H I G H L I G H T S
* Briefing: Sustainable Communities
* Briefing: Great Lakes Water
Levels
* Study: Vacant Federal Property
* Letter: Mercury
Emissions
BRIEFING: SUSTAINABLE
COMMUNITIES
----------------------------------
The Northeast Midwest House
and Senate Coalitions, together with the National Council for Science and the
Environment and the Senate Smart Growth Task Force, are sponsoring a briefing on
Wednesday, May 22, on recommendations to achieve sustainable communities.
Participating congressmen will be Rep. Jack Quinn (R-NY), co-chair of the
Northeast Midwest House Coalition; Reps. William Pascrell (D-NJ) and Earl
Blumenauer (D-OR), co-chairs of the Livable Communities Task Force; and Rep.
Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), chair of the House Science Committee.
The May 22 briefing will begin at 3:00 pm in 2318 Rayburn House Office
Building.
Contact: Olwen
Huxley at the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition
(226-9497).
BRIEFING: GREAT LAKES WATER
LEVELS
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The Great Lakes Task Force on
Thursday, May 23, will host its annual meeting on water levels in the Great
Lakes. The Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab will present its forecast and
discuss climate change impacts on water levels; the International Joint
Commission will discuss water level regulations; and the Army Corps of Engineers
will review the impacts of water levels.
The May 23 briefing will begin at 10:00 am in room SC-6 of the U.S.
Capitol.
Contact: Joy Mulinex with the Great Lakes Task Force
(224-1211).
STUDY: VACANT FEDERAL
PROPERTY
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Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and
Susan Collins (R-ME) and Reps. Jack Quinn (R-NY), Marty Meehan (D-MA), and
Steven LaTourette (R-OH) are asking the General Accounting Office to study the
impact of vacant or underutilized federal property on community development.
Abandoned property and vacant land can cause significant public nuisances and
lead to disinvestment in urban centers, older suburbs, and commercial areas of
small cities and towns.
The Northeast-Midwest has 40 percent of the nation's population but only 16
percent of its land resources. The reuse of underutilized federal property,
therefore, is critical to states in the region.
Contact: Kris Sarri with the Northeast-Midwest Senate
Coalition (224-0606).
LETTER: MERCURY EMISSIONS
--------------------------
Senators
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) are circulating a letter asking
the Environmental Protection Agency to continue developing strict MACT (Maximum
Achievable Control Technology) regulations for mercury. The letter also urges
the administration to strengthen the mercury provisions contained in its Clear
Skies Initiative. Signatures are due by close of business on Wednesday, May
22.
Contacts: Rob Esworthy with Sen. Leahy (224-5544) or Ginny Worrest with Sen.
Snowe 224-8672).