Thursday, June 27, 2013

Senators Introduce Great Lakes Protection Act

Jun 26: Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) introduced the Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act of 2013 (S.1232). Cosponsors included Senators: Mark Kirk (R-IL); Tammy Baldwin (D-WI); Sherrod Brown (D-OH); Dick Durbin (D-IL); Al Franken (D-MN); Amy Klobuchar (D-MN); Charles Schumer (D-NY); and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). The legislation would authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million annually to help continue successful programs to clean up toxic pollution, combat invasive species, restore fish and wildlife habitat and reduce runoff from cities and farms.

    In a Floor statement, Senator Levin said in part, "This bill builds upon the work of a multitude of stakeholders -- environmental organizations; business associations; tribal governments; community leaders; and Federal, state and local officials -- who worked together to craft the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy, a 2005 plan to guide restoration and protection for the Great Lakes. The legislation we are introducing today would formally authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), an inter-agency program designed to implement the plan articulated in the Collaboration Strategy. 

    "The GLRI is an action-oriented, results-driven initiative targeting the most significant problems in the Great Lakes, including aquatic invasive species, toxics and contaminated sediment, nonpoint source pollution, and habitat and wildlife protection and restoration. While broadly authorized under the Clean Water Act, the GLRI should be specifically authorized in law to clarify its purpose and objectives and to demonstrate support from Congress. Since the GLRI was launched in fiscal year 2010 with $475 million in funding, real progress has been made to restore the health of the Great Lakes: More than a million cubic yards of contaminated sediments have been cleaned up.  More than 20,000 acres of wetland, coastal, upland and island habitat have been restored or enhanced. New technologies are being developed to combat the sea lamprey. Asian carp have been prevented from establishing a sustaining population in the Great Lakes. Hundreds of river miles have been restored to enable free fish passage from the Great Lakes to their spawning grounds. Reduction of nutrient loading from agriculture runoff has lessened occurrences of harmful algal blooms.

    "In addition to authorization of the GLRI, this legislation would reauthorize two existing programs: (1) the Great Lakes Legacy program, which supports the removal of contaminated sediments at more than thirty Areas of Concern (AOCs) across the Great Lakes; and (2) the Great Lakes National Program Office, which handles Great Lakes matters for the EPA. . . We hope the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will promptly act on this important legislation, as it did in 2010 when it approved similar legislation."

    The Healing Our Waters Great Lakes (HOW) Coalition issued a release supporting the new bill which they said would help bolster Federal efforts to restore the Great Lakes. Chad Lord, policy director for the Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Coalition, said, "This bill will strengthen federal Great Lakes restoration efforts. Programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative are producing results in communities across the region, but more needs to be done. We commend Sens. Carl Levin, Mark Kirk and other supporters of the Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act of 2013 for putting forward a bill that will help keep federal restoration efforts on track. We urge the full U.S. Senate to support and pass this bill."

    Access the complete Floor statement (click here). Access a release from HOW (click here). Access legislative details for S.1232 (click here). [GLakes]

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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

IJC Wants Comments On Two Advisory Boards

Jun 24: The International Joint Commission (IJC) is inviting the public to comment on its proposed functions, structure and member competencies for its two advisory boards under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement 2012. The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement 2012 directs the Commission to create a Great Lakes Water Quality Board (WQB) to be its principal advisor, and a Great Lakes Science Advisory Board (SAB) to inform the Commission and the WQB on scientific issues related to the Agreement.  In keeping with the Commission's view that transparency and public input are valuable to guide its decisions, the Commission is giving the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed detailed functions (i.e., mandate), structure and the competencies required for membership on these two boards. The detailed functions proposed by the Commission are subject to the approval of the two federal governments. The public has 30 days to review and comment. Comments will be accepted until midnight July 24, 2013.

    IJC indicates in a release that the United States and Canada are extraordinarily fortunate to share the Great Lakes, a world-class resource containing one-fifth of all the fresh surface water on earth. The importance of this international treasure was recognized over 40 years ago when the United States and Canada first signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, committing our two countries to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. An updated Agreement was signed in 2012 and went into force earlier this year and provides a new set of goals that will guide future actions to protect and restore this vital asset.

    Access a release from IJC (click here). Access the consultation materials and provide comments (click here). [#GLakes]
 
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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Lake St. Clair Strategic Implementation Plan Finalized

Jun 12: A release from Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) indicates that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has granted final approval to the Lake St. Clair Strategic Implementation Plan. The plan, which includes scores of specific restoration recommendations, was signed by Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy on Monday, clearing a critical hurdle that will provide an important leg up as Lake St. Clair restoration projects seek federal funding. WIMS was able to obtain a near final version of the plan from USACE and have published the draft on our EcoBizPort.com website (see link below). USACE indicates that the final approved version from HQ, will be posted on their website in the near future. 

