Senators Will Introduce Bipartisan Great Lakes Legislation

Sep 11: Senators Carl Levin (D-MI), and Mark Kirk (R-IL), co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Great Lakes Task Force, said they will introduce legislation to authorize or reauthorize programs vital to protecting the Great Lakes. The Senators informed colleagues from Great Lakes states in a letter that they plan to introduce legislation closely modeled on the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act of 2010, which Levin introduced with his then-co-chair on the Great Lakes Task Force, Senator George Voinovich (R-OH). In their letter, the Senators said:

"As co-chairs of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, we will soon introduce legislation to authorize and reauthorize key programs to protect the Great Lakes, the world's largest system of fresh surface water and the source of drinking water for 40 million people. The Great Lakes are one of our most precious natural resources, which provide immense ecological and economic benefits. The Great Lakes are home to more than 3,500 species of plants and animals system-wide and support a $7 billion fishery and an estimated 1.5 million American jobs 

"In 2010, Senators Levin (D-MI) and Voinovich (R-OH) were joined by many Senate colleagues to introduce The Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act (GLEPA). Specifically, this bipartisan, bicameral legislation would formally authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), an inter-agency program designed to address the most significant problems in the Great Lakes ecosystem, with a focus on tangible, measurable results.  The bill would also reauthorize two other 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.  The bill would formally establish an interagency task force, as well as an advisory board to ensure that federal programs are coordinated efficiently, reflect input from a variety of stakeholders, and ensure that taxpayer funds are effectively directed to worthwhile restoration projects, which produce tangible, measureable results. 

"The Great Lakes face serious challenges to the ecological and economic well-being of the entire Basin. Legislation is needed to ensure the continued protection of the Great Lakes from the threat of invasive species such as Asian carp, sewer overflows and runoff that can harm aquatic and public health, and contaminated sediments.  Furthermore, as the U.S. and Canada work to update the binational Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, it is important that this Congress demonstrates a shared commitment to protecting this precious natural resource with strong legislation such as GLEPA.

"We plan to introduce the bill before Congress recesses.  We will shortly be circulating draft text of the legislation that closely mirrors GLEPA from the 111th Congress (S.3073). If you would like to co-sponsor this important legislation or would like to share your input on the bill, please contact either one of us."

    Access a release and the letter from the Senators (click here). Access legislative details for S.3073 in the 111th Congress (click here). [GLakes]

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GLC Reports & Resolutions At Great Lakes Week In Cleveland

Sep 11: Actions to reduce phosphorus loadings to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system were the focus of the Annual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission (GLC), which kicked off Great Lakes Week in Cleveland this week. A GLC-led Regional Phosphorus Reduction Task Force released a report with more than 50 recommendations believed to be necessary elements of a comprehensive, binational effort to achieve and sustain meaningful reductions in nutrient pollution to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

    GLC indicated in a release that phosphorus loadings, primarily from nonpoint sources, are the cause of the widely reported harmful algal blooms which have been prevalent in western Lake Erie in recent years. According to Dr. Jeff Reutter, director of Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory, the biomass produced in Lake Erie in 2011 exceeded the previous highest biomass years combined. Erie is the southernmost, shallowest and warmest of the Great Lakes. Lake Erie is very susceptible to HABs due to its size and the large amount of agricultural lands in the surrounding area.

    GLC hosted a special joint session with the International Joint Commission (IJC) to discuss actions to accelerate and target nutrient reduction efforts and achieve near-term results that will reduce the frequency and severity of harmful algal blooms and related water quality impacts in the Great Lakes. Dave Dempsey, special advisor to the IJC, presented the IJC's Lake Erie Ecosystem Priority (LEEP) to reduce phosphorus loads and algal blooms. LEEP plans to take the best science available to produce a series of review papers on various topics, including social/economic factors. A Lake Erie workshop will be held in February 2013 to review the draft reports. Recommendations to the governments are expected in fall 2013.

    The GLC released a second task force report focused on improving emergency preparedness and response in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system. GLC Executive Director Tim Eder said, "The task force recommendations and the accompanying resolution adopted by the GLC will help ensure that the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River are well protected in the event of an oil or other hazardous material spill." Pipelines, vessels, facilities and cold weather response were the primary categories that were examined. The report was requested by the Great Lakes states and provinces in response to two notable spills in the last decade: the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the largest in U.S. history, and, more recently, the Talmadge Creek (Kalamazoo River) spill near Marshall, Mich., one of the largest inland emergency response efforts in U.S. history.

