2013 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework

Jul 24: The Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) release its updated version of the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework [See WIMS 2/24/12]. According to a release, the Administration has invested more than $200 million dollars to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp and created the ACRCC in 2009 in an unprecedented and effective effort to coordinate Federal, State and local efforts to combat the invasive species. John Goss, Asian Carp Director at the White House Council on Environmental Quality said, "This strategy continues our aggressive effort to bolster our tools to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes while we work toward a long term solution. The 2013 Framework will strengthen our defenses against Asian carp and move innovative carp control projects from research to field trials to implementation." The ACRCC has specified the following actions within the 2013 Framework:

• Provide a sound strategy for addressing the threat of an Asian carp invasion into the Great Lakes such that the Framework continues to provide direction to participating agencies and to provide modes of actions to reduce threats and identify areas of possible future
• mitigation of Asian carp population expansion.
• Identify an array of alternatives through the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) to prevent spread of aquatic nuisance species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.
• Identify efforts that supplement direct management action, such as education and outreach, or increased regulatory structure.
• Develop an effective and fiscally sustainable Asian carp control program throughout the Great Lakes Basin.
• Increase program sustainability through Framework action items such as robust control and removal efforts, and novel technology to detect and/or remove existing populations; and improve accuracy of known extent of Asian carp populations (including Dual-Frequency Identification Sonar [DIDSON], hydro-acoustic, and other remote sensing technologies). Other mitigating action items contribute to the program base and can be implemented if an emergency arises—including rotenone stockpiling, net development, and advanced fishing strategies. Further development of biological control agents will help to eradicate novel populations where they arise or to deplete existing stocks.
• Identify ongoing or potential collaboration among ACRCC entities, and specify partner roles.
• Document, track, and communicate actions of ACRCC partners in applying full authorities, capabilities, and resources to prevent introduction and establishment of Asian carp in the Great Lakes.
• Further engage with governmental, industrial, environmental, and other stakeholders.
• Initiate development of a strategy for transferring technology, decision support tools, and/or information to resource managers.
• Apply technologies and lessons learned to areas below the electric dispersal barriers and to concurrent national Asian carp efforts, where applicable.
• Build upon developed collaborative roles in the Great Lakes Basin to fully prepare for other basin-wide efforts as these arise.

    According to the report, "This Framework is a product of the best science available. Widespread agreement exists among scientists and stakeholders that prevention measures are critical to avoid the potential economic, environmental, and social costs associated with Asian carp establishment in the Great Lakes."

 

    Access a release from ACRCC (click here). Access the complete 200-page 2013 Framework document (click here). Access the ACRCC website for more information (click here). [#GLakes]

GOP "Proud" Proposed Budget Cuts Will Put "Check" On EPA

Jul 23: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related agencies voted 7-4, in a straight party line vote, to approve a funding bill that would make major cuts to critical U.S. EPA and Great Lakes Programs. The legislation includes funding for the Department of the Interior, the U.S. EPA, the Forest Service, and various independent and related agencies. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes (HOW) Coalition points out that the bill "slashes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding by nearly 80 percent -- from the current level of $285 million to a proposed $60 million for fiscal year 2014. GLRI funds projects to clean up toxic contamination, reduce runoff from cities and farms, control invasive species, and restore fish and wildlife habitat.

 

    Overall, the bill funds the EPA at $5.5 billion, a reduction of $2.8 billion -- or 34% -- below the fiscal year 2013 enacted level. HOW also indicated that the bill also "slashes funding" to the Clean Water State Revolving Loan fund, the national program that helps communities fix old sewers to keep beaches open and protect drinking water supplies. The bill also cuts that program by more than 80 percent -- from the current level of $1.03 billion to a proposed $250 million for fiscal year 2014. A Republican Subcommittee release indicates that, the legislation also includes provisions to rein in various problematic, costly, and potentially job-killing regulatory actions by the Administration. Some of these provisions include: language related to the "stream buffer rule"; changes to the definition of "navigable waters" under the Clean Water Act; "new source" performance standards; "silviculture" regulations; changes to the definition of "fill material;" and new financial assurance requirements for hard rock mining.