    The plan has formally been in the works since 2007, when Representative Sander Levin (D-MI) and Senator Levin (D-MI) wrote a provision into the 2007 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that called for the Corps of Engineers to lead a partnership of Lake St. Clair stakeholders in developing a Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) to come up with specific projects to implement the more than 100 individual recommendations contained in the 2005 Management Plan. The SIP and the process that created it are significant because they took the very general recommendations and goals contained in the 2005 Management Plan and provided a structure for Lake St. Clair stakeholders to move forward with specific restoration projects. The SIP includes scores of specific restoration project recommendations in areas such as conserving and restoring habitat; managing storm water; and using technology to preserve and protect the Lake St. Clair. 

    Approval of the SIP also gives Lake St. Clair restoration projects a leg up when it comes to Federal funding. The 2007 legislation that set the SIP process in motion contained a $20 million authorization to carry out projects developed by the implementation plan. Many Lake St. Clair restoration projects are also eligible for funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) program, which was started three years ago by President Obama. The actual amount of money available for restoration projects depends greatly on how much funding Congress provides to the Corps of Engineers and the GLRI in their annual appropriations bills.

    Rep. Levin said, "Today we take the next big step toward the full restoration of Lake St. Clair. Lake St. Clair and its watershed are worth protecting, and this implementation gives us a new tool to move forward with this effort." Sen. Levin said, "I commend the Army Corps of Engineers and the numerous partners in this effort as their work will help ensure that projects are implemented in a coordinated manner and prioritized to reflect shared goals. The St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair are resources we all celebrate, and their restoration and protection will enable future generations to enjoy this cherished resource." Lt. Col. Robert Ells, district engineer for the USACE Detroit District said, "We are especially pleased to enter into the next phase of developing ecosystem restoration and protection plans for the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair. The Corps is working with an incredibly energetic, diverse and enthusiastic partnership committed to protecting this precious resource that people who live and play in this region enjoy."

    Access a release from Sen. Levin and link to the USACE approval memo (click here). Access the near final draft SIP (click here). Access USACE planning document website where the final SIP will be posted soon (click here). [GLakes/St.Clair]

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Friday, June 14, 2013

Supreme Court Rules On Out-Of-State Diversions Of Water

Jun 13: In the case of Tarrant Regional Water District. v. Herrmann, in the U.S. Supreme Court, Case No. 11-889. Appealed from the U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit [See WIMS 9/27/11]. In this important, unanimous opinion for the High Court, involving out-of-state diversions of water, the Justices indicate that, "The Red River Compact, (or Compact), 94 Stat. 3305, allocates water rights among the States within the Red River basin as it winds through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Petitioner Tarrant Regional Water District (Tarrant), a Texas agency, claims that it is entitled to acquire water under the Compact from within Oklahoma and that therefore the Compact preempts several Oklahoma statutes that restrict out-of-state diversions of water. In the alternative, Tarrant argues that the Oklahoma laws are unconstitutional restrictions on interstate commerce. We hold that Tarrant's claims lack merit.    

    The High Court points out that absent an agreement among the States, disputes over the allocation of water are subject to equitable apportionment by the courts, Arizona v. California, 460 U. S. 605, 609 (1983), which often results in protracted and costly legal proceedings. In 1955, to forestall future disputes over the River and its water, Congress authorized the States of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas to negotiate a compact to apportion the water of the Red River basin among themselves. The negotiations lasted over 20 years and finally culminated in the signing of the Red River Compact in 1978. Congress approved the Compact in 1980, transforming it into federal law.

    At issue in this case are rights under the Compact to water located in Oklahoma's portion of subbasin 5 of Reach II. Reach II posed the greatest difficulty to the parties' efforts to reach agreement. The problem was that Louisiana, the farthest downstream State, lacks suitable reservoir sites and therefore cannot store water during high flow periods to meet its future needs. The upstream States (Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas), which control the River's flow, were unwilling to release water stored within their own reservoirs for the benefit of any downstream States, like Louisiana. Without any such release, there would be no guaranteed flow of water to Louisiana.
 
    The provisions of the Compact relating to Reach II were crafted to address this problem. Subbasins 1-4 ended in last downstream major damsites controlled by the individual states. Subbasin 5, instead required that water be allowed to flow to Louisiana through the main stem of the River at certain minimum levels, assuring Louisiana an allocation of the River's waters and solving its flow-through problem.
 
    The provision of the Compact central to the present dispute is §5.05(b)(1), which sets the following allocation during times of normal flow: "(1) The Signatory States shall have equal rights to the use of runoff originating in subbasin 5 and undesignated water flowing into subbasin 5, so long as the flow of the Red River at the Arkansas-Louisiana state boundary is 3,000 cubic feet per second [hereinafter CFS] or more, provided no state is entitled to more than 25 percent of the water in excess of 3,000 [CFS]."
 
