This past year was a banner year for the Great Lakes. We watched as momentum for the Great Lakes Compact built from state house to state house as each passed the international agreement driving it through the US Congress and home to the President’s desk where it was adorned with his signature. We then hoped the wave of favor would push the US House version of the Great Lakes Legacy Act (that tripled the funding from $50 million to $150 million a year) into law, but we were hit with the financial crisis at the very same moment and it faltered and failed. Yet now, the same crisis that cut short our funding and threatened to ensure that the bottom of the Great Lakes would continue to languish in contaminated, toxic sediment, may actually be the phoenix that will pull the Legacy Act into quadruple funding and a speedy clean up.
The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has written to the leadership of the House and Senate asking them to set aside $262 million in 2009 and an additional $240 million in 2010 to clean up the Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes region. We expect such an infusion of cash for ready-to-go projects would speed the clean up beyond what we had hoped for just months ago. When the House Members proposed $150 a year over five years totaling $750 million they expected to have all the AOC’s completely cleaned and delisted in 10 years. Under HOW’s proposal, the $500 million over two years would hurdle us toward the finish line and take us beyond our original hopes while helping our region’s economy.
Imagine being able to eat local fish with abandon again and drink and swim in our lakes and tributaries without fear. It can all be made possible by this US Congress at the same time that jobs are created, property values improved and quality of life enhanced. And to think, just weeks ago our House Members were reeling with disillusionment as they were begrudgingly promised only $50 million a year for just two years instead of five. Lets hope time is on our side.
Related posts:
- “As Is” Legacy Act Approved
- If You Aren’t Part of the Solution…
- Hallelujah: We Have A Restoration Water Bill
- Senate EPW Committee Votes for $150m for GLLA
- Waiting For Stimulation