GLIN==> Northeast-Midwest Weekly Update -- 13 July 2009

Weekly Update
13 July 2009
 
*         Mid-Atlantic Watersheds Update Released
*	Treasury Department Releases Recovery Zone Bonds
*	Ballast Water Management Letter
*	Visions of a Sustainable Mississippi River Conference
 
 
Mid-Atlantic Watersheds Update Released
 
The inaugural edition of the Mid-Atlantic Watersheds Update
<http://www.nemw.org/images/0907midatlanticwatershedsupdate.pdf>  is now
available on the Northeast-Midwest Institute website.  Legislative
updates include the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
approval of the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 787
<http://www.nemw.org/images/S787.pdf> ) the Clean Coastal Environment
and Public Health Act (S. 878 <http://www.nemw.org/images/S878.pdf> ),
House action on climate legislation, a hearing on the National Fish
Habitat Conservation Act, and the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee work on the Federal Surface Transportation Act.
The update also features appropriations updates for Interior, EPA, USDA,
NOAA, and Army Corps of Engineers, as well as news clippings relevant to
the region.
 
Contact Rachel Dawson
<mailto:rdawson at nemw.org?subject=Mid-Atlantic%20Watersheds%20Update>
(202/464-4016) at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
 
 
Treasury Department Releases Recovery Zone Bonds
 
On June 12, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced $25 billion in 
allocations for Recovery Zone Bonds
<http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/tg168.htm>  - a key aspect of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
 
$15 billion is dedicated to Facility Bonds, while $10 billion will be
directed to fund Economic Development Bonds.  The allocations take into
account recent job loss and target areas most affected by job losses and
local budget cuts caused by the economic downturn.  The Facility Bonds
are tax-exempt private bonds to be used by private businesses in
designated recovery zones.  The Economic Development Bonds help lower
the borrowing costs of local governments choosing to finance a range of
economic development activities.  The Northeast-Midwest Institute
website has a breakdown of the allocations
<http://www.nemw.org/images/RecoveryZoneBondsChart.pdf> .
 
Contact Diane DeVaul
<mailto:ddevaul at nemw.org?subject=Recovery%20Zone%20Bonds>
(202-464-4009) at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
 
 
Ballast Water Management Letter
 
Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are circulating a
letter to the EPA, Coast Guard, Council on Environmental Quality, and
Office of Science and Technology Policy for their signatures on a letter
to the Administration.  All of these organizations have a role in
aquatic invasive species and ballast water treatment technology.  The
letter requests that the Administration coordinate a unified ballast
water management program, and include certain requirements for proposed
ballast water management regulations.  The deadline for signing the
letter is July 15.
 
Contact Joy Mulinex
<mailto:joy_mulinex at levin.senate.gov?subject=Ballast%20Water%20Managemen
t%20Letter>  (202/224-1211) at the Great Lakes Task Force.
 
 
Visions of a Sustainable Mississippi River Conference
 
The Visions of a Sustainable Mississippi River Conference
<http://www.conferences.uiuc.edu/mississippiriver/index.html>  will be
held in Collinsville, Illinois, from August 10-13.  According to the
hosts (The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center, and The
Nature Conservancy), the conference "will attract diverse participants
with interest in our nation's largest river, including stakeholders in
the recreational, navigation, and agricultural sectors, researchers, and
natural resource professionals."  The conference will have four focus
areas:
 
*	ecosystem services and economic value;
*	flood plain connectivity, flood control and hydrologic regime;
*	ethanol production, and
*	clean water uses and threats.
 
The conference will include a session, "Policy Forum:  Presentations to
Elected Officials and Other Decision Makers," on the last morning of the
conference.  The goal of that session is to summarize the proceedings of
the conference, and present key policy issues to an audience of elected
officials and other decision makers governing the Mississippi River
basin.
 
Contact Mark Gorman
<mailto:mgordon at nemw.org?subject=Mississippi%20River%20Conference>
(202/464-4015) at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.
 
 
Calendar <http://www.nemw.org/calendar.htm>  | Media Links
<http://www.nemw.org/media.htm>  | Reports/Periodicals
<http://www.nemw.org/reports.htm> 
 
Northeast-Midwest Institute <http://www.nemw.org/> 
50 F Street NW Suite 950
Washington DC 20001
202.544.5200
 
Email Glenn Starnes <mailto:glennstarnes at nemw.org?subject=Unsubscribe>
with comments or to unsubscribe from this mailing list.
 
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