    Tarrant proposed to divert the Kiamichi River, at a point located in subbasin 5 of Reach II, before it discharges into the Red River and applied to Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB, the respondent in this case) for a permit. Tarrant knew, however, that Oklahoma would likely deny its permits because various state laws (collectively, the Oklahoma water statutes) effectively prevent out-of-state applicants from taking or diverting water from within Oklahoma's borders.
 
    When Tarrant filed its permit application, it also filed suit against respondents in Federal District Court. Tarrant sought to enjoin enforcement of the Oklahoma water statutes by the OWRB. Tarrant argued that the statutes, and the interpretation of them adopted by Oklahoma's attorney general, were preempted by Federal law and violated the Commerce Clause by discriminating against interstate commerce in water.
 
    The District Court granted summary judgment for the OWRB on both of Tarrant's claims. The Tenth Circuit affirmed. 656 F. 3d 1222, 1250 (2011). The Supreme Court, in its current opinion now affirms the judgment of the Tenth Circuit. The High Court rules, "The Red River Compact does not preempt Oklahoma's water statutes because the Compact creates no cross-border rights in its signatories for these statutes to infringe. Nor do Oklahoma's laws run afoul of the Commerce Clause. We affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit."
 
    [Note: The decision supports the rights of states to protect their own water rights and could have important ramifications in existing and future water disputes over Great Lakes water use and out-of-state diversions]. In fact, a number of states concerned about protecting their water rights via various compacts, particularly against Commerce Clause claims, filed an amicus brief in support of OWRB. The states included: CO, ID, IN, MI, NV, NM, and UT.
 
    Access the complete opinion (click here). Access the Supreme Court docket (click here). Access the merit and amicus briefs, including the one from the states above (click here). Access the complete Tenth Circuit opinion (click here). Access more information and analysis on the opinion from the SCOTUS blog (click here). [#Water, #GLakes]
 
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Monday, June 10, 2013

IJC RFP For Lake Erie Nutrient Runoff Engagement

Jun 7: The International Joint Commission's (IJC's) Great Lakes Regional Office (GLRO) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for anticipated services of a qualified contractor to conduct a study in the Lake Erie basin to support binational efforts to engage farmers, lake shoreline residents, and urban residents to implement best management practices to reduce nutrient runoff to Lake Erie. The study will analyze barriers to and incentives for participation in nutrient runoff reduction initiatives and use a social marketing strategy to encourage implementation of best management practices for nutrient runoff reduction.

    The RFP is open to all teams of researchers, consultants and contractor(s), colleges, universities, non-profit organizations, and for-profit companies where the lead investigators normally reside in Canada or the United States. Experience in statistical research, social marketing and project management is highly desired. Subject to the availability of funds, IJC contemplates an award of a single-award, firm fixed price contract with an estimated Period of Performance of 16 months to obtain the results described in the statement of work. The Maximum sum of the contract awarded under a Fixed Price Contract is anticipated not to exceed $130,000 USD. Questions and requests for clarifications regarding the RFP must be submitted no later than 5 PM on Friday, June 14, 2013. The closing date for the RFP is June 28, 2013.

    Access the complete RFP (click here). [GLakes/RFP]

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Thursday, June 6, 2013

Interactive Map Of Successful Restoration Projects

Jun 6: The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition (HOW) unveiled a new interactive map illustrating how Federal Great Lakes restoration investments are helping to successfully clean up toxic hot spots in the lakes, restore wetlands, reduce runoff from cities and farms and combat invasive species. The map features 60 successful Great Lakes restoration projects across the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and New York. Additional restoration success stories will be added to the map as more projects are completed. Chad Lord, HOW policy director said, "The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is producing results across the region. But more work remains. It's essential that Congress maintain funding for Great Lakes programs. If we cut funding, projects will be more difficult and expensive the longer we wait."

    The map provides a sample of successful Federal restoration projects across the region. It primarily features projects funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), which has received $1.36 billion during its first four years. The program has funded the removal of more than 1 million cubic yards of toxic sediment from Great Lakes harbors, restored 20,000 acres of wetlands, reduced polluted runoff and bolstered efforts to Asian carp from invading the lakes.

