GLIN==> Great Lakes states urge action on AIS from EPA and CG

[Jennifer Nalbone <jen@glu.org>]

Contact:

        

        

        

        

        

        

        

For
immediate release:
NY - Marc Violette,
518-473-5525

        

        

        

        

July
15, 2004
Illinois - Melissa Merz, 312-814-3118
Michigan - Robert McCann, 517-335-7217
Minnesota - Leslie Sandbar, 651-296-2069
Ohio - Pat Madigan, 614-644-2782
PA - Kurt Klaus, 717-787-1323
Wisconsin - Deirdre Morgan or Brian Rieselman, 608-266-7876

GREAT LAKES STATES URGE ACTION ON AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES

COALITION OF STATE OFFICIALS CITE ONGOING ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC DAMAGES

New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer today announced a coordinated
effort by seven states to combat the problem of harmful invasive species
in American waterways, including the Great Lakes.

The states, led by New York and including Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota,
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are calling for stronger action to
control discharges of ballast water from oceangoing vessels, a practice
identified as the chief cause of the problem.  

“Ballast water ought to be considered a significant pollutant,” Spitzer
said.”The exotic species of fish, mussels and plants contained in these
discharges multiply at fantastic rates and overwhelm our
ecosystem.”

“The federal government can and must be more aggressive in combating this
problem, which each year costs Great Lakes communities billions of
dollars in damages.”

As part of the coordinated effort, the states today filed a petition with
the United States Coast Guard to revise ballast water management
regulations.  Ballast water -- used to balance large oceangoing
ships --  often contains non-native animals and plants picked up at
previous ports of call.  Although Congress has mandated that the
Coast Guard ensure that all ships with ballast tanks manage the ballast
water so that viable invasive species are not discharged, current Coast
Guard rules exempt most ships from such requirements.  The petition
asks the Coast Guard to close this loophole.  

In addition, the states have filed a "friend of the court"
brief in a key court case challenging the federal Environmental
Protection Agency’s decision to exempt ballast water discharges from
federal water pollution rules. The states maintain that the EPA’s
exemption violates the Clean Water Act’s prohibition on discharge of
pollution from vessels and creates another loophole.  

According to the petition, the vast majority of vessels on the Great
Lakes do nothing to inactivate or kill foreign invaders in their ballast
water and the EPA has set no limits on ballast water discharges. 
While the states’ action focuses on the Great Lakes, invasive species
present a major water pollution problem throughout the country.

The harm caused by invasive species such as the zebra mussels, Eurasian
water milfoil, round goby and spiny water flea in the Great Lakes is
widespread. For example, utilities annually spend tens of millions of
dollars to combat zebra mussel infestations, which clog water intake
valves.  Milfoil chokes many recreational waterways, requiring
either expensive “mowing” of the weed or chemical treatment that has
unintended consequences.  

State officials noted that there are many technologies, either in use or
in various stages of development, that can help prevent introduction of
invasive species. These include flow-through exchange, de-oxygenation,
filtration and UV treatment. 

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said: “Aquatic species from
foreign waters like zebra mussels and lampreys are pollutants and should
be regulated as such.  These non-native animals and plants cause
economic and environmental harm that may not be as visible - but is just
as dangerous - as the industrial toxic waste that polluted Lake Michigan
in past decades.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s failure
to protect the Great Lakes from these invaders is no different than
looking the other way while someone dumps poison into our
water.”

Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven Chester
said: “Michigan is pleased to sign the petition. As part of this
environmental partnership, we’re committed to preventing invasive species
from finding their way into the Great Lakes, and the U.S. Coast Guard
must now demonstrate a similar commitment.”

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director Christopher Jones said:
“The Coast Guard already has clear authority to act on the ballast water
issue. That authority stems from a recognition by Congress of the
extensive harm caused by the introduction of non-native species, not only
to the ecosystem itself but to the bottom line of communities, businesses
and recreational venues that are forced to spend millions of dollars
combating these invaders. We are simply asking the Coast Guard to
implement the law.”

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A.
McGinty said: “Many of these invasive species pose serious ecological and
economic threats because of their potential to foul industrial facilities
and plug public water supply intakes that draw from infested
waters.  They can even interfere with the operation of locks and
dams on rivers, or damage boat hulls and engines.  The Bush
Administration’s failure to act will have repercussions that stretch far
beyond just the environmental arena, particularly in Pennsylvania. 
Outdoor recreation has become one of the engines that drive our
economy.  Fishing and boating alone have economic impacts valued at
more than $2 billion per year for the Commonwealth.  Some of the
natural beauty and wildlife that draw people to Pennsylvania are already
at risk.  Allowing the destruction of our waterways and recreational
resources will devastate the very prizes that have made Penn’s Woods so
famous throughout the nation.” 

Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager said: “We are taking these
actions because Wisconsin’s environment and economy continue to be harmed
by the steady introduction of invasive species, the primary source of
which is coming from uncontrolled ballast water discharges from ships
plying the Great Lakes.  To date, the federal government has not
seen fit to propose effective solutions to deal with it, so we are
demanding it now.  Wisconsin is making significant efforts to
respond to many invasive animals and plants like zebra mussels, Eurasian
milfoil, round gobys, rusty crayfish and the like in our lakes, rivers
and streams. But those efforts will be frustrated as long as ships keep
dumping them back into our waters.  Our actions today will begin the
process of correcting this damaging problem.”

A leading environmental group, Great Lakes United, joined the petition to
the Coast Guard and praised the action by the states. 

Jennifer Nalbone, Habitat and Biodiversity Coordinator with Great Lakes
United, said: "Since ocean-going ships started using the Great Lakes
Seaway in 1959, 36 of the 50 new aquatic invasions to the Great Lakes
originated from ocean-going vessel transportation.  Without adequate
controls on ocean going vessels, many more foreign invaders are
hitchhiking to these fresh waters via dirty ballast tanks.  The
states’ efforts are essential to ensure that the Great Lakes quickly gain
the protection from invasive species that are desperately
needed.”

The Great Lakes contain 18 percent of the world’s and 95 percent of the
United States’ supply of fresh surface water.  The Great Lakes
ecosystem is a source of drinking water for over 33 million people in the
United States and Canada, and used by millions of people for energy,
recreational, agricultural, industrial and transportation
purposes.

The petition to the U.S. Coast Guard was filed today by New York Attorney
General Eliot Spitzer, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven Chester, Minnesota
Attorney General Mike Hatch, Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro,
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A.
McGinty and Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager.

The "friend of the court" brief was filed today by New York
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan,
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, Minnesota Attorney General Mike
Hatch, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Chief
Counsel Richard P. Mather Sr. and Wisconsin Attorney General Peg
Lautenschlager.  The amicus brief was filed in the Northern District
of California in the case "Northwest Environmental Advocates et al
vs. US Environmental Protection Agency."

The case and petition are being handled by New York Assistant Attorney
General Timothy Hoffman and Scientist Raymond Vaughan, under the
supervision of Bureau Chief Peter Lehner.

#

Jennifer Nalbone
Habitat and Biodiversity Coordinator
Great Lakes United
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Cassety Hall- Buffalo State College
Buffalo, NY 14222

ph: (716) 886-0142  fax:-0303