Coalition to Committee Leadership Regarding Ballast Regulation

To: The Honorable Daniel Inouye

Chairperson

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Ted Stevens

Ranking Member

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable James Oberstar

Chairperson

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable John Mica

Ranking Member

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Washington, DC 20515

From: The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition

Dear Mr. Chairmen and Ranking Members:

On behalf of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, we want to let you know that our Coalition supports a moratorium of ocean vessels in the Great Lakes until Congress passes aquatic invasive species legislation that begins to take steps to immediately protect the Great Lakes from new aquatic invasive species. We take this position with all seriousness knowing that a moratorium would likely impact people’s lives. We also know, however, that allowing ocean vessels to continue entering the Great Lakes without requiring them to treat their ballast water leads to more invasions of invasive species and to greater economic and environmental harm of the Great Lakes and U.S. waters…