Jan 25: The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) announced that 15 Great Lakes regional organizations are urging President Obama to maintain or exceed funding of $475 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in the Federal budget for FY 2011. The initiative was proposed by the Obama Administration as a five-year, comprehensive restoration plan for the Great Lakes. The region’s congressional leaders secured $475 million in FY 2010, the initiative’s first year. Implementation is moving forward, with nearly $150 million currently being offered for projects that address critical problems facing the Great Lakes. In addition, the U.S. EPA is finalizing a five-year action plan for the GLRI that sets outcome-oriented performance goals and criteria for measuring progress.
In a letter to President Obama the groups said, “While the GLRI is off to a strong start we need sustained funding to fulfill your commitment, build on past investments and ensure the GLRI’s long-term success.” The letter acknowledged the broad support for the initiative within the region, noting that it has been endorsed by the Great Lakes governors, states, cities, tribes, conservation groups, business and industry. The letter noted that “substantial momentum is in place to carry the Initiative forward over its five-year timeframe.” The President is expected to submit his budget proposal to Congress on February 1.
The letter was signed by the following entities: Great Lakes Commission; Alliance for the Great Lakes; Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority; Council of Great Lakes Fishery Agencies; Council of Great Lakes Industries; Council of Lake Committees; Ducks Unlimited, Great Lakes/Atlantic Region; Great Lakes Fishery Commission; Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition; Great Lakes United; Healing Our Waters - Great Lakes Coalition; National Parks Conservation Association; National Wildlife Federation, Great Lakes Regional Center; Natural Resources Defense Council, Midwest Regional Office; and The Nature Conservancy.
Access a release from GLC with additional information (click here).
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Attorneys General Request Seat At Asian Carp Meeting
Jan 25: Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox and his counterparts in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin called on the Obama administration to immediately meet with them to hear first-hand the concerns of job makers and families across the region over the immediate threat of Asian carp. Cox said, "It is our hope the bi-partisan team of Attorneys General leading the battle to protect jobs and the Lakes will have a seat at the table with the White House to help find a solution to this crisis."
Michigan Governor Granholm and Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, have confirmed that the Great Lakes Governors or their designees intend to meet in early February [See WIMS 1/21/10]. The letter from the attorneys general was signed by Attorney General Cox; Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller; Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray; Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett; and Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. The letter indicates, "As the Attorneys General who are litigating the Asian carp controversy and have been serving on the front lines of a bi-partisan battle to protect the ecology and economy of our region, we are formally requesting that you and your administration include us in any such meetings addressing the Asian carp emergency."
Cox indicated in a release "that President Obama, who pledged a zero tolerance policy for new invasive species in the Great Lakes, should act immediately to at least temporarily close the locks." He indicated that last week new DNA evidence of Asian carp was found in Lake Michigan at Calumet Harbor [See WIMS 1/20/10], past both the so-called electrical barrier and the O'Brien locks. Cox, a Republican gubernatorial candidate indicated that, "If President Obama continues to favor Illinois at the expense of other states, Michigan and the other states backing his efforts will need help from Congress." He praised the bi-partisan efforts of Michigan's Congressional delegation on the issue, including Representatives Dave Camp, Vern Ehlers, and Candice Miller; and Senators Levin and Stabenow.
Access a release from the MI AG and link to the letter (click here).
Michigan Governor Granholm and Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, have confirmed that the Great Lakes Governors or their designees intend to meet in early February [See WIMS 1/21/10]. The letter from the attorneys general was signed by Attorney General Cox; Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller; Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray; Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett; and Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. The letter indicates, "As the Attorneys General who are litigating the Asian carp controversy and have been serving on the front lines of a bi-partisan battle to protect the ecology and economy of our region, we are formally requesting that you and your administration include us in any such meetings addressing the Asian carp emergency."
Cox indicated in a release "that President Obama, who pledged a zero tolerance policy for new invasive species in the Great Lakes, should act immediately to at least temporarily close the locks." He indicated that last week new DNA evidence of Asian carp was found in Lake Michigan at Calumet Harbor [See WIMS 1/20/10], past both the so-called electrical barrier and the O'Brien locks. Cox, a Republican gubernatorial candidate indicated that, "If President Obama continues to favor Illinois at the expense of other states, Michigan and the other states backing his efforts will need help from Congress." He praised the bi-partisan efforts of Michigan's Congressional delegation on the issue, including Representatives Dave Camp, Vern Ehlers, and Candice Miller; and Senators Levin and Stabenow.
