More calls for immediate closure of New Orleans’ MRGO

More calls for immediate closure of New Orleans’ MRGO A group of scientists criticized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in a letter Thursday for not taking immediate action to close the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet, better known as MRGO, the Associated Press reported.
   MRGO is a man-made shipping channel that provides ocean carriers with direct access between New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. The channel was constructed in the 1960s.
   The channel, which has experienced silting in recent years, has been blamed for allowing storm surges to flood downtown New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
   The AP reported that the scientists want the Corps to acknowledge the storm dangers associated with the MRGO and stop its foot-dragging with calling for the immediate closure of the shipping channel.
   Many shipping industry representatives realize the MRGO has reached the end of the line. Gary LaGrange, president and chief executive officer for the Port of New Orleans, acknowledged this in his “State of the Port” address earlier this year.
   For more details about the MRGO, read the April American Shipper, pages 90-91.