GLIN==> EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants Awarded

CONTACT:  EPA Press Office, press at epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2010

EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grants Awarded

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has begun to award
its competitive grants under President Barack Obama’s Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative, which is targeting the most significant
environmental problems in the region. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson
traveled to Toledo, Ohio and Green Bay, Wisconsin today to highlight
several local projects that received funding in the first round of grant
awards.

“These grants are a long-overdue investment in a place that is home to
millions of Americans, billions of dollars in economic activity, and 95
percent of our nation’s fresh surface water. It’s essential that we act
today, and set a new standard of care for the next generation,” said
Jackson. “President Obama has made protecting the Great Lakes a national
priority. EPA is investing in a diverse network of partners to put boots
on the ground and boats in the water to begin this historic Great Lakes
restoration effort.”

Awards will be published on the multi-agency website at
http://greatlakesrestoration.us.

Funded projects will advance the goals and objectives of the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative Action Plan, which EPA Administrator Jackson
announced in cooperation with 15 other participating agencies and the
Great Lakes governors in February.

The Great Lakes provide some 30 million Americans with drinking water
and underpin a multi-billion dollar economy. Since February 2009,
President Obama has proposed significant funding as part of his Great
Lakes Restoration Initiative, the largest investment in the Great Lakes
in two decades.

The initiative action plan, which covers FY 2010 through 2014, was
developed by a task force of 16 federal departments and agencies to
implement the president’s historic initiative. It was released with the
Great Lakes area governors in February 2010 and calls for aggressive
efforts to address five urgent priority focus areas:

·         Cleaning up toxics and toxic hot spot areas of concern;
·         Combating invasive species;
·         Promoting nearshore health by protecting watersheds from
polluted run-off;
·         Restoring wetlands and other habitats; and
·         Working with strategic partners on outreach.

The plan also provides accountability by including measures of progress
and benchmarks for success over the next five years.

The Great Lakes Interagency Task Force to coordinate federal restoration
efforts is chaired by EPA Administrator Jackson and includes:

·         White House Council on Environmental Quality
·         U.S. Department of Agriculture
·         U.S. Department of Commerce
·         U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
·         U.S. Department of Homeland Security
·         U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
·         U.S. Department of State
·         U.S. Department of the Army
·         U.S. Department of Interior
·         U.S. Department of Transportation
·         U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Some of the other federal agencies that are part of the task force have
their own grant programs under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Today’s announcement only covers EPA’s grant program.

More information on the president’s initiative and action plan:
http://www.greatlakesrestoration.us

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http://greatlakesrestoration.us/?p=1243

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_______________________
Pranas Pranckevicius, CISSP
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office
77 West Jackson Blvd.  G-17J
Chicago, IL  60604-3590
pranckevicius.pranas at epa.gov
312 353-3437 Tel | 312 385-5446 Fax
www.epa.gov/greatlakes | greatlakesrestoration.us
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