Access a release from the MI AG and link to the letter (click here).
Friday, January 22, 2010
Stabenow & Camp Introduce Bills To Stop Asian Carp
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and U.S. Representative Dave Camp (R-MI) announced the Senate introduction of the CARP ACT (Close All Routes and Prevent Asian Carp Today, S. 2946). The bill would direct the Army Corps of Engineers to take immediate action to prevent the potential entry of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes. Recent samples of Asian Carp environmental DNA have demonstrated the invasive species’ progress toward the Great Lakes through the Mississippi River [See WIMS 1/21/10]. Congressman Camp introduced the CARP ACT (H.R. 4472) yesterday in the House.
Stabenow said, “Asian Carp are a very serious threat to our state and must be stopped from entering the Great Lakes. This invasive species will not only harm our ecosystem it will also hurt our economy, costing us thousands of jobs. The CARP ACT will close off Great Lakes access to Asian Carp and expedite important emergency measures.” Representative Camp said, “It is absolutely necessary for us to preventing Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. This legislation will ensure the Great Lakes are protected and should satisfy any concerns about any impacts on commerce or flood control in Chicago. This is a sensible approach and one that should be acted on immediately.”
Among other requirements the bills call for the immediate closure of certain Chicago-area locks until a controlled lock operations strategy is developed; immediate installation of interim barriers at specified locations; enhancement of existing barriers and monitoring systems; mitigating the impact on commerce and the City of Chicago; preventing and eradicating Asian Carp through the use of fish toxicant, commercial fishing and netting, harvesting, and other means necessary. On the Chicago impacts the bill calls for two studies: one to develop a strategy to mitigate the effects of this bill on existing commerce in the canals and rivers, and one to abate the effects on Chicago flood control.
The legislation will likely be the subject of discussion at the upcoming meeting with the Great Lakes Governors agreed to by Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and scheduled for early February. Sutley said, "I welcome the opportunity to meet with the Great Lakes Governors on this important issue a meeting during the first week of February, either in the Midwest or in Washington DC with the Great Lakes Governors or their designees [See WIMS 1/21/10].
Access a release from Senator Stabenow (click here). Access legislative details for S. 2946 (click here). Access legislative details for H.R. 4472 (click here).
Stabenow said, “Asian Carp are a very serious threat to our state and must be stopped from entering the Great Lakes. This invasive species will not only harm our ecosystem it will also hurt our economy, costing us thousands of jobs. The CARP ACT will close off Great Lakes access to Asian Carp and expedite important emergency measures.” Representative Camp said, “It is absolutely necessary for us to preventing Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. This legislation will ensure the Great Lakes are protected and should satisfy any concerns about any impacts on commerce or flood control in Chicago. This is a sensible approach and one that should be acted on immediately.”
Among other requirements the bills call for the immediate closure of certain Chicago-area locks until a controlled lock operations strategy is developed; immediate installation of interim barriers at specified locations; enhancement of existing barriers and monitoring systems; mitigating the impact on commerce and the City of Chicago; preventing and eradicating Asian Carp through the use of fish toxicant, commercial fishing and netting, harvesting, and other means necessary. On the Chicago impacts the bill calls for two studies: one to develop a strategy to mitigate the effects of this bill on existing commerce in the canals and rivers, and one to abate the effects on Chicago flood control.
The legislation will likely be the subject of discussion at the upcoming meeting with the Great Lakes Governors agreed to by Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and scheduled for early February. Sutley said, "I welcome the opportunity to meet with the Great Lakes Governors on this important issue a meeting during the first week of February, either in the Midwest or in Washington DC with the Great Lakes Governors or their designees [See WIMS 1/21/10].
Access a release from Senator Stabenow (click here). Access legislative details for S. 2946 (click here). Access legislative details for H.R. 4472 (click here).
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Administration Agrees To Asian Carp Summit With States
Jan 20: Responding quickly to requests from Governors Granholm (MI) and Doyle (WI) regarding a summit between Great Lakes governors and senior White House officials to identify a rapid response to the threat of Asian carp, Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality called for a meeting in early February. Sutley said, "I welcome the opportunity to meet with the Great Lakes Governors on this important issue. . . Today, as we see the threat and potential impact of Asian carp entering the Great Lakes, we have an opportunity to work together to prevent environmental and economic damage before it happens." The Governors' requested the meeting in a letter to President Obama on January 19 [See WIMS 1/20/10].