    In addition to acknowledging receipt of the two reports, the GLC passed resolutions pertaining to renewable and clean energy, the Great Ships Initiative, U.S.-Canada procurement policies, and extending the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative beyond 2014

     The 8th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference in Cleveland is expected to attract more than 400 people from the states of Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania. Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the Healing Our Waters-(HOW) Great Lakes Coalition, which hosts the conference said, "The millions of people who depend on the Great Lakes for their drinking water, jobs and way of life deserve to know where President Obama and Governor Romney stand on restoring the largest source of fresh water in the world. We need the next president to show leadership on this issue. Great Lakes restoration is not a Democratic or Republican issue -- it is an issue of national significance and utmost urgency."
 
    A live webcast of the conference is available on HOW website courtesy of coverage by Detroit Public Television and Cleveland Ideastream. The conference, which runs September 11-13, comes as the presidential election heats up. Representatives of the Obama and Romney election campaigns will address the gathering Thursday, September 13, at 10:30 AM. Carol Browner, former White House Energy and Climate Change Director for President Obama and former EPA Administrator under President Clinton, will be representing the Obama campaign. The Romney campaign is confirming its representative.

    Access a release from GLC and link to the reports (click here). Access the HOW Coalition website for extensive information (click here).

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U.S. & Canada Sign Updated Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

Sep 7: Today, Canada and the United States officially signed amendments to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) addressing critical environmental health issues in the Great Lakes region and providing a model of binational cooperation to protect water quality. The Agreement was initially signed in 1972 and was last updated in 1987. The updated Agreement facilitates United States and Canadian action on threats to Great Lakes water quality and includes measures to prevent ecological harm. New provisions address the nearshore environment, aquatic invasive species, habitat degradation, and the effects of climate change. It also supports continued work on existing threats to people's health and the environment in the Great Lakes basin such as harmful algae, toxic chemicals, and discharges from vessels.

    Both governments sought extensive input from stakeholders before and throughout the long negotiation process, which started in 2009. Additionally, the revised Agreement expands opportunities for public participation in Great Lakes issues. Based on stakeholder input, the United States and Canada retained the overall purpose of the Agreement, which is "to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes" and the portion of the St. Lawrence River that includes the Canada-United States border. The Agreement also assigns responsibilities to the International Joint Commission (IJC) to share information, assess progress, and advise the two governments on science, policy and action. The amended GLWQA commits the United States and Canada to cooperate and coordinate efforts on issues such as:

• Preventing environmental threats before they turn into actual problems.
• Updating phosphorus targets for open waters and nearshore areas of each lake and taking actions to reduce phosphorus levels that contribute to harmful algae.
• Preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species.
• Developing plans to protect and restore nearshore areas, the primary source of drinking water for Great Lakes communities and where most commerce and recreation occurs.
• Reaffirming actions necessary to restore and delist Areas of Concern.
• Identifying new toxic substances, and implementing pollution prevention and control strategies.
• Preventing and controlling harmful discharges from ships and other vessels.
• Developing conservation strategies to protect native species and restore habitat.
• Identifying and helping coastal communities understand the impacts of climate change on water quality.
• Developing water quality and ecosystem health objectives.
• Reviewing Great Lakes science and establishing binational priorities for future work.
• Providing notification of activities that could impact the Great Lakes.
• Reporting progress to the public regularly.

    Access a release from U.S. EPA (click here). Access a 2-page background document (click here). Access the 74-page GLWQA of 2012 (click here). Access EPA's GLWQA website for more information (click here). Access the IJC GLWQA review website (click here). Access the Binational.net website for additional information from the governments (click here). Access the GLWQA blog from Great Lakes United (click here).

 

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Agencies To Sign Updated Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

Sep 5: U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent announced they will sign an updated Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement on Friday, September 7. Administrator Jackson and Minister Kent will hold a short press availability following the signing ceremony.

 

    The agreement, last updated in 1987, addresses critical health issues in the Great Lakes region and is a model of binational cooperation to protect water quality. The two governments began negotiations in 2009 to strengthen the agreement. The signing ceremony is scheduled for 2 PM EDT, Friday, September 7, 2012, at the Embassy of Canada, 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.

