HOW Calls For $972 Million Great Lakes CSO Investment

Aug 9: The Healing Our Waters (HOW) Campaign is calling on Congress to increase their investment in wastewater infrastructure in an effort to restore the Great Lakes and create tens of thousands of jobs in the region. In five historic Great Lakes cities HOW released its report: Turning the Tide: Invest in Wastewater Infrastructure to Create Jobs and Solve the Sewage Crisis in the Great Lakes. According to a release, nearly 200 communities on the U.S. side of the lakes have antiquated combined sewer systems (CSO) that when overloaded from rain or snow untreated sewage is sent into our lakes…and drinking water. HOW said this forces beaches to close, puts public health in danger, harms wildlife and hurts tourism.

 

    Eliminating the sewage problem is key to restoring health to the Great Lakes. The report emphasizes a two part solution that would help cities separate miles of combined sewer pipes (historically called gray infrastructure) while building up natural sources of storm water absorption such as green roofs, rain gardens and installing pervious pavement (recently termed green infrastructure). HOW said the States in the Great Lakes Basin need at least $23.3 billion to fix the CSO problems which they say the region cannot afford. Compounding the problem, they say, in recent years the Federal Government has actually reduced the amount of money available on loan to the states and cities for sewerage infrastructure.

 

    The Clean Water State Revolving Fund -- a low-interest loan scheme for sewer upgrades -- declined from $1.35 billion in 1998 to $689 million in 2008. And although Congress did inject more money into sewer infrastructure last year in the American Recovering and Reinvestment Act of 2009 -- How says "it still falls far short of the need." The report highlights five cities -- Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Gary, IN, and Milwaukee -- and it examines how the cities are facing the infrastructure challenge.

    HOW is asking Congress to provide at least $2.7 billion in low interest loans this year with $972 million set aside for Great Lakes states and 20 percent prioritized for green infrastructure projects. The report says, "Eliminating combined sewage overflows needs to be an essential part of the effort to restore the Great Lakes and revive the economy." HOW said by doing nothing and allowing the status quo to continue any other effort made to return the Great Lakes to a healthy state of being will be slowed down. They also said that according to the Water Infrastructure Network for every $1 billion invested in wastewater infrastructure up to 26,669 jobs are created.

    Access a release from HOW (click here). Access a separate release and link to the complete report (click here).

Carp Above Barrier Maybe Put There By Humans

Aug 5: A six-year-old Bighead carp that was caught in the waters of Lake Calumet just outside Lake Michigan, and beyond the electronic barrier, in late June may have lived nearly its entire life in waters of Great Lakes origin according to tests and analysis conducted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). The tests were conducted by the SIUC Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center. Illinois Department of Natural Resources Assistant Director John Rogner said, "While this report does not have all the answers, it does suggest to us that the fish caught in Lake Calumet last month may have been put there by humans, perhaps as a ritual cultural release or through bait bucket transfer. It underscores the need for the public to be even more vigilant and educated about Asian carp and the importance of not furthering the spread of these invasive species." 

    The tests looked at chemical markers in the inner ear bones, or otoliths, of the fish. Otoliths incorporate chemicals into their structure that are unique to the environments in which they live. They have been used in recent years to reconstruct the environmental history of individual fish or fish stocks. Dr. Jim Garvey, director of the SIUC Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center said, "The inferences about the environmental history of this fish should be viewed as preliminary and inconclusive given the data limitations and assumptions. But it is very plausible that this fish originated in the Illinois River and then moved or was transported to Lake Calumet or Lake Michigan during the early portion of its life."

    The Bighead carp, which measured 34.6 inches and weighed nearly 20 pounds, remains the only Asian carp found above the electric barrier despite extensive sampling and search operations since June 22 throughout the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS). Sampling above the electric barriers also remains an important and continued effort in the Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework, which includes both short and long term actions to stop the migration of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

    Access a release from the Asian Carp Control website and link to the complete report (click here). Access the Asian Carp Control website for more information (click here).

$28 Million For The Great Lakes In FY2011 State Dept Bill

Aug 5: Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin (both D-MI) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee had approved more than $28 million for the Great Lakes in the FY 2011 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission, headquartered in Ann Arbor, is slated to receive $25.7 million, including $4.4 million for sea lamprey control and fishery research in the Great Lakes Basin. The International Joint Commission, based in Washington, DC, with a regional office in Detroit, will receive more than $7.8 million, about $3 million of which will go to the Great Lakes. The bill, which was approved by an 18-12 vote (straight partyline) must now be approved by the Senate and a House-Senate conference committee before being given final congressional approval and sent to the president for his signature.