In a letter to the Governors, Sutley suggested a meeting during the first week of February, either in the Midwest or in Washington DC with the Great Lakes Governors or their designees. She said the meeting should "discuss the strategy to combat the spread of Asian carp and ensure coordination and the most effective response across all levels of government to respond to this threat. In keeping with the strong tradition of regional cooperation, I also hope to discuss ways in which we can continue and strengthen the Federal-State partnership to protect the Great Lakes."
On January 19, the multi-agency Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) announced that it had received new information from the University of Notre Dame about one positive environmental DNA result for silver carp in Calumet Harbor approximately one-half mile north of the Calumet River and one more at a location in the Calumet River north of O’Brien Lock. These samples were collected on December 8 and recently processed. Two previous tests of multiple water samples from this area were negative.
Also on January 19, the U.S. Supreme Court denied request for a preliminary injunction sought by Michigan and other Great Lakes states calling for the emergency closure of the locks in the Chicago Shipping Canal to stop the spread of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes [See WIMS 1/19/10]. The Obama Administration and the State of Illinois opposed the emergency closure and the U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan said in her filings with the High Court that Michigan's "ultimate goal is a permanent injunction separating the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River system, undoing a connection that for well over 100 years has served the important purposes of flood control, navigation, commerce, and sanitation."
She said, "A host of responsible actors -- federal, state, and even international -- are deeply and intensely engaged in studying all the considerations involved in preventing the transmission of invasive species through that connection. For this Court to pretermit that process and to decree that the answer is to sever the connection, based on a purported federal common law rule, would be altogether inappropriate. . . Nothing in federal law warrants second-guessing its expert judgment that the best information available today does not yet justify the dramatic steps Michigan demands. . . The motion for a preliminary injunction should be denied." [See WIMS 1/12/10]
Access a release and the letter to Governors (click here). Access the Michigan, Illinois and all legal filings in the case (click here). Access the Army Corps of Engineers' website for more information (click here). Access the Asian Carp Management website for extensive information (click here).
In a letter to the Governors, Sutley suggested a meeting during the first week of February, either in the Midwest or in Washington DC with the Great Lakes Governors or their designees. She said the meeting should "discuss the strategy to combat the spread of Asian carp and ensure coordination and the most effective response across all levels of government to respond to this threat. In keeping with the strong tradition of regional cooperation, I also hope to discuss ways in which we can continue and strengthen the Federal-State partnership to protect the Great Lakes."
On January 19, the multi-agency Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) announced that it had received new information from the University of Notre Dame about one positive environmental DNA result for silver carp in Calumet Harbor approximately one-half mile north of the Calumet River and one more at a location in the Calumet River north of O’Brien Lock. These samples were collected on December 8 and recently processed. Two previous tests of multiple water samples from this area were negative.
Also on January 19, the U.S. Supreme Court denied request for a preliminary injunction sought by Michigan and other Great Lakes states calling for the emergency closure of the locks in the Chicago Shipping Canal to stop the spread of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes [See WIMS 1/19/10]. The Obama Administration and the State of Illinois opposed the emergency closure and the U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan said in her filings with the High Court that Michigan's "ultimate goal is a permanent injunction separating the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River system, undoing a connection that for well over 100 years has served the important purposes of flood control, navigation, commerce, and sanitation."
She said, "A host of responsible actors -- federal, state, and even international -- are deeply and intensely engaged in studying all the considerations involved in preventing the transmission of invasive species through that connection. For this Court to pretermit that process and to decree that the answer is to sever the connection, based on a purported federal common law rule, would be altogether inappropriate. . . Nothing in federal law warrants second-guessing its expert judgment that the best information available today does not yet justify the dramatic steps Michigan demands. . . The motion for a preliminary injunction should be denied." [See WIMS 1/12/10]
Access a release and the letter to Governors (click here). Access the Michigan, Illinois and all legal filings in the case (click here). Access the Army Corps of Engineers' website for more information (click here). Access the Asian Carp Management website for extensive information (click here).
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Parties Call For Urgent Action As Asian Carp Advance
Jan 19: Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm called for the White House to immediately establish a summit with the Great Lakes Governors to discuss the growing Asian Carp threat. The letter, jointly signed with Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, was in response to the Supreme Court decision to deny a preliminary injunction sought by Michigan and other Great Lakes states calling for the emergency closure of the locks in the Chicago Shipping Canal to stop the spread of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes [See WIMS 1/19/10]. Governor Granholm said, "Asian Carp threaten the well-being of our Great Lakes, and ultimately, the well-being of Michigan. It is disappointing that the Supreme Court declined to aid in our fight against these aquatic invaders, so we now ask the White House to work with us in finding a solution before it is too late."
