOHN A. ROBB

Gladstone, Ill.