Polluted Run-off

Hallelujah: We Have A Restoration Water Bill

The US House resoundingly approved a $19.4 billion-water bill that could vastly upgrade efforts to improve Great Lakes water quality. Now, how do we get it through the US Senate?

It was 1994 the last time Congress passed a Water Authorization Bill – since then members have had to use earmarks and other mechanisms to get money to localities to update ancient sewer systems, crumbling wastewater facilities and clean up overflows of raw sewage and toxic pollution. But this bill brings together five water quality bills that were consistently passed by the US House and then defeated.

This water bill will provide Read More » »

Waiting For Stimulation

With the Senate starting debate on the economic stimulus today, it seems like a good time to suggest they consider amending the legislation to include more money to repair sewers and to clean up toxic hot spots in the Great Lakes region.

Michigan has the highest unemployment in the nation – 10.6 percent, according to Stateline.org. If the Senate were to choose to put $10 billion into the State Revolving Fund – the dollars that pay for our sewer systems to be updated and fixed – it would create 20,163 jobs in Michigan. Michigan isn’t suffering alone Read More » »

Short and Very Bittersweet

A grade of D that is what the American Society of Civil Engineers grades our nation’s sewers and drinking water systems. In a very short and to-the-point report, the respected association estimates that the crisis our nation’s infrastructure faces will cost $2.2 trillion to resolve.

“Crumbling infrastructure has a direct impact on our personal and economic health, and the nation’s infrastructure crisis is endangering our future prosperity,” ASCE President D. Wayne Klotz said at the release of the report card.

Of course, the connection between America’s aging infrastructure and quality of life and prosperity is not lost on the Read More » »

Never Say Never

Could it be? Could it be that the new head of the EPA, Lisa Jackson will be a real leader? It has been so long since we have experienced leadership at any level of government in out efforts to restore the Great Lakes and it is difficult to believe that we may be on the verge of such guidance.

In her very first email to the Environmental Protection Agency staff, Jackson actually wrote that the Great Lakes are a treasure and that protection and restoration will be a priority for her. Unbelievable! She wrote: “The Agency will make robust use Read More » »

Winning Hearts and Minds

Great Laker, James Oberstar (D-Minn.) who is also the chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has released an $85 billion economic recovery plan that would create jobs in the Great Lakes while bringing us much closer to reaching our restoration goals. The only hitch seems to be in convincing President-Elect Barack Obama’s team that these jobs really are ready to go to bid.

Oberstar’s nationwide infrastructure building plan would create more than 24 million jobs and generate approximately $439 billion in economic activity. Most relevant to our region are his proposals to put $12 billion into the State Read More » »

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, Its Off to Work We Go…

Congress is back today. The leadership in both the House and Senate will approach their desks and find a very persuasive letter written by their colleagues asking for an infusion of cash into Great Lakes restoration programs that will create jobs and stimulate the economy.

Twenty-four Great Lakes US House Members, led by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) signed a letter that specifically recommends spending $194 million on the Great Lakes Legacy Act to clean up toxic hot spots, $10 billion for the State Revolving Fund to rebuild and update our sewer systems, and $140 million for Great Lakes fish and Read More » »

Marching to the Same Drum Beat

Great Lakes Governor Ed Rendell held a historic meeting with most of the nation’s governors and President-elect Barack Obama in Philadelphia Tuesday to discuss an economic strategy for the nation. The Governors made several suggestions to rescue the economy while improving our aging infrastructure. Updating wastewater treatment systems and protecting drinking water were among the top three recommendations.

“These immediate solutions will drive economic recovery. Investments in ready-to-go infrastructure projects are a cost-effective creator of high-paying jobs,” National Governor’s Association Chair Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell stated in a joint press release issued by the NGA and the National Council Read More » »

Bon Appetite

OK Foodies, why should you care about the Great Lakes? They offer a cornucopia of native, succulent foods from the fresh water lakes and the rich soil of the watershed. A Great Lake’s gormet meal could begin with American caviar or duck foie gras before moving onto the main dish of roast duck, succulent whitefish or trout, Coho salmon perhaps some sea bass, sturgeon, perch, catfish or walleye. Some of these fish have been wrongly relegated to the poor man’s plate, but they could soon be on the verge of a great taste revival.

When early Read More » »

Don’t Let The Door Hit You

Even in the waning days of his administration, President George W. Bush is promoting business over restoration in our region. In stark contrast to the heady days of his presidential campaign when he stood on our northern coast and promised restoration, Bush has instructed his lackeys at the Environmental Protection Agency to exempt water transfers from the Clean Water Act and lobby Congressional leadership to give us less money to clean up the stinky, hazardous areas of concern.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is suing the EPA for creating a loophole in the CWA that would allow lots of Read More » »

Minnesota Considering Ballast Law

First Michigan decided not to wait for the US Congress to set a national standard for ballast water and now Minnesota is considering similar statewide legislation to protect Lake Superior. The US Congress and the shippers ought to have seen this coming and they might as well accept the fact that ballast legislation is going to come to the Great Lakes.

The question is will Great Lakes ballast standards become piece meal as each state determines its own standard and permitting requirements - which will be a real hassle for shippers, or will there be one sweeping national Read More » »