    Access a release from the Senators (click here). Access a summary from the Appropriations Committee (click here).

Hearing On Great Lakes Transport Of Radioactive Steam Generators

Jul 29: The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) announced that it will hold a one-day public hearing to consider the application by Bruce Power Inc. (Bruce Power) for a transport license for the shipment of 16 radioactive steam generators by ship through the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway to Sweden for recycling in the fall of 2010, from Bruce Power's site located in Kincardine, Ontario. The hearing is set for September 29, in Ottawa, Ontario and will be webcasted live on the Internet and archived for a period of 90 days.

 

    The CNSC received a transport license application from Bruce Power on April 1, 2010. The company proposes to transport 16 steam generators to Sweden for recycling. Since receipt of the application, Bruce Power's proposal has been the subject of formal technical reviews by CNSC staff. No recommendation for the issuance of a transport license will be made unless the Commission is convinced that the shipment will be completed safely, without risk to the health, safety or security of Canadians and the environment.

 

    According to the public notice, a low risk license application like this one would normally be decided by a Designated Officer (DO). CNSC staff has concluded that there are no safety significant issues associated with the proposed shipment. However, in light of the public concern and the value to ensuring both a proper understanding of the scope of the undertaking and the presentation of accurate information relating to the health, safety and risk, the DO has asked that the Commission review the application at a one-day public hearing.

 

    Some environmental activist are saying, "This would also put shipments of radioactive wastes from reactors on the Great Lakes for the first time -- a major policy decision that would affect everyone who depends on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway watersheds, and should not be rushed through, over the heads of other nations and communities, who share both the use and responsibility for these invaluable and irreplaceable fresh waters."

 

    Access the public hearing notices with further details (click here). Access a posting from environmental interests and comments (click here). Access the CNSC website for further information (click here).

NOAA Grant For Great Lakes Microcystis Research

Aug 3: NOAA has awarded New York-based Stony Brook University (SBU) $285,895 as part of an anticipated three-year, nearly $500,000 project to determine how different kinds of phosphorous, a nutrient required by all plants for growth, trigger toxic blooms of blue-green algae in the Great Lakes. The project will focus on the algal species Microcystis, which frequently causes massive and unsightly blooms in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Microcystis sometimes produces toxins that can cause acute and chronic illness in humans and is a growing problem that impacts drinking water and recreation worldwide. It has long been known that nutrient pollution, especially phosphorus, stimulates excessive growth or blooms this alga.

    Phosphorus, however, can be present in several different chemical forms, which are difficult to measure. The researchers will test whether specific forms of phosphorus cause Microcystis to grow or become more toxic and whether controlling those forms might reduce blooms or their toxicity. Using new information about how Microcystis genes regulate uptake and utilization of these different kinds of phosphorus, the researchers will develop new tools to overcome the measurement difficulties. They will then apply these tools during natural blooms in order to identify which types of phosphorous are most instrumental in stimulating bloom formation. Christopher Gobler, associate professor at SBU and lead investigator from the project said, "There are many types of phosphorus and knowing which types can trigger a toxic algal bloom is paramount. Coastal managers and local officials need this data to make important decisions to protect public health and the coastal ecosystem."

    Access a release from NOAA and links to related information (click here).

NOAA Awards $2.5 Million For Great Lakes Invasives Study

Jul 23: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded $2.5 million to the University of Notre Dame and its partners to predict the next wave of invasive species likely to enter the Great Lakes and to identify cost-effective countermeasures. Invasive species such as zebra mussels are already a large problem, costing the region more than $200 million annually by disrupting Great Lakes fisheries and damaging waterway infrastructure by clogging water intake valves. Information generated by the study will help authorities prepare for new invasions and control current non-native populations. Although NOAA is providing initial funding for the project, the U.S. EPA is expected to contribute an additional $2.25 million to the project.

 

    Felix Martinez, a program manager with NOAA's Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research said, "We've got to identify the invasive species that pose the greatest environmental and economic threat here in the Great Lakes and plan for their containment. There are many different potential invaders that could do enormous damage to the Great Lakes ecosystem and our region's economies." In making their predictions about which species are likely to invade, researchers will consider such factors as the most likely paths of introduction and spread and the availability of suitable habitat across the Great Lakes.

