GLIN==> Coalition Gathers in Duluth to Maintain Progress on Great Lakes Restoration, Economic Recovery

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition

For Immediate Release: September 10, 2009

Contact: Jordan Lubetkin, (734) 904-1589, lubetkin at nwf.org
Jeff Skelding, (410) 245-8021, JSkelding at nwf.org

Coalition Gathers in Duluth to Maintain Progress on Great Lakes
Restoration, Economic Recovery

Great Lakes Senior Advisor Cameron Davis, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, 
U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, Join Advocates at 5th Annual Restoration
Conference

DULUTH, MINN. (Sept. 10)—Environmental, business and civic leaders are
gathering at the 5th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference in
Duluth, Minn., Sept. 10-12, in the final push for Congressional action
on a $475 million Great Lakes restoration initiative—the culmination of
a year in which the restoration and protection of the lakes has taken
quantum leaps forward.

“The successes over the past year to restore the Great Lakes and revive
the economy are significant, and we’ve got to keep moving forward,” said
Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes
Coalition, sponsor of the conference. “The serious threats to the Great
Lakes demand sustained action to protect our drinking water, jobs,
public health and way of life. We know that action will benefit the
region economically, while delay will make the problems worse and the
solutions more costly.”

Cameron Davis, senior advisor to the administrator at the U.S. EPA, U.S.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) will
address the conference—the largest gathering of Great Lakes advocates,
elected officials and business leaders.

Conference attendees will focus on how an ambitious $475 million Great
Lakes restoration initiative—likely to pass the U.S. Congress this
fall—can be invested to provide the maximum benefit to the largest
fresh-water resource in the United States.

“Our goal is to get the biggest Great Lakes restoration bang for the
buck,” said Skelding. “We want to make sure that federal funds are
invested wisely and that successes are relayed back to decision-makers
in Washington, D.C., so that our nation’s investment in Great Lakes
restoration continues to benefit, year after year, the lakes and the
millions of people who depend on them for their jobs, drinking water,
and way of life.”

Proposed by President Barack Obama in his inaugural budget, the Great
Lakes Restoration Initiative invests in solutions to clean up
contaminated sediments that threaten public health, stop invasive
species that harm the economy and restore habitat that is the foundation
of the outdoor recreation industry. The initiative has passed the U.S.
House of Representatives and Senate appropriations committee. The Senate
is expected to take up the bill soon.

Congressional action to fund the initiative marks the most recent
progress to restore the Great Lakes. Over the past year, Lakes advocates
have won a number of victories, including:
•	Securing a campaign commitment of $5 billion to restore the
Great Lakes from candidate Barack Obama—precursor to the unprecedented
$475 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative President Obama proposed in his
first White House budget;
•	Passing historic water compact that prevents diversion of Great
Lakes water outside the region and encourages wise water management in
the region;
•	Winning more than $1 billion in the economic recovery package to
improve sewers in the eight-state region; and,
•	Re-authorizing the Great Lakes Legacy Act to clean up toxic
sediments.

The accomplishments stem from a sustained region-wide push from
environmental, business, industry and civic leaders—all of whom realize
the tremendous economic importance of the Great Lakes.

The Brookings Institution estimates that restoring the Great Lakes will
generate at least $2 for every $1 investment—at least $50 billion in
economic benefit to the eight-state region of Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Yet, the world’s largest surface freshwater resource remains plagued by
serious problems such as sewage contamination, invasive species, toxic
pollution and habitat destruction. 

The goal of the conference—whose theme is “Fulfilling the Promise:
Moving Forward to Restore the Great Lakes and Revitalize the Economy”—is
to build on the successful collaboration with the U.S. Congress and
White House.

“It is imperative that Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery
continue to advance in the halls of Congress and the White House,” said
Skelding. “Now is not the time to rest—but to roll up our sleeves and
restore this national fresh-water resource that is the foundation of the
region’s economy and way of life.”

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.

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


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

Jordan Lubetkin
Regional Communications Manager
National Wildlife Federation
Great Lakes Natural Resource Center
213 W. Liberty St., Suite 200
Ann 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.