 

    Access an announcement from EPA (click here). Access a live webcast of the signing (click here). Access EPA's GLWQA website for more information (click here). Access the IJC GLWQA review website (click here). Access the Binational.net website for additional information from the governments (click here). Access the GLWQA blog from Great Lakes United (click here).

 

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Reminder: Great Lakes Beach Association Conference

Sep 6: The 2012 Great Lakes Beach Association Conference will be held October 16-18 at Mission Point Resort on Mackinaw Island located in a beautiful area near the Straits between lakes Michigan and Huron. To take advantage of early registration rates, attendees must register by midnight on Friday, September 7. An updated agenda is available on conference website. More than 50 papers will be presented at the event, highlighting the newest, innovative beach monitoring projects and rapid testing methods.

 

    Access the conference website for details and online registration (click here).

 

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IJC Extends Comment On Great Lakes Water Levels Study

Aug 30: The International Joint Commission (IJC) announced that it is inviting public comment via a bilingual public hearing by teleconference on the final report of its International Upper Great Lakes Study Board, Lake Superior Regulation: Addressing Uncertainty in Upper Great Lakes Water Levels. The teleconference will be held at 7:00 PM (EDT) on September 19, 2012 and will provide an opportunity to be heard for those who were not able to attend one of the 13 public hearings that the IJC conducted in upper Great Lakes communities during July 2012. The deadline for comments has also been extended to September 30th, 2012. Comments may also be submitted by email, in writing or via an online form.

 

    The report examines whether the regulation of outflows from Lake Superior through the compensating works and power dams on the St. Marys River at Sault Ste. Marie might be improved to take into consideration the evolving needs of users on Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan and Erie. The report also examines the potential future impacts of climate change, a management strategy to better anticipate and respond to future extreme water levels, the feasibility and implications of restoring water levels in lakes Michigan-Huron and multi-lake regulation and its impacts throughout the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system. 

 

    Access a release from IJC with additional details on commenting and the teleconference (click here). Access the report website for complete information and background (click here).

 

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EPA Announces $2.6 Million In Grants For Beaches In MI & WI

Aug 28: U.S. EPA announced seven Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grants, totaling over $2.6 million, to improve water quality at Great Lakes beaches in Michigan and Wisconsin. The grants were announced by EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman at Samuel Myers Park in Racine, Wisconsin, at one of the beaches targeted for work under the grants. Hedman said, "These Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants will improve water quality, allowing people to enjoy more days at Great Lakes beaches. The projects will make beaches safer, by eliminating harmful bacteria and other sources of contamination."

    Over the last three years, GLRI has provided more than $29 million for 78 projects to protect and restore Great Lakes beaches. This funding has paid for sanitary surveys at 400 beaches, allowing beach managers to identify contamination sources and to implement projects that reduce or eliminate pollution. The GLRI has also funded eight projects to better forecast beach conditions and to develop technologies such as Smartphone apps to issue real-time alerts about swimming bans and beach closures. The seven projects announced include:

• $1 million (two grants of $500,000 each) to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh to redesign eight Wisconsin beaches to reduce bacteria levels, resulting in fewer swimming bans and beach closures. The beaches are: Red Arrow Park Beach, Marinette; Crescent Beach, Algoma; Red Arrow Park Beach, Manitowoc; Thompson West End Park, Washburn; Grant Park, South Milwaukee; Samuel Myers Park, Racine; and Simmons Island and Eichelman Parks, Kenosha.
• $179,700 to the City of Marquette, Michigan, to lower health risks and to improve water quality at two Lake Superior beaches in Marquette by using green management practices to reduce contamination.
• $500,000 to the City of Marysville, Michigan, to install rain gardens and other green infrastructure to reduce contaminated stormwater runoff and to deter geese at Chrysler Beach on the St. Clair River.
• $500,000 to the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority for green infrastructure to reduce contaminated stormwater runoff at Lake St. Clair Metropark (Metro Beach.)
• $217,015 to MDEQ to construct rain gardens, plant native grass and install a filtration system to improve water quality and reduce health risks at Sherman Park and Four Mile beaches in Sault Ste. Marie.
• $263,188 to MDEQ to build a green stormwater infiltration system at New Buffalo City Beach to reduce bacteria and nutrient levels.

    Access a release from EPA with further details on each project (click here).

 

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