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Press Release

For Immediate Release
September 18, 2008
Contact: Sean C. Bonyun
(202) 225-3761

Upton Hails House Action to Triple Funding for Great Lakes Cleanup
Legislation authorizing $775 million for the clean up and preservation of the Great Lakes over the next five years overwhelmingly passes the House

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), a member of the Great Lakes Caucus, applauded today’s passage of legislation that triples funding to clean up the Great Lakes.  The Great Lakes Legacy Reauthorization Act of 2008, H.R. 6460, authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with local authorities and private enterprises, to carry out projects targeted at cleaning up areas of the Great Lakes where contamination has settled into sediments at the bottom of the lakes.  The bill increases annual funding for cleanup from $50 million to $150 million from 2009-2013 and also authorizes an additional $5 million annually for the EPA to conduct research on the development and use of innovative methods for cleaning up the Great Lakes.  The bipartisan legislation, authored by Michigan Congressman Vern Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids) and cosponsored by Upton, overwhelmingly passed the House this afternoon by a vote of 371 to 20.  The measure has been introduced in the U.S. Senate and is awaiting consideration.

“Today we renew our commitment to our greatest national treasure and largest body of freshwater in the world – the Great Lakes,” said Upton.  “By tripling the funding available to clean our beloved waters, we build upon the tremendous success of recent efforts that have already removed nearly a million cubic tons of toxic sediments over the last several years.  Preserving the vitality of one of the globe’s greatest natural resources will ensure that our treasured Great Lakes will continue to inspire future generations.  Now, Congress must give its final approval to the Great Lakes Compact that will formalize an eight state agreement to preserving the integrity of our waters and also prohibit the diversion of even a drop of water without the consent of all parties involved.”

The original Great Lakes Legacy Act was signed into law in 2002 (P.L. 107-303).  Over the past six years, this legislation has been responsible for the removal of nearly a million cubic yards of toxic sediments from Great Lakes tributaries, and is widely recognized as one of the most successful federal environmental cleanup efforts in history.

Upton is also a cosponsor of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, H.R. 6577, which was introduced in late July.  The Great Lake states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have all certified the compact in their respective state legislatures, and Congress must now give its approval for enactment.  In 2005, the Great Lakes Governors in collaboration with regional partners completed the negotiation of the compact to protect the lakes and sustainably manage this shared resource.  Historically, states and the federal government have supported interstate compacts to address water supply, water quality and flood control issues within the hydrological context of watersheds and basins.  Upton expects the House to approve the Compact early next week. 

Growing up on the shores of Lake Michigan, Upton has an extensive history of working to protect Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes watershed.  In the summer of 2007, Upton joined with the citizens of Southwest Michigan and public officials from surrounding communities and states to prevent British Petroleum’s attempts to increase dumping of discharged hazardous materials into Lake Michigan at their Whiting, Indiana facility. 

The nation’s economy depends on the Great Lakes for industrial operations, hydropower, maritime commerce, recreation, irrigation, and many other uses.  The reauthorization of the Great Lakes Legacy Act and the approval of the Great Lakes Compact will ensure that the lakes are clean and used sustainably in order to continue to provide benefits to us all. 

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