| WASHINGTON - Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers Wednesday introduced major legislation that would authorize $3.5 billion for restoration of the Great Lakes over the next five years, following the recommendations developed through last year’s collaborative effort of federal, state and local officials.
Ehlers, R-Grand Rapids, introduced the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Implementation Act (H.R. 5100) with the support of Congressmen Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., Tom Reynolds, R-N.Y., and Mark Kirk, R-Ill., and 22 other House members. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, and Carl Levin, D-Mich.
“The Great Lakes are unique and extraordinary resources that provide drinking water, food, recreation and transportation to more than 30 million people,” Ehlers said. “In December 2005, the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration, in which I participated, produced a strategic action plan for protecting and restoring the Great Lakes. This legislation is aimed at implementing this plan.”
The Regional Collaboration – a partnership of federal, state, and local government officials and program managers, scientists, and interested private stakeholders – focused their attention on addressing the most critical threats to the Great Lakes. The 1,500 participants developed recommendations for eight key areas: aquatic invasive species, habitat protection, coastal health, Areas of Concern and contaminated sediment, non-point source pollution, toxic pollutants, scientific research and monitoring, and sustainable development.
H.R. 5100 would:
- Stop the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species by reauthorizing the National Invasive Species Act of 1996;
- Prevent the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes by authorizing the Corps of Engineers to maintain and operate the dispersal barrier on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and prohibit the importation and sale of Asian carp;
- Restore fish and wildlife habitat by reauthorizing the Great Lakes Fish & Wildlife Restoration Act at $12 million per year;
- Prevent sewage contamination by reauthorizing the State Revolving Loan Fund and providing $20 billion over five years to assist communities with improving their wastewater infrastructure.
- Clean up contaminated sediment under the Great Lakes Legacy Act by reauthorizing the program for $150 million per year, up from $54 million;
- Phase out mercury in products by establishing a new EPA grant program at $10 million per year and improving existing research programs;
- Coordinate and improve Great Lakes programs by establishing the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force and the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration.
The bipartisan legislation has the support of a coalition of conservation groups called Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition, consisting of more than 85 state, regional and national zoos, museums, aquariums, hunter, angler, and conservation organizations. Headed by the National Wildlife Federation and the National Parks Conservation Association with the financial support of the Wege Foundation, the coalition is seeking state and federal support to restore sensitive coastal wetlands and other critical habitat, stop the introduction of invasive species, eliminate toxic hotspots, reduce polluted runoff, end beach closings, and clean up contaminated sediments in our Great Lakes.
“I am greatly encouraged by the broad support that we have received for the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Implementation Act,” Ehlers said. “I look forward to working with the appropriate committees to make sure that the bill moves forward so that we can get to work on protecting the Great Lakes."
A three-page summary of the legislation is available by CLICKING HERE (requires Adobe Acrobat to view). |