    State and Federal agencies have been working for years to clean up the lakes and restore fish and wildlife habitat.  The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has bolstered those efforts by providing unprecedented funding for restoration projects.  Highlights include:

  • The dredging of 140,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from Milwaukee's Lincoln Creek and the Milwaukee River channel.
  • Development of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, the first international wildlife refuge in North America. 
  • The first permanent ballast water treatment system on a Great Lakes freshwater ship, which was installed on a National Park Service ferry that transports visitors to Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior.
  • Renovations that allowed the Allegheny National Fish Hatchery in Pennsylvania to re-open. The renovated facility produces up to 1 million native lake trout annually for Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
  • Removal of toxic sediments along a 5-mile stretch of the Ottawa River in Toledo, Ohio, that posed a risk to people and wildlife—including major sportfish such as walleye and perch.

    Access a release from HOW (click here). Access the new interactive map (click here). [#GLakes/GLRI]

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Coast Guard Proposes Ballast Water Management Rules

Jun 5: the U.S. Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register [78 FR 33774-33784] announcing that the Coast Guard proposes to amend its existing ballast water management (BWM) reporting and recordkeeping requirements. The Coast Guard will require vessels with ballast tanks operating exclusively on voyages between ports or places within a single Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone to submit an annual report of their BWM practices. The Coast Guard also proposes to update the current ballast water report to include only data that is essential to understanding and analyzing BWM practices. The proposed rule will allow most vessels to submit ballast water reports after arrival to the port or place of destination. Comments must be submitted on or before August 5, 2013.
    The Coast Guard indicates that the rules will "minimize the administrative burden on the regulated population by allowing those vessels that are not bound for the Great Lakes or the Hudson River, north of the George Washington Bridge from outside of the Exclusive Economic Zone, to submit ballast water reports after arrival to the port or place of destination, thereby greatly reducing the need for amended reports;" however, "Due to additional compliance monitoring for vessels bound for the Great Lakes and Hudson River, above George Washington Bridge, those vessels will still need to submit reports 24 hours prior to their arrival."
 
    Access the proposed rule (click here). Access the docket for this action for documents and to submit and review comments (click here). [#Wildlife/ANS, GLakes/ANS]
 
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Monday, June 3, 2013

Great Lakes Governors & Premiers Set New Agenda

Jun 1: The Great Lakes Governors and Premiers addressed a number of issues and initiatives at the Council of Great Lakes Governors (CGLG's) 2013 Leadership Summit events on June 1, 2013 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island [See WIMS 5/31/13]. The Leadership Summit's theme, "Strengthening Our Economy and Protecting Our Great Lakes," included a particular focus on trade, transportation and water. During the course of the Summit, the Governors and Premiers addressed the following issues, setting the agenda for both the organization and the region:
  • Created a Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Maritime Initiative, which will look to improve the region's maritime transportation system and better integrate it into the broader transportation system in the region, across the two countries of the U.S. and Canada, and the world;
  • Building on the success of the over 20-year, multi-state export promotion program, adopted a resolution calling for expanded international trade and export opportunities;
  • Launched the "Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Water Partnership" as a tool to collectively advance the region's "blue economy" companies, and market them to the world;
  • Identified a "least wanted list" of aquatic invasive species, and pledged to harmonize regulatory efforts to fight this ongoing scourge that threatens the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin;
  • Promoted economic cooperation between Canada and the United States;
  • Created beach safety awareness week and announced the creation of an "app" to help improve water safety for swimmers and other recreational users;
  • Fostered  the improvement of water quality by calling on the federal governments of the U.S. and Canada to address the problem of nutrient enrichment and harmful algal blooms; and,
  • Initiated steps to better coordinate regional efforts to monitor water quality and quantity in the Basin to promote more effective policy.
    Access the CGLG website for links to details on each of the initiatives and issues (click here). [GLakes/CGLG]
 
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New Director For Healing Our Waters Coalition

Jun 3: The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition (HOW) named Todd Ambs as its new director. Ambs previously served as president of the national conservation group River Network, a job he assumed after serving as chief of the water division for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Ambs will assume the reins of the 120-member Coalition of environmental, conservation, outdoor recreation organizations, zoos, aquariums and museums representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. He will be the Coalition's second director following the first director, Jeff Skelding, who announced that he was leaving in March to become executive director of the Friends of the Upper Delaware River. Ambs officially begins on July 1, working in Wisconsin as a team member of the National Wildlife Federation's Great Lakes Regional Center in Ann Arbor, Mich.
 
    HOW indicated in a release that over the last four years the federal government has invested more than $1.3 billion in restoration programs to restore habitat, clean up toxic pollution, combat invasive species and prevent runoff from cities and farms. "Restoration programs are producing results -- but there is more work to do." Prior to his tenure at the Wisconsin DNR, Ambs served as executive director of the River Alliance of Wisconsin, a senior policy analyst at the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and executive director of Rivers Unlimited, based in Columbus, Ohio. During his career, he has also served as policy director in the Ohio attorney general's office and assistant chief of public information and education at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

    Access a release from HOW (click here). Access the HOW Coalition website for more information (click here). [GLakes/HOW]

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