Aug 23: U.S. EPA announced that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is setting aside approximately $6 million for Federal agencies to sign up unemployed workers to implement restoration projects in Federally-protected areas, on tribal lands and in Areas of Concern (AOCs) in the Great Lakes basin. EPA will fund individual projects up to $1 million. To qualify for funding, each proposed project must provide jobs for at least 20 unemployed people. EPA Great Lakes National Program Manager and Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman said, "These projects will help to restore the Great Lakes and put Americans back to work. In a sense, we will be using these funds to create a small-scale 21st century Civilian Conservation Corps."
Funded projects will advance the goals and objectives of the GLRI Action Plan, developed by EPA with 15 other Federal agencies in 2010. Projects must provide immediate, direct ecological benefits; be located in areas identified as federal priorities such as national lakeshores or areas of concern; include a detailed budget, and produce measurable results. EPA will award funding for selected projects by the end of September. The Agency said it will provide details on the selected projects as soon as that information is available. EPA noted that the Great Lakes provide some 30 million Americans with drinking water and support a multi-billion dollar economy.
According to a release from EPA, the GLRI Action Plan, which covers FY 2010 through 2014, ensures accountability by including measures of progress and benchmarks for success over the next three years. It calls for aggressive efforts to address five urgent priority "Focus Areas" including: Cleaning up toxics and toxic hot spot areas of concern; Combating invasive species;
Promoting near-shore health by protecting watersheds from polluted run-off; Restoring wetlands and other habitats; and, Tracking progress, education and working with strategic partners.
Funded projects will advance the goals and objectives of the GLRI Action Plan, developed by EPA with 15 other Federal agencies in 2010. Projects must provide immediate, direct ecological benefits; be located in areas identified as federal priorities such as national lakeshores or areas of concern; include a detailed budget, and produce measurable results. EPA will award funding for selected projects by the end of September. The Agency said it will provide details on the selected projects as soon as that information is available. EPA noted that the Great Lakes provide some 30 million Americans with drinking water and support a multi-billion dollar economy.
According to a release from EPA, the GLRI Action Plan, which covers FY 2010 through 2014, ensures accountability by including measures of progress and benchmarks for success over the next three years. It calls for aggressive efforts to address five urgent priority "Focus Areas" including: Cleaning up toxics and toxic hot spot areas of concern; Combating invasive species;
Promoting near-shore health by protecting watersheds from polluted run-off; Restoring wetlands and other habitats; and, Tracking progress, education and working with strategic partners.
Access a release from EPA and link to more information on the GLRI and the Action Plan (click here).
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