US Agency Plans Deeper Study of Sea Turtles, Dredging Threat
2023-05-11
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1The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to study the effects of its dredging operations on sea turtles in the state of Georgia.
2Dredging is the process of removing sand from waterways.
3The agency announced its decision Friday.
4Shortly after, local non-profit group One Hundred Miles withdrew its legal action aimed at stopping dredging.
5"The Corps has now committed to what we've asked for, to go back and review the science," Catherine Ridley, a vice president of the group, said Monday.
6She said the science shows that seasonal dredging puts sea turtles at risk.
7And, she said, it threatens many years of progress in environmental protection in Georgia.
8The now withdrawn legal action began in December of 2022.
9However, environmentalists have been fighting against dredging since 2021.
10That year, the Corps announced it would end a policy limiting dredging in shipping areas during nesting season for sea turtles.
11The seasonal ban had been in place since 1991.
12The powerful pumps necessary to remove the sand are dangerous.
13They can hurt and kill the animals.
14Many female turtles spend the warmer months in areas where the dredging takes place.
15So the 1991 order ended dredging during those months.
16Conservationists credit that policy with helping the sea turtle population to recover and grow its numbers.
17The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for keeping shipping waterways clear.
18It said in a statement, that a fuller study will ensure the public, government and all interested who are involved in the examination.
19It also said investigators will look at all possible effects of dredging on humans and nature.
20Since the 1990s, dredging in Georgia and in the states of North and South Carolina, is done from about December to March.
21Federally protected giant loggerhead sea turtles usually start releasing their eggs in the area in May.
22Smaller numbers of endangered green and Kemp's ridley sea turtles do the same.
23The Corps has argued that seasonal dredging limits are no longer necessary.
24It says sea turtle populations have recovered enough, noting a National Marine Fisheries Service report from 2020.
25The report said protected sea turtle populations could withstand the estimated 150 deaths expected from year-round dredging.
26Army Corps officials also argued that the ban makes it hard for them to get contracts with companies in the industry.
27And the Corps says that dredging periods timed to protect sea turtles ignore the needs of other animals, like the endangered North Atlantic right whales.
28Those large ocean animals visit the same waters in the winter.
29The Army Corps said it does not know how long it will take to complete the newly-announced wide study.
30I'm Gregory Stachel.
1The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to study the effects of its dredging operations on sea turtles in the state of Georgia. Dredging is the process of removing sand from waterways. 2The agency announced its decision Friday. Shortly after, local non-profit group One Hundred Miles withdrew its legal action aimed at stopping dredging. 3"The Corps has now committed to what we've asked for, to go back and review the science," Catherine Ridley, a vice president of the group, said Monday. 4She said the science shows that seasonal dredging puts sea turtles at risk. And, she said, it threatens many years of progress in environmental protection in Georgia. 5The now withdrawn legal action began in December of 2022. However, environmentalists have been fighting against dredging since 2021. That year, the Corps announced it would end a policy limiting dredging in shipping areas during nesting season for sea turtles. The seasonal ban had been in place since 1991. 6The powerful pumps necessary to remove the sand are dangerous. They can hurt and kill the animals. Many female turtles spend the warmer months in areas where the dredging takes place. So the 1991 order ended dredging during those months. 7Conservationists credit that policy with helping the sea turtle population to recover and grow its numbers. 8The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for keeping shipping waterways clear. It said in a statement, that a fuller study will ensure the public, government and all interested who are involved in the examination. It also said investigators will look at all possible effects of dredging on humans and nature. 9Since the 1990s, dredging in Georgia and in the states of North and South Carolina, is done from about December to March. Federally protected giant loggerhead sea turtles usually start releasing their eggs in the area in May. Smaller numbers of endangered green and Kemp's ridley sea turtles do the same. 10The Corps has argued that seasonal dredging limits are no longer necessary. It says sea turtle populations have recovered enough, noting a National Marine Fisheries Service report from 2020. The report said protected sea turtle populations could withstand the estimated 150 deaths expected from year-round dredging. 11Army Corps officials also argued that the ban makes it hard for them to get contracts with companies in the industry. And the Corps says that dredging periods timed to protect sea turtles ignore the needs of other animals, like the endangered North Atlantic right whales. Those large ocean animals visit the same waters in the winter. 12The Army Corps said it does not know how long it will take to complete the newly-announced wide study. 13I'm Gregory Stachel. 14Russ Bynum reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 15___________________________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17commit - v. to say that (someone or something) will definitely do something 18___________________________________________________________________ 19What do you think of this story? 20We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 21Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.