Jan 14: U.S. Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and George Voinovich (R-OH), the co-chairs of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, introduced a bipartisan Great Lakes restoration bill (S. 237)that would help reduce the threat of invasive species in the lakes, restore fish and wildlife, clean up contaminated sediments, and coordinate water quality management in the Great Lakes basin. The senators introduced similar legislation in the last Congress but hope to make further progress this year given President-elect Obama’s commitment to invest significant funding in Great Lakes restoration. In 2005, numerous groups – including more than 1,500 people – joined forces to create the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC), which was tasked with devising a cohesive Great Lakes restoration plan. The goal of the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (GLCIA) being introduced today is to implement many of the recommendations made by the collaboration.
On the House side, Representative Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) introduced a companion bill. The Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (H.R. 500) follows recommendations developed by federal, state, and local officials, as well as hundreds of non-government officials, in the GLRC. The plan for protecting and restoring the lakes was developed in 2005.
Among other items the bills would establishing mandatory ballast water management rules; create a screening process for importation of live organisms; and provide critical research, education and outreach programs; increase funding for the Great Lakes Legacy Act to $150 million per year; establish a grant program in which the EPA could award up to $10 million per year for mercury cleanup efforts; reauthorize the State Revolving Loan Fund for $20 billion over five years; authorize funding for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to restore Great Lakes waterfront areas; reinstate wetland protection by clarifying Congress’s original intent that the Clean Water Act should protect all waters of the United States; Enhance Great Lakes research and monitoring; and increase funding for NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Science center.
Access a release from Senator Levin (click here). Access a release from Representative Ehlers (click here). Access the GLRC website more information (click here). Access WIMS-Great Lakes Environment blog posts on the GLRC (click here). Access legislative details for S. 237 (click here). Access legislative details for H.R. 500 (click here).
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Great Lakes Recreational Boating = $9.4 Billion/Yr & 60,000 Jobs
Jan 12: Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) released the results of a study conducted by the Detroit District of the Army Corps of Engineers estimating the annual economic impact -- both direct and secondary -- of recreational boating on the Great Lakes at $9.4 billion, including $5.1 billion in sales and $1.8 billion in personal income. According to the report, an average of 911,000 boaters visit the Great Lakes annually, supporting 60,000 jobs.
Levin said, “This study clearly demonstrates that hundreds of thousands of recreational boaters come to the Great Lakes every year because the lakes are such a treasure, and they bring with them billions of dollars in economic activity and jobs. Recreational boating is an important part of our economy in Michigan and around the Great Lakes and this study provides further support for federal funding to keep this economic engine running.”
The Great Lakes Recreational Boating Report, prepared in accordance with Public Law 106-53, the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (WRDA), Section 455(c), analyzes the economic importance of recreational boating to the Great Lakes states by tracing the flow of spending throughout the regional economy. In particular, the report finds that the nearly one million recreational boaters on the Great Lakes spend $2.44 billion each year on boating trips and $1.44 billion each year on boats, equipment and supplies.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s registration data for 2003 indicated that there were almost 4.3 million recreational boats in the eight Great Lakes states (including boats registered both within and outside the Great Lakes basin) that year. This comprised a third of all U.S. recreational vessels, and represented a 1.3 percent increase over the five-year period between 1999 and 2003. Michigan is first among Great Lakes states having nearly one million registered recreational boats, less than half of which belong to people living in coastal counties.
It is estimated that there are more than a quarter million marina slips available in Great Lakes states. About 51 percent of the slips are located in counties fronting the Great lakes and 89 percent are seasonal rental slips. An average of 93 percent of the
accessible seasonal slips in the counties that border the Great Lakes were occupied during the summer of 2003. About 107,000 boats were kept in Great Lakes marinas during the boating season. These boat owners spent $665 million on trip-related expenses and $529 million on craft-related items.
Access a release from Senator Levin (click here). Access the complete 103-page report (click here).
Levin said, “This study clearly demonstrates that hundreds of thousands of recreational boaters come to the Great Lakes every year because the lakes are such a treasure, and they bring with them billions of dollars in economic activity and jobs. Recreational boating is an important part of our economy in Michigan and around the Great Lakes and this study provides further support for federal funding to keep this economic engine running.”
The Great Lakes Recreational Boating Report, prepared in accordance with Public Law 106-53, the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 (WRDA), Section 455(c), analyzes the economic importance of recreational boating to the Great Lakes states by tracing the flow of spending throughout the regional economy. In particular, the report finds that the nearly one million recreational boaters on the Great Lakes spend $2.44 billion each year on boating trips and $1.44 billion each year on boats, equipment and supplies.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s registration data for 2003 indicated that there were almost 4.3 million recreational boats in the eight Great Lakes states (including boats registered both within and outside the Great Lakes basin) that year. This comprised a third of all U.S. recreational vessels, and represented a 1.3 percent increase over the five-year period between 1999 and 2003. Michigan is first among Great Lakes states having nearly one million registered recreational boats, less than half of which belong to people living in coastal counties.