Carp DNA samples have recently been found above the electrical barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, providing new evidence that the Asian Carp are continuing to move closer to Lake Michigan. In fact, as the Governor was issuing her release, the multi-agency Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) announced that it had received new information from the University of Notre Dame about one positive environmental DNA result for silver carp in Calumet Harbor approximately one-half mile north of the Calumet River and one more at a location in the Calumet River north of O’Brien Lock. These samples were collected on December 8 and recently processed. Two previous tests of multiple water samples from this area were negative.
Dr. David Lodge, director of the eDNA project at the University of Notre Dame said, "Our current eDNA process provides indications of likely presence, but it does not yet provide information about Asian carp quantity that may be present, age, size, how they got there or how long they may have been there." Major General John Peabody, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Great Lakes and Ohio River Division said, "Clearly this is not good news. But eDNA technology provides the advanced warning of the possible presence of Asian carp, so that all agencies supporting the RCC can focus their efforts and resources to optimal effect. The Corps of Engineers will continue to collaborate with our partners to urgently execute already planned actions, and further develop other multi-agency measures that will defeat this threat to the Great Lakes."
Charlie Wooley, Deputy Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said, “From what we have seen in other parts of the country, Asian carp could out-compete our native, sport and commercial fish in southern Lake Michigan. We call them an aquatic vacuum cleaner because they filter important food resources out of the water and turn it into carp biomass.”
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, and gubernatorial candidate issued a statement on the Supreme Court ruling saying, "I am extremely disappointed the Supreme Court did not push the pause button on this crisis until an effective plan is in place. While the injunction would have been an extraordinary step by the court, Michigan and the other Great Lakes states are facing an extraordinary crisis that could forever alter the Lakes, permanently killing thousands of jobs at a time when families can least afford it." Cox noted that the court did not address Michigan's request to reopen the "Chicago Diversion" case and therefore that portion of the case continues. Michigan, which is supported by Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, seeks a solution to the crisis that will protect the ecology and economy of the Great Lakes. Briefs in that portion of the case are due by February 19.
The Alliance for the Great Lakes has prepared a report on closing the waterway connections and says, "A permanent breakup of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins is the only guaranteed way to keep invasive species from traveling between the two and causing devastating irreversible damage." The Alliance explains that the Chicago Waterway System, engineered in 1900 to
reverse the flow of the Chicago River, is a complex system of rivers and canals diverting Chicago’s wastewater from Lake Michigan to the Illinois River. The Alliance report, Preliminary Feasibility of Ecological Separation of the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes, outlines six options for separating the watersheds and ending the transfer of species between them.
Access a release from Gov. Granholm (click here). Access a release from the Asian Carp RCC (click here). Access a release from the Michigan AG (click here). Access a fact sheet and map from the Alliance and link to their complete report (click here). Access the Army Corps of Engineers' website for more information (click here). Access the Asian Carp Management website for extensive information (click here). Access the Great Lakes United website to track the Asian Carp emergency situation (click here).
Carp DNA samples have recently been found above the electrical barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, providing new evidence that the Asian Carp are continuing to move closer to Lake Michigan. In fact, as the Governor was issuing her release, the multi-agency Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (RCC) announced that it had received new information from the University of Notre Dame about one positive environmental DNA result for silver carp in Calumet Harbor approximately one-half mile north of the Calumet River and one more at a location in the Calumet River north of O’Brien Lock. These samples were collected on December 8 and recently processed. Two previous tests of multiple water samples from this area were negative.
Dr. David Lodge, director of the eDNA project at the University of Notre Dame said, "Our current eDNA process provides indications of likely presence, but it does not yet provide information about Asian carp quantity that may be present, age, size, how they got there or how long they may have been there." Major General John Peabody, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Great Lakes and Ohio River Division said, "Clearly this is not good news. But eDNA technology provides the advanced warning of the possible presence of Asian carp, so that all agencies supporting the RCC can focus their efforts and resources to optimal effect. The Corps of Engineers will continue to collaborate with our partners to urgently execute already planned actions, and further develop other multi-agency measures that will defeat this threat to the Great Lakes."
Charlie Wooley, Deputy Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said, “From what we have seen in other parts of the country, Asian carp could out-compete our native, sport and commercial fish in southern Lake Michigan. We call them an aquatic vacuum cleaner because they filter important food resources out of the water and turn it into carp biomass.”
