Corps Held in Contempt Over Mo. River Flap

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-2941309,00.html



WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal judge held the Army
Corps of Engineers in contempt Tuesday for
refusing to lower Missouri River water levels to
protect endangered birds and fish.

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler ordered the
corps and the secretary of the Army to comply by
Friday or pay half a million dollars for each day her
order is disobeyed. She said she may consider
``more draconian contempt remedies'' if flow is
not cut by July 31.

Kessler ordered water levels dropped in a July 12
injunction she granted conservation groups that
are suing to alter the Missouri's flow.

The corps has refused to comply, saying her
order conflicts with an earlier Nebraska federal
court ruling requiring enough water for barge
shipping and power generation

from the river, I don't go down there as much as I once did, but, I'd love to see it restored to it's natural state. The argument that it's needed for barge traffic is a bunch of shit, there might be one barge seen on the river every couple of weeks. They're more afraid of these damn starving ass farmers, fuck them they vote piggie anyway.
The river right now in it's present state is just a damn big drainage ditch, it's fucking ugly.

Nebraska is one of the most reactionary states in the nation. There is right-wing hatred of the Clintons there that is frightening. I am not surprised that a such an anti-environment position (albeit Federal)would arise that state.

contempt as well. Do they EVER do anything to benefit the environment?

The corps refuses to obey a court order: a flap
The WH lies in SOTU address: a flap
The repugs call the cops to prevent discussion of a bill: a flap

There is some SERIOUS spinning going on here.