For immediate release: Feb. 24, 2009
EPA
head: Great Lakes a major driver in U.S. water policy
http://www.glc.org/announce/09/02semidc.html
Washington,
D.C. ? ?As the Great Lakes go, so goes the national policy as to
water,? said Lisa Jackson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency speaking today at the semiannual meeting of the Great Lakes Commission in
Washington, D.C.
Jackson noted that President Barack Obama established
his commitment to Great Lakes protection early in his campaign and continues to
demonstrate that commitment through such legislative vehicles as the American
Recovery Act, the recently passed stimulus bill.
?We look at the Act as
extremely important to restoring infrastructure,? she said.
A former
commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Jackson
commiserated with the Great Lakes Commission?s work in mitigating point-source
pollution, specifically the EPA-designated Areas of Concern.
?Removal of
persistent toxins is really necessary,? she said. ?It is expensive and takes a
lot of time but we will continue.
The administrator pledged to work to
reverse the previous Administration to increase funding to clean up Areas of
Concern.
?Her remarks were really refreshing, especially her pledge to
work to increase support for cleaning up Areas of Concern,? noted Todd Ambs,
vice chair of the Commission and Water Division administrator, Wisconsin Dept.
of Natural Resources.
With an underlying theme at the meeting of
environmental restoration of the Great Lakes as an economic development
strategy, Commission Chair and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn exhorted the
Commission member states and Canadian provinces to maximize the potential of the
lakes to lure new business and investment.
Past Commission Chair Michigan
Lt. Gov. John Cherry echoed that sentiment, saying that our two basic policy
priorities are now more intertwined than ever: ?Increasing environmental
stewardship for the Great Lakes is now clearly recognized by business, trade
groups and regional Chambers of Commerce as key to the transformation of our
regional economy.?
Joe Roman, director of the Greater Cleveland
Partnership, presented the regional chamber?s ?Business Agenda for Economic
Transformation in the Great Lakes Region? at a panel session on
Monday.
Among actions taken by the Commission were resolutions endorsing
reauthorization of the Coastal Zone Management Act, supporting reform of the
Harbor Maintenance Tax and Trust Fund, and supporting the American Wind Energy
Association?s upcoming Windpower Conference in Chicago.
Contact: Tim
Eder
Office: 734-971-9135
Cell: 734-604-7281
Email:
teder@glc.org
###
The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Gov. Patrick Quinn (Ill.), is an interstate compact agency established under state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of governors' appointees, state legislators, and agency officials from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a "Declaration of Partnership." The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Attachment:
GLC_Semi_PR_2-24-2009.pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document