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, and gubernatorial candidate issued a statement on the Supreme Court ruling saying, "I am extremely disappointed the Supreme Court did not push the pause button on this crisis until an effective plan is in place. While the injunction would have been an extraordinary step by the court, Michigan and the other Great Lakes states are facing an extraordinary crisis that could forever alter the Lakes, permanently killing thousands of jobs at a time when families can least afford it." Cox noted that the court did not address Michigan's request to reopen the "Chicago Diversion" case and therefore that portion of the case continues. Michigan, which is supported by Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, seeks a solution to the crisis that will protect the ecology and economy of the Great Lakes. Briefs in that portion of the case are due by February 19.
The Alliance for the Great Lakes has prepared a report on closing the waterway connections and says, "A permanent breakup of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins is the only guaranteed way to keep invasive species from traveling between the two and causing devastating irreversible damage." The Alliance explains that the Chicago Waterway System, engineered in 1900 to
reverse the flow of the Chicago River, is a complex system of rivers and canals diverting Chicago’s wastewater from Lake Michigan to the Illinois River. The Alliance report, Preliminary Feasibility of Ecological Separation of the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes, outlines six options for separating the watersheds and ending the transfer of species between them.
Access a release from Gov. Granholm (click here). Access a release from the Asian Carp RCC (click here). Access a release from the Michigan AG (click here). Access a fact sheet and map from the Alliance and link to their complete report (click here). Access the Army Corps of Engineers' website for more information (click here). Access the Asian Carp Management website for extensive information (click here). Access the Great Lakes United website to track the Asian Carp emergency situation (click here).
RFP: Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Projects
Jan 19: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program is soliciting applications for Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Projects under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, under the Funding Opportunity Number: NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2010-2002236. NOAA seeks to support projects that will result in on-the-ground restoration of Great Lakes coastal habitat within the Great Lakes basin and a number of priority consideration for project proposals are listed. NOAA anticipates up to $10 million may be available for Great Lakes coastal habitat restoration and typical awards are expected to range between $1 and $1.5 million. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on February 16, 2010.
Access the announcement, list of priorities, contacts and links to the full announcement (click here)
Access the announcement, list of priorities, contacts and links to the full announcement (click here)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Groups Challenge Wisconsin Ballast Water Standards
Jan 15: The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WWF) announced they had filed a legal challenge that claims the State of Wisconsin’s new ballast water discharge permit violates State law and won’t prevent freighters from importing more invasive species, like zebra mussels, into the Great Lakes. Neil Kagan, senior attorney at NWF's Great Lakes Regional Center said, "Compliance with the Wisconsin ballast water discharge standards would not prevent invasive species from entering Wisconsin waters. Wisconsin officials have said prevention is the best way to protect the Great Lakes from new invasive species, but the state’s ballast water discharge standards won’t prevent new invasions. The state’s failure to follow its own laws to protect water quality is the basis of our lawsuit.”
NWF said Wisconsin released ballast water discharge standards in a permit in November. The permit, which is set to take effect February 1, would require ocean freighters to treat ballast water, but said "the discharge standards are too weak to be effective." They said the final permit is weaker than the draft version and contains a loophole that would allow ships to fall back to the weakest discharge standards. "The permit runs counter to a State law that prohibits degradation of Wisconsin’s waters."
The groups indicated that the Federal government has not enacted ballast water discharge standards despite numerous agencies working on the problem for the past two decades. The U.S. Coast Guard recently proposed national ballast water treatment standards [See WIMS 10/2/09; WIMS 8/31/09].
Access a lengthy release from NWF with additional information (click here). Access more information from NWF's Great Lakes Regional Center website (click here).
NWF said Wisconsin released ballast water discharge standards in a permit in November. The permit, which is set to take effect February 1, would require ocean freighters to treat ballast water, but said "the discharge standards are too weak to be effective." They said the final permit is weaker than the draft version and contains a loophole that would allow ships to fall back to the weakest discharge standards. "The permit runs counter to a State law that prohibits degradation of Wisconsin’s waters."
The groups indicated that the Federal government has not enacted ballast water discharge standards despite numerous agencies working on the problem for the past two decades. The U.S. Coast Guard recently proposed national ballast water treatment standards [See WIMS 10/2/09; WIMS 8/31/09].
Access a lengthy release from NWF with additional information (click here). Access more information from NWF's Great Lakes Regional Center website (click here).
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