 

    Todd Ambs, campaign director for HOW said, "The nation is at a crossroads. We urge public officials to keep restoration efforts on track by restoring funding to successful Great Lakes efforts and embracing a plan that puts the Lakes on a path toward recovery. Cutting successful Great Lakes programs will not save the nation one penny. It will only cost taxpayers more, because projects will only become more difficult and expensive the longer we wait." HOW said a funding bill in the House Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee 

 

    Joel Brammeier, co-chair of HOW and President and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes said, "Cuts of this magnitude would bring Great Lakes programs to a halt. At a time when communities are facing a staggering backlog of work to keep sewage out of our lakes and rivers, the nation needs to increase -- not cut -- these investments, which are critical for the environment and economy."   

    Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (R-ID) commented on the bill saying, "Simply put, this bill makes very difficult choices in an extremely tough budget environment. In order to fund critical 'must-do' priorities, like human health, public safety, and treaty obligations and responsibilities, we've had to reduce and even terminate some programs that are popular with both Members of Congress and the American people. Within challenging budget constraints, we've focused on providing adequate funding to fight and prevent wildfires, making sure our national parks stay open, and meeting our trust responsibilities to American Indians. Paying for these critical priorities comes at a price to many agencies and activities throughout the bill. We are going to continue to see these kinds of dramatic reductions as long as we keep trying to reduce the debt by cutting discretionary spending alone, rather than also tackling mandatory spending, which is the real driver of our debt."    

    Full Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) said, "The vast majority of the cuts fall on the Environmental Protection Agency, which is reduced by $2.8 billion, a full 34% down from FY13. That is no accident. As the American economy struggles to get up to speed, this Agency has introduced countless regulatory obstacles to growth and job creation, all without approval from Congress. The fruit of this labor has been readily apparent in southeastern Kentucky. In exchange for the use of millions of taxpayer dollars, the EPA helped to put 5,700 Kentucky miners in the unemployment lines between 2011 and 2012. New regulations and the uncertain business environment they create have shuttered coal plants nationwide. One-fifth of this country's coal fleet has been retired under this Administration, with many more to come unless something is done about it. The closure of one of those plants, Big Sandy in my District, will mean a further 120 jobs lost and a rate hike of between eight and a whopping thirty-one percent for customers throughout the region.

    "And now the President wants to put the nail in the coffin by regulating greenhouse gases on new and existing power plants, regardless of fuel source. This is a regulatory tilting of the playing field in favor of other energy sectors that will prove disastrous for the American families, businesses, and our energy security. It is no wonder that the White House talking points memo on these regulations explicitly advised staff to avoid discussion of 'net job numbers,' as these New Source Performance Standards have been forecasted to add hundreds of thousands to the unemployment lines. The pain already felt in Appalachia will be known across the country if these regulations are allowed to take effect. I am proud to say that this legislation serves as a check on the EPA, reducing its operations funding and prohibiting this harmful regulatory energy tax and several other proposed rules that would serve only to harm our economic recovery."

    Access a summary of the bill and link to the draft text of the bill (click here). Access the Republican markup meeting website for a video including the record vote, Republican statements and the bill text (click here). Access a lengthy release from HOW with additional details (click here). Access a summary of the bill and link to the draft text of the bill (click here). [#All, #GLakes]

Great Lakes Ecological & Economic Protection Bills

Jul 22: The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) issued a release commending the introduction of a House bill that authorizes several critical Great Lakes restoration programs and strengthens regional coordination and binational cooperation with Canada. The Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act (GLEEPA) was introduced by U.S. Representative Dave Joyce (R-OH). The bill is virtually identical to a Senate bill (S.1232) introduced on June 26, by Senator Carl Levin, et al, with the exception that it authorizes the Great Lakes Legacy Act at $100 million annually versus $150 million in the Senate bill. GLC gratefully acknowledges Rep. Joyce's leadership on the legislation and urges members of the House Great Lakes delegation to sign on as co-sponsors of the bill. Other members joining Rep. Joyce in introducing the bill include Reps. John Dingell (D-MI), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Tom Petri (R-WI), Sander Levin (D-MI), and Candice Miller (R-MI).

    GLC Chair Kenneth Johnson, water division administrator at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said, "This legislation will advance programs that are vital to the environmental and economic well-being of the entire region. GLEEPA will ensure that these valuable programs continue to protect and restore our Great Lakes and support our freshwater investment strategy." The bill formally authorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI); reauthorize the Great Lakes Legacy Act; establish an Interagency Task Force to coordinate federal Great Lakes programs and a Great Lakes Advisory Board; and authorizes U.S. EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office.

