WASHINGTON – Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) urged northern Michigan residents to provide comments and make their voices heard on the Coast Guard’s proposal to conduct live gunfire training exercises on the Great Lakes.  The Coast Guard announced this week that it would extend the public comment period an additional 60 days allowing area residents to file comments for the record.

“Northern Michigan residents have a lot at stake in this issue,” Stupak said.  “The Great Lakes are part of our way of life and I encourage all of my constituents to take time to express their views to the Coast Guard.  Personally, I have serious concerns about the amount of notice the Coast Guard will provide the public, the time of day they will conduct these exercises, how this will affect fishing and spawning in the Lakes and how long these shooting exercises will last.”

The Ninth Coast Guard District, which includes the Great Lakes is proposing the establishment of 34 zones throughout the Great Lakes that will periodically be used for live gunfire training exercises.  The safety zones are expected to occupy a total area of more than 2,376 square miles. 

The Coast Guard had originally planned to end the public comment period in August of 2006.  However, the Coast Guard announced this week that the public comment period will stay open another 60 days, meaning that the public will have additional opportunity to file comments with Coast Guard on the proposal into early November. 

“The Coast Guard has said they will review each and every comment filed by the public on this topic,” Stupak said.  “I hope they take that commitment seriously and I encourage the public to make their voices heard loud and clear.”

Stupak said that public comments or concerns can be submitted through three different methods.   The public may enter their comments via the web at http://dms.dot.gov, via fax at (202) 493-2251 or via mail at:

Docket Management Facility

U.S. Department of Transportation

Room PL-401

400 SW

Washington, DC

20590-0001

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