GLIN==> U.S. EPA seeks input on Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

 <http://www.glc.org> Great Lakes Commission News Briefs



  

July 31, 2009 



U.S. EPA seeks input on Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 

The U.S. EPA is in the midst of a series of public meetings to provide
information and solicit feedback on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
The Great Lakes Commission is assisting EPA by convening these forums.

On July 17 , in conjunction with the Federal Great Lakes Interagency Task
Force, U.S. EPA released a draft Great Lakes Multi-Year Restoration Action
Plan Outline to provide a starting point for discussions about the
longer-term direction and focus of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
(GLRI). Following the public meetings and comments, U.S. EPA expects to add
information about how the GLRI will address specific high profile, basinwide
issues, as well as critical but more localized issues. The agency is
soliciting feedback on goals, objectives, measures, and actions to ensure
they are tracking the right activities, setting appropriately ambitious
goals, and measuring them correctly. The meetings began July 21 in
Milwaukee, Wis., and will conclude August 4 in Duluth, Minn.

Public comments on the "Great Lakes Multi-year Restoration Action Plan
Outline" are invited before August 19 and can be provided in one of three
ways:

1.	in person at one of the public meetings 
(www.epa.gov/greatlakes/glri/publicmeetings.html);
2.	online at www.epa.gov/greatlakes/glri/outreach.html; or
3.	by mail to USEPA Great Lakes National Program Office (G-17J),
Attention: Anthony Kizlauskas, 77 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604.

The schedule of remaining meetings is as follows:

MICHIGAN
August 3, 2009, 5-7pm EDT
Kellogg Center Auditorium
55 South Harrison Avenue
East Lansing, MI 48824-1022
Website: www.kelloggcenter.com <http://www.kelloggcenter.com/>  

MINNESOTA
August 4, 2009, 4-6pm CDT
EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Laboratory
Gitchee Gumee Conference Center
6201 Congdon Boulevard
Duluth, MN 55804
Website: www.epa.gov/med/About_Div/directions_from_airport.htm 

 

Congressional Update 

On June 26, the House approved full funding ($475 million) for the Great
Lakes Restoration Initiative. The day before the House vote, the Senate
Appropriations Committee approved the GLRI at a funding level of $400
million. The full Senate is expected to take up the Interior and Environment
appropriations bill after the August recess. Once the Senate passes its
bill, a conference committee will be convened to work out differences
between the House and Senate versions. Congress's deadline for completing
all of their appropriations bills is October 1. Constituents should
encourage your senators and representatives to support full funding for the
Initiative as it works its way through the conference committee.

For more information:

*	Great Lakes Commission Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions on
the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative:
www.glc.org/advocacy/index.html#restoration
*	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative: www.epa.gov/greatlakes/glri/index.html

Contact: Tim Eder, teder at glc.org.


  _____  

Great Lakes Commission
2805 S. Industrial Hwy, Suite 100
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-6791
734-971-9135
www.glc.org

 

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