GLIN==> Legislative priorities for Michigan's Areas of Concern: Don't leave Great Lakes restoration money on the table!

	Don't leave Great Lakes restoration money on the table!
	Coalition calls for aggressive action to secure federal funding
	to clean up Michigan's Great Lakes "toxic hotspots"

Contacts:
*	Statewide Public Advisory Council: Jeff Spoelstra, Chair,
269-352-5227 (Kalamazoo River); Mary Bohling, Vice Chair (Detroit River),
313-410-9431
*	Matt Doss, Council staff, 734-474-1985

	As the "Great Lakes state," Michigan must not "leave money on the
table" while the federal government invests over $2 billion in cleanup
efforts under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. A statewide coalition
working to clean up Michigan's 14 Areas of Concern, or "toxic hotspots,"
brought this message to Lansing today, urging the legislature and the
Administration to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to clean
up toxic pollution, restore fish and wildlife, safeguard drinking water,
enhance recreational opportunities and advance economic development in
Michigan's most heavily impacted waterfront areas.

	"The President's commitment to the Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to clean up the Great Lakes.
We need to move aggressively to make sure we don't leave any money on the
table as this initiative moves forward," said Jeff Spoelstra, Chair of the
Statewide Public Advisory Council for Michigan's Great Lakes Areas of
Concern program, which provides advice and guidance on the restoration of 14
sites designated by U.S. EPA as "Areas of Concern." Spoelstra noted that
federal funding under the Initiative is being allocated on a competitive
basis with no guaranteed amount for Michigan, adding that "we need to
compete effectively with other states to make sure Michigan gets its fair
share."

	First proposed by President Obama in his 2010 budget, the Great
Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was fully funded by Congress at $475
million for the current year. The U.S. EPA recently announced a five-year
Action Plan for the Initiative that targets $2.2 billion to halt the
introduction and spread of invasive species, such as Asian carp; clean up
contaminated sediments; control polluted runoff and clean up beach
pollution; and restore and protect valuable fish and wildlife resources.

	In its legislative agenda the Statewide Public Advisory Council
outlines critical actions that Michigan must take to leverage funding under
the GLRI. The Council also highlights dozens of specific restoration
projects that Michigan's 14 Areas of Concern are pursuing. The Council is
advancing three critical priorities:

*	Maximize Michigan's ability to secure federal funding for the Great
Lakes: Ensure state agencies have the capacity to apply for funding, help
local partners apply, and process permits and provide technical assistance
for restoration projects.

*	Establish sustainable funding for programs that protect Michigan's
air, land and water: Develop fair and adequate funding mechanisms for
programs that serve Michigan's citizens and businesses and protect public
health and the state's valuable natural resources.

*	Create a mechanism to provide cost share for federal funding: Many
federal programs require cost share from applicants. In the past, funding
from the Clean Michigan Initiative environmental bond program enabled
Michigan to leverage over $20 million in federal funding for important
cleanups. These funds are largely exhausted and Michigan needs a new
mechanism to ensure the state is able to continue leveraging federal
funding. The Council urges the legislature and the Administration to
authorize a new environmental bond program or consider reallocating
existing, but unused, bonding authority.

	The Council's 2010 Status Report and Legislative Agenda is attached
and online at http://glc.org/spac/.

	Mary Bohling, Council vice chair and representative from the Detroit
River, emphasized the urgent need for action to ensure Michigan takes full
advantage of the GLRI. "This Initiative won't last forever. As a state, we
need to step up and seize this opportunity to invest in our state's most
important natural resource," Bohling said. She noted the overwhelming demand
for resources under the Initiative's first year, with nearly 1,300 proposals
submitted so far seeking over $1 billion. More than 350 proposals were
submitted from Michigan requesting over $200 million. State agencies applied
for almost $35 million. 

	"We've seen a very impressive response from Michigan, but we have to
keep it up," Bohling said, adding that "the state and local communities need
to collaborate to maintain our capacity to take full advantage of the GLRI.
Anything less would be a serious mistake and a failure to invest in one of
our state's most important economic assets."

	The Council is also emphasizing the importance of the Great Lakes to
Michigan's economy. The Brookings Institution has projected over $50 billion
in long-term economic benefits from implementing a comprehensive restoration
plan for the Great Lakes. Cleaning up contaminated sediments in the Areas of
Concern, alone, is estimated to raise coastal property values by $12-$19
billion. A regional coalition of Chambers of Commerce, including those for
Detroit and Grand Rapids, has highlighted Great Lakes restoration as a
critical component of a larger agenda to create jobs and revitalize our
regional economy.

	The GLRI is supporting implementation of the Great Lakes Regional
Collaboration Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes, a 2005 plan
that outlines solutions to critical problems facing the lakes. The MI-Great
Lakes Plan identifies how to carry out the strategy in Michigan. For the
state's 14 Areas of Concern, a detailed strategy is in place identifying
specific clean-up actions as well as science-based criteria to measure
progress and determine when the areas can be "delisted," or formally removed
from the list of Great Lakes toxic hotspots.

	"We have a strong plan in place and we know what we need to do to
clean up polluted water bodies in our communities. Now that we have the
resources in hand, let's get the job done," said Council Chair Spoelstra.
				
	# # #

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/.

  
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