    Access a release from GLC on the House bill (click here); and the Senate bill (click here). Access the S.1232 (click here). [GLakes]

Great Lakes Advisory Board Meeting July 23

Jul 18: U.S. EPA announces a public meeting and teleconference of the Great Lakes Advisory Board (GLAB) to be held  on July 23, 2013 in Chicago, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (CDT). The GLAB is a Federal advisory committee established in 2012 to provide independent, consensus advice on Great Lakes restoration to the EPA Administrator who acts as Chair of the Interagency Task Force. The GLAB consists of 18 members, including a chairperson, appointed by EPA's Administrator. Members serve as representatives of state, local and tribal government, environmental groups, agriculture, business, transportation, foundations, educational institutions and as technical experts.

   

The GLAB held a meeting on May 21 and 22, 2013 and a teleconference on June 12, 2013, to discuss refinements to the existing GLRI Action Plan that will inform the development of a draft FY 2015-2019 Action Plan. The purpose of the July 23, 2013 meeting is for the GLAB to discuss its recommendations. Also, periodic opportunities for the public to provide input to the GLAB for consideration will be provided after the July 23, 2013 public meeting.

 

    Access an announcement with further details and links (click here). Access an agenda and other materials in support of the meeting from the GLRI website (click here). [#GLakes/GLRI]

EPA RFP For Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Jul 15: U.S. EPA issued a Request for Applications soliciting proposals from states, municipalities, tribes, universities and nonprofit organizations for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grants to fund new projects to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Up to $9.5 million will be available during the current funding cycle. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis for projects in the Great Lakes basin. Applications are due August 14, 2013. 

    EPA Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman said, "This round of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding will be used for projects that reduce exposure to toxic substances from fish consumption, control invasive species, and improve water quality in the Great Lakes. The work funded by these grants will help to restore and protect waters that are essential to the health and jobs of millions of Americans." A webinar explaining the grant application process will be held at 11:00 AM, Eastern Time, on Tuesday, July 30.

 

    Access the Request for Applications and information about applying for GLRI grants (click here). Access the GLRI website for more information (click here). [GLakes/GLRI] 

Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study Newsletter

Jul 10: The Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS), managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago District has release the latest issue of its newsletter on the Study (Volume 3, Issue 2). The issue includes: the GLMRIS Report and Agency Technical Reviews; updated pathway reports on areas outside of the Chicago Area Waterway System (Focus Area 2) posted; the 2013 Asian carp monitoring plan and distribution maps; and more.

 

    Access the newsletter (click here). Access the GLMRIS website for more information (click here). [GLakes/GLMRIS]

NWF Sues EPA Over Weak Ballast Water General Permit

Jul 10: The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) announced that it is suing the U.S. EPA to force the agency to adopt measures that will effectively stop vessels discharging ballast water from introducing and spreading harmful aquatic invasive species. NWF indicated in a release that ballast water invaders such as zebra mussels, quagga mussels, spiny water fleas and round gobies have turned the Great Lakes ecosystem on its head, altering the food web and threatening the health of native fish and wildlife. Non-native ballast water invaders cost Great Lakes citizens, utilities, cities and businesses at least $200 million annually in damages and control costs.

    NWF initiated the lawsuit in United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. EPA issued a permit to regulate ballast water discharges in late April [See WIMS 3/28/13 & WIMS 3/29/13], the result of a long legal battle in which conservation organizations forced the Federal agency to comply with the Clean Water Act. NWF says the ensuing permit, however, fails to protect U.S. waters from ballast water invaders.

    Marc Smith, senior policy manager for NWF said, "The EPA's permit will not adequately protect the Great Lakes and other U.S. waters from ballast water invaders. This weak permit leaves the door open for future harm to our environment and economy. We can do better -- and need to do better -- if we are to protect our fish and wildlife and their habitat for future generations."

    On March 28, 2013, when EPA announced the final vessel general permit which covers commercial vessels greater than 79 feet in length, excluding military and recreational vessels, and will replace the 2008  permit on December 19, 2013, when the old permit expires. EPA said the permit regulates 27 specific discharge categories, and will also provide improvements to the efficiency of the permit process, and clarify discharge requirements (see link below for details).

     Access a release from NWF (click here). Access EPA's overall Vessel Discharge website for more information(click here). [#Water, #GLakes]