GLIN==> Statewide council releases legislative priorities for cleaning up Michigan's Great Lakes "toxic hot spots"

Submitted on behalf of Matt Doss <mdoss at glc.org>

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Michigan Areas of Concern - Statewide Public Advisory Council

For immediate release: Apr. 29, 2009 

Statewide council releases legislative priorities for cleaning up Michigan's
Great Lakes "toxic hot spots" 
 <http://www.glc.org/spac/pdf/PR-LegAgenda-and-Briefing_April09.pdf>
http://www.glc.org/spac/pdf/PR-LegAgenda-and-Briefing_April09.pdf 

 

With President Obama proposing a $475 million initiative to clean up the
Great Lakes, Michigan has an unprecedented opportunity to invest in the
lakes and leverage them to advance the state's economic and environmental
health. This is the core message presented today by a coalition of local
advisory councils working to clean up Michigan's 14 Great Lakes "toxic hot
spots" - known as Areas of Concern.

"The health of Michigan's waterways and lakes will play a critical role in
determining the success of Michigan's economic recovery, and our ability to
create sustainable prosperity for our children and grandchildren," said
Lieutenant Governor John Cherry. "From Torch Lake to the River Raisin, it is
clear that when we protect our water, we are protecting jobs, families and
communities." 

"Michigan is the Great Lakes state. The lakes fueled our state's development
and they will be a critical resource for revitalizing our economy in the
future," stated Kathy Evans, chair of the Statewide Public Advisory Council
for Michigan's Great Lakes Areas of Concern Program. "With the President's
commitment - and support from Congress - we can finish cleaning up these
areas and maximize the benefits they provide for our communities," she
added.

The Council presented its 2009 Status Report and Legislative Agenda at a
briefing for the state legislature in Lansing.  The Council's report
highlights progress in cleaning up Michigan's 14 toxic hot spots, including

.       330,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments cleaned up; 
.       $21 million in federal funds secured for cleanup work; 
.       $50 million in large-scale fish and wildlife restoration projects
proposed for federal support; 
.       science-based cleanup goals established to measure progress; and 
.       five environmental impairments removed. 

The Council's agenda for the state legislature includes three key items
needed to sustain progress in cleaning up Michigan's Great Lakes resources:

.       maximize Michigan's potential to secure federal funding for the
Great Lakes; 
.       establish sustainable funding for programs that protect Michigan's
air, land and water; and 
.       develop a new bond program to follow the Clean Michigan Initiative. 

The complete report is online at  <http://glc.org/spac/>
http://glc.org/spac/ 

The Council's legislative briefing was co-sponsored by Lt. Gov. John D.
Cherry, Jr.; Sen. Patty Birkholz (R-Saugatuck Township), chair of the Senate
Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee; and Rep. Rebekah
Warren (D-Ann Arbor), chair of the House Committee on Great Lakes and
Environment. 

The briefing also showcased a recent report from a coalition of metropolitan
Chambers of Commerce that outlines a business agenda for restoring economic
competitiveness in the Great Lakes. The report, An Agenda for Jobs and
Economic Transformation in the Great Lakes Region, highlights the importance
of restoring the Great Lakes as part of a broader agenda for advancing
economic development in the region. Brian Kandler, director of Government
Relations, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, presented the report's
findings to the legislature. Michigan Chambers that contributed to the
report include Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Kalamazoo,
Lansing, Muskegon and the Northwest Michigan Regional Chamber Alliance.

"No matter what steps we take to revitalize our economy, I continue to
insist that the cornerstone of our state's efforts must be the protection of
our Great Lakes," said Sen. Patty Birkholz, (R-Saugatuck Township).  "We
have taken significant steps at the state level to ensure the integrity of
these lakes, but we must have the full support of our federal government to
take the full measure of protection," said Birkholz.

"As legislators of the Great Lakes state, it is our responsibility to
protect these crown jewels, which define our shoreline and hold the key to
our economic growth," said Rep. Rebekah Warren, Chair of the House Committee
on Great Lakes and Environment. "I look forward to continued action by the
federal government to clean up these areas and pledge to do all I can to
support their efforts at the state level." 

"With one fifth of the world's fresh water, the Great Lakes offer a natural
solution, one that is a competitive advantage for attracting jobs and
investment in a global economy," stated Brian Kandler, Director, Government
Relations, for the Detroit Regional Chamber. "We support leveraging
investment from the federal government to ensure clean and abundant fresh
water and building industry-university partnerships to develop expertise in
fresh water technologies," he added.

Contacts: 

.  Statewide Public Advisory Council: 
       Kathy Evans, Chair (Muskegon Lake), 231-903-7442; 
       Jeff Spoelstra, Vice Chair, 269-978-4606 (Kalamazoo River); 
       Matt Doss, Council staff, Great Lakes Commission, 734-474-1985 
.  Lt. Gov. John D. Cherry, Jr.: Ben Kohrman, 517-335-1589 
.  Sen. Patty Birkholz: Amanda Price, 517-373-1855 
.  Rep. Rebekah Warren: Sarah Curmi, 517-373-2577 
.  Detroit Regional Chamber: Jaime Patlevic, 313-596-0344 

### 

The Statewide Public Advisory Council is a coalition of local advisory
councils that works with state, federal and local agencies in cleaning up
Michigan's 14 Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Background on the Council,
including a list of Council members, as well as information on Michigan's
Great Lakes Areas of Concern is available from the Statewide Public Advisory
Council's website at  <http://www.glc.org/spac/> http://www.glc.org/spac/.

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