(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A number of government, labor and science leaders are calling on Gov. J.B. Pritzker to put pen to paper to an agreement to keep invasive carp from spreading to the Great Lakes.
There’s a deadline of July 1 for Illinois, Michigan and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to sign the Protect Partnership Agreement.
“It symbolizes job security, economic stability and the pride of contributing to a project that will safeguard our natural resources for future generations,” said Kristine Kavanagh, with the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150.
Kavanagh said the agreement would officially give the greenlight for the Brandon Road project to begin in 2025. It would also unlock millions of dollars in federal funding, create jobs and help keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes.
“We urge all parties to finalize this agreement by the end of June 2024 to keep the project on schedule and within budget,” she said.
Illinois leaders, including Pritzker, have suggested that more federal funding is needed before they’ll give the green light.
Zion Mayor Billy McKinney was also among those who called for an end to the impasse.
“The sooner we can lock the $274 million in federal funds that have been appropriated by Congress, the sooner we can begin project construction and the safer our coastal communities and resources will be,” said McKinney.
He added: “This isn’t just about the fish; this is investment in our economic future. We need to protect our fresh water.”
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