 

    Lindsay Chadderton, The Nature Conservancy's director for aquatic invasive species and a participating partner in the study said, "We're looking at the big picture with this study. A lot of work to date has focused on single species. This study will give us the ability to look more broadly and strategically at the problem." The Asian carp invasion will play a role in the study. Recently, the State of Michigan filed an unsuccessful lawsuit to force closure of waterways connecting a Chicago-area canal system to Lake Michigan. The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, which connect into Lake Michigan, are already teeming with the fish, which were likely released when flooding damaged aquaculture ponds where the fish had been used to eat pond waste.

 

    Robert Haas of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment has called the project "essential." He said, "We believe that this project will substantially improve our ability to protect the Great Lakes against new aquatic invaders and also help us to minimize spread of those invasive species."

 

    Access a release from NOAA with links to more information on the Notre Dame study (click here).

House Subcommittee Approves Interior & Environment Funding

Great Lakes Funding Cut From $475 To $300 Million

 

Jul 22: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment approved annual funding legislation for the next fiscal year. The bill, which funds federal agencies under the subcommittee's jurisdiction, totals $32.2 billion which is equal to last year's level. Subcommittee Chair, James Moran (D-VA), issued a statement saying, "This bill is based on a lot of hard work by many people. This Subcommittee held 20 hearings with 21 different Administration witnesses. In addition, we held a series of Native American and public witness hearings where we heard from 81 different witnesses and received written testimony from an additional 165 people. Recently, we held a hearing to review the response to the BP Oil Spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, at which we heard from 5 different witnesses about the Administration's response to the Gulf disaster and the implications for this bill."

 

    He said the bill provides $32.24 billion for the Department of the Interior, U.S. EPA, the US Forest Service, the Indian Health Service and a host of smaller agencies. The funding is equal to last year, but $133 million below the President's request. The bill includes a number of items in response to the BP disaster: temporarily suspending further leasing or pre-leasing activities on the Pacific Coast and North Atlantic Coasts and temporary suspension for Bristol Bay Alaska; and temporary suspension on further leasing and pre-leasing on the South and Mid-Atlantic coasts, while additional operational safety procedures and regulations are established to protect these areas. The bill nearly doubles the number of OCS inspectors to 130, to allow the new BOE to increase offshore inspections and compliance by increasing offshore inspection fees to $40 million, up from the current $10 million. Many other provisions are provide as well.

 

    The bill provides $10 billion for U.S. EPA, including over $3.2 billion for water and wastewater infrastructure assistance that will be used to assist 1208 American communities meet the clean and safe drinking water needs of their citizens. An additional $1.3 billion is provided for the Superfund program. The bill provides $473 million to protect major American lakes and estuaries, and fully funds the $300 million request for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

 

    The bill includes $455.5 million for climate change adaptation and scientific efforts, which is $9 million above the request and $91 million above 2010. We have included $42 million for EPA research on Climate Change and response, $58 million for EPA and state regulatory programs, and $129 million for EPA Climate Protection Programs and Grants. We have also provided the requested amount of $23 million for USGS Regional Science Centers and National Wildlife Centers and $168 million for other Department of the Interior Climate Change programs. The bill also includes $15 million for Forest Service and Smithsonian research programs.

 

    House Appropriations Ranking Republican Jerry Lewis (R-CA) raised several concerns with the Interior bill in the subcommittee meeting, including its high level of spending in the midst of historic national deficits and debt. Lewis and Republican members of the subcommittee expressed grave concerns over the attempted overreaching by federal agencies -- such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- through new and expansive regulations. They said, "These regulations have the force of law, are not approved by Congress, and can have costly and damaging effects on individuals, businesses, and communities across the country." Rep. Lewis said, "Billions in taxpayer dollars are being spent on the EPA's pursuit of a variety and mix of regulations that are frustrating local officials across the country. This arbitrary rule-making is stifling growth and making it difficult for farmers and small businesses to survive."

 

    The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition (HOW) issued a release calling for the U.S. Senate to restore funding for Great Lakes restoration programs to the $475 million level that was funded this year (FY10). Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the HOW said, "We need to keep pace with the urgent threats facing the Great Lakes. It is imperative that Congress fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million now and in the coming years. There is a tremendous need for this kind of investment in Great Lakes restoration if we are to catch up from years of delay. Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery hinge on a robust commitment by the federal government. Otherwise, the longer we wait, the problems will only get worse and the solutions more costly. We look to the U.S. Senate to fund Great Lakes restoration at last year's level, which better reflects the need for a healthy environment and economy."

 

    Access a statement from Chairman Moran summarizing the bill (click here). Access a summary table (click here). Access a listing of earmarks (click here). Access a lengthy release from the Republican Minority listing their amendments offered and the voting results (click here). Access the complete release from HOW (click here).