GLIN==> New Report Underscores Need for Congress to Fund Great Lakes Restoration

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition

For Immediate Release: June 14, 2009

Contact: Jordan Lubetkin, 734-904-1589
Jeff Skelding, 410-242-2704
Chad Lord, 202-454-3385

New Report Underscores Need for Congress to Fund Great Lakes Restoration

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 14)—The Great Lakes are being decimated by
aquatic invasive species, remain contaminated from a legacy of toxic
pollution, and will face increasing sewage management challenges in a
warming climate, according to a new report by U.S and Canadian
authorities.

“State of the Great Lakes 2009,” released by the U.S. EPA and
Environment Canada, finds the overall health of the Great Lakes
ecosystem as “mixed”—meaning the Lakes display both good and degraded
features. Preventing toxic pollution has improved, for instance, while
the clean-up of existing contaminated sites—so-called Areas of
Concern—remain a problem.

Invasive species, according to the report, pose a dire threat to the
lakes. The situation, states the report, was “poor,” meaning the
ecosystem is “severely negatively impacted and it does not display even
minimally acceptable conditions.” Further, the report labeled the threat
of invasive species as “deteriorating.”

“This report clearly shows the need for Congress to act to restore the
Great Lakes,” said Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the Healing Our
Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Toxic pollution, invasive species and
climate change threaten not only our health and quality of life, but the
region’s economy. The U.S. House and Senate can advance Great Lakes
restoration and economic recovery by fully funding the $475 million
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.”

President Obama this year introduced a $475 million Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative, which has been passed in Senate committee and
the full House of Representatives. 

Next week, the EPA will kick-off a series of public comment sessions in
the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New
York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to examine the initiative. The
hearing schedule is:

July 21, Milwaukee, Wis.
July 22, Chicago, Ill. 
July 23, Merrilville, Ind.
July 27, Cleveland, Ohio
July 28, Erie, Pa.
July 29, Rochester, N.Y.
August 3, Lansing, Mich.
August 4, Duluth, Minn.

More information at: http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glri/index.html.

The initiative strives to clean up contaminated sediments which threaten
public health; prevent the introduction of invasive species which cost
the region at least $200 million per year in damages and control costs;
prevent run-off and other pollution responsible for beach closures; and
restore habitat that is the foundation of the region’s
multi-billion-dollar outdoor recreational economy.

“The report is a warning,” said Skelding. “Unless we act now to restore
the Lakes, the problems will get worse and solutions will get more
costly. The good news is that we have solutions that Congress and the
White House can implement now to protect our Great Lakes, drinking
water, economy, and way of life. Fully funding the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative will be a shot in the arm for Lakes restoration
and economic recovery.”

The U.S. and Canadian environmental agencies convene annually for the
State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference to assemble independent,
science-based reporting on the state of the health of the Great Lakes
basin ecosystem. The summary and technical versions of this year’s
report are available at http://www.epa.gov/solec/.

For more information: http://www.healthylakes.org/

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition consists of more than 100
environmental, conservation, outdoor recreation organizations, zoos,
aquariums and museums representing millions of people, whose common goal
is to restore and protect the Great Lakes.

*** Please note my new phone number below--(734) 887-7109 . ***

Jordan Lubetkin
Regional Communications Manager
National Wildlife Federation
Great Lakes Natural RAnn Arbor, MI 48104-1398
www.nwf.org
www.healthylakes.org

Phone: (734) 887-7109 
Cell: (734) 904-1589

Inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.