It is estimated that there are more than a quarter million marina slips available in Great Lakes states. About 51 percent of the slips are located in counties fronting the Great lakes and 89 percent are seasonal rental slips. An average of 93 percent of the
accessible seasonal slips in the counties that border the Great Lakes were occupied during the summer of 2003. About 107,000 boats were kept in Great Lakes marinas during the boating season. These boat owners spent $665 million on trip-related expenses and $529 million on craft-related items.
Access a release from Senator Levin (click here). Access the complete 103-page report (click here).
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
New NOAA Great Lakes Research Laboratory & Acting Director
Jan 7: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that a larger facility to focus on Great Lakes issues opened following a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) in Pittsfield Township, MI. Richard Spinrad, NOAA assistant administrator for oceanic and atmospheric research said, “GLERL starts the new year with a new building. This laboratory is a leader on many Great Lakes issues, such as invasive species, lake levels, and the use of biofuels for its research ships. In its new space, the laboratory will expand its efforts to serve the Great Lakes region through research and partnerships.” Spinrad also announced Marie Colton as the acting director of the lab and acting lead of the NOAA Great Lakes regional team. She succeeds Stephen Brandt who is leaving Michigan to be the director of Oregon Sea Grant in Corvallis, OR.
The new 40,225 square-feet facility has modern wet and dry laboratories, conference facilities, a library, marine instrumentation shop, and office space to accommodate about 120 federal and cooperative institute employees. NOAA will lease the building for 20 years. Office and laboratory space will also be provided to partner organizations, including Michigan Sea Grant Extension, The Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystem Research, the International Association for Great Lakes Research, the NOAA National Center of Excellence for Great Lakes and Human Health, NOAA National Center for Research on Aquatic Invasive Species, and the Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Office.
Access a release from NOAA (click here). Access the GLERL website for more information (click here).
The new 40,225 square-feet facility has modern wet and dry laboratories, conference facilities, a library, marine instrumentation shop, and office space to accommodate about 120 federal and cooperative institute employees. NOAA will lease the building for 20 years. Office and laboratory space will also be provided to partner organizations, including Michigan Sea Grant Extension, The Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystem Research, the International Association for Great Lakes Research, the NOAA National Center of Excellence for Great Lakes and Human Health, NOAA National Center for Research on Aquatic Invasive Species, and the Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Office.
Access a release from NOAA (click here). Access the GLERL website for more information (click here).
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
WIMS. . . December 24, 2008
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
From WIMS
We're on our Holiday break right now.
But, we'll be back on January 5, 2009
We wish you a happy Holiday Season!
Monday, December 22, 2008
New Vessel General Permit Compliance Delayed Until Feb. 6
On December 18, U.S. EPA announced a new 2008 Vessel General Permit (VGP) that would reduce releases of 26 types of discharges from vessels operating in U.S. waters [See WIMS 12/19/08]. The regulation affects, approximately 61,000 domestically flagged commercial vessels and 8,000 foreign flagged vessels that will need to comply with the permit. The VGP was to take effect on December 19, 2008; however, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California signed an order providing that "the exemption for discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel, contained in 40 C.F.R. § 122.3(a), is vacated as of February 6, 2009." Therefore, the regulated community need not comply with the terms of the new permit until February 6, 2009. More information on how the court order affects the "effective date" and other dates in the permit is available from the prepublication copies of the Federal Register Notices available from the website below.
Access extensive information on the Final Vessel General Permit including prepublication copies of the regulations and a fact sheet (click here).
Access extensive information on the Final Vessel General Permit including prepublication copies of the regulations and a fact sheet (click here).
Friday, December 19, 2008
EPA Announces New General Permit For Water Discharges
Dec 18: U.S. EPA announced a new general permit will reduce releases of 26 types of discharges from vessels operating in U.S. waters. Beginning December 19, approximately 61,000 domestically flagged commercial vessels and 8,000 foreign flagged vessels will need to comply with the permit. As a result of a court ruling, vessel owners and operators who have previously been exempt from Clean Water Act (CWA) requirements for the last 35 years will now require a permit starting December 19. EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin Grumbles said, “EPA met the deadline and delivered a protective and practical permit to protect the nation’s waterways from ship-borne pollution and to avoid an environmental and economic shipwreck." EPA said without the permit, all shipping within U.S. waters could come to a halt because of liability risks.
The permit covers non-recreational vessels 79 feet in length or longer, such as cruise ships or oil and cargo tankers, but excludes fishing vessels of any length, unless they discharge ballast water. The new permit incorporates the Coast Guard’s mandatory ballast water management and exchange standards, and provides technology-based and water-quality-based effluent limits for other types of discharges, including deck runoff from rain or cleaning, ballast water used to stabilize ships and “gray water” from showers, sinks and laundry machines. It also establishes specific corrective actions, inspections and monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements. Earlier in the year, Congress responded to the court ruling in part by enacting a law to exempt recreational vessels from the permitting requirement and requiring further analysis and action by EPA and the Coast Guard.
Access a brief release from EPA (click here). Access extensive information on the Final Vessel General Permit (click here).
The permit covers non-recreational vessels 79 feet in length or longer, such as cruise ships or oil and cargo tankers, but excludes fishing vessels of any length, unless they discharge ballast water. The new permit incorporates the Coast Guard’s mandatory ballast water management and exchange standards, and provides technology-based and water-quality-based effluent limits for other types of discharges, including deck runoff from rain or cleaning, ballast water used to stabilize ships and “gray water” from showers, sinks and laundry machines. It also establishes specific corrective actions, inspections and monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements. Earlier in the year, Congress responded to the court ruling in part by enacting a law to exempt recreational vessels from the permitting requirement and requiring further analysis and action by EPA and the Coast Guard.
Access a brief release from EPA (click here). Access extensive information on the Final Vessel General Permit (click here).
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
EPA Assessment Of U.S. Coastal & Great Lakes Waters
Dec 16: According to a release from U.S. EPA, the overall condition of the nation’s coastal waters has improved slightly, based on an environmental assessment based on data that is several years old. The National Coastal Condition Report III (NCCRIII) is the third in a series of environmental assessments of U.S. coastal and Great Lakes waters. The report is a collaboration of the EPA; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS); coastal states; and the National Estuary Program. The report is based on data collected primarily in 2001 and 2002. The next National Coastal Condition Report is expected to be released in 2011 and will provide an assessment of the status of U.S. coastal waters from 2003 to 2006, along with trends in condition since the 1990s.
The report provides an assessment of America’s coastal conditions using five indicators of condition: water quality, sediment quality, benthic community condition (the health of the water’s bottom-dwelling invertebrate species), coastal habitat loss as indicated by changes in wetland area, and fish tissue contaminants. The overall condition of America’s coasts is rated as “fair,” based on the five indicators. Comparison of the condition scores shows that overall condition in U.S. coastal waters has improved slightly since the 1990s. Coastal conditions improved in the Northeast and the West, but there were slight decreases in conditions in the Southeast and Gulf of Mexico. The conditions in the Great Lakes and Puerto Rico remained the same.
The report rates the overall condition of the Great Lakes coastal areas as "fair to poor." The overall condition score is 2.2. The water quality and fish tissue contaminants indices for the Great Lakes are rated fair, the sediment quality index is rated poor, and the coastal habitat and benthic indices are rated fair to poor. The overall condition and index ratings were derived from indicator findings and the ecological condition of the St. Lawrence River, each of the five Great Lakes, and the St. Clair River-Lake St. Clair-Detroit River Ecosystem presented in the document State of the Great Lakes 2003 (Environment Canada and U.S. EPA, 2003). The next National Coastal Condition Report (NCCR IV) will present and discuss data presented in the report State of the Great Lakes 2005 (Environment Canada and U.S. EPA, 2005) to generate updated condition estimates.
Access the links to the complete 329-page report or individual sections and executive summaries (click here). Access the National Coastal Condition Reports website for background and additional information (click here). Access the 14-page Great Lakes section on the report (click here).
The report provides an assessment of America’s coastal conditions using five indicators of condition: water quality, sediment quality, benthic community condition (the health of the water’s bottom-dwelling invertebrate species), coastal habitat loss as indicated by changes in wetland area, and fish tissue contaminants. The overall condition of America’s coasts is rated as “fair,” based on the five indicators. Comparison of the condition scores shows that overall condition in U.S. coastal waters has improved slightly since the 1990s. Coastal conditions improved in the Northeast and the West, but there were slight decreases in conditions in the Southeast and Gulf of Mexico. The conditions in the Great Lakes and Puerto Rico remained the same.
The report rates the overall condition of the Great Lakes coastal areas as "fair to poor." The overall condition score is 2.2. The water quality and fish tissue contaminants indices for the Great Lakes are rated fair, the sediment quality index is rated poor, and the coastal habitat and benthic indices are rated fair to poor. The overall condition and index ratings were derived from indicator findings and the ecological condition of the St. Lawrence River, each of the five Great Lakes, and the St. Clair River-Lake St. Clair-Detroit River Ecosystem presented in the document State of the Great Lakes 2003 (Environment Canada and U.S. EPA, 2003). The next National Coastal Condition Report (NCCR IV) will present and discuss data presented in the report State of the Great Lakes 2005 (Environment Canada and U.S. EPA, 2005) to generate updated condition estimates.
Access the links to the complete 329-page report or individual sections and executive summaries (click here). Access the National Coastal Condition Reports website for background and additional information (click here). Access the 14-page Great Lakes section on the report (click here).
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