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Fact Sheet: Bush Administration Actions in the Great Lakes Region
Today’s Action (Washington, D.C., May 18, 2004): President
Bush signed an Executive Order creating the Great Lakes Interagency
Task Force. With EPA as the lead, the Task Force brings together
10 agency and cabinet officers tasked to provide strategic direction
on federal Great Lakes policy. Today’s signing is an addition
to an already demonstrated commitment by the Bush Administration
to protecting the environment and the economy of the Great Lakes
and its surrounding communities.
Removing Contaminated Sediment
- President Bush's 2005 budget proposal includes an unprecedented
$45 million for the cleanup of contaminated sediments in the
Great Lakes system.
Expanding Restoration Projects
- President Bush’s 2005 budget proposal also includes an additional
$3 million for the Great Lakes Program for restoration projects.
Addressing Invasive Species
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The Army Corps of Engineers will spend an additional $4
million this year on a permanent structure to help keep
the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.
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President Bush’s 2005 budget provides additional funds
to EPA to improve invasive species research.
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The Coast Guard is substantially reducing the risk of large
invasive species impacts from ballast water and is now
focused on technologies to address microbial species.
Improving Agricultural Conservation
- The 2002 Farm Bill provided the Department of Agriculture
with an increase of more than $17 billion in investment in
conservation program funding for a range of programs including
the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wildlife Habitat
Incentives Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, and Farm and
Ranch Lands Protection Program. In 2004, over $225 million
from these programs was made available to the eight Great
Lakes states to address environmental and conservation needs,
including water quality in the Great Lakes.
Enhancing Water Quality
- Between 2002 and 2004, the Administration has committed over
$1.3 billion for programs of the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and
State and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Highway Administration,
and Coast Guard to improve water quality in the Great Lakes.
Improving Air Quality
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The Clean Air Interstate proposed rule in conjunction with
the Clean Air Diesel rule will bring 278 counties in the
eastern half of the US into attainment by 2015 with the
ozone and particulate matter standards by requiring a
65% reduction of SO2 and a 70% reduction of NOx from power
plants. Approximately 43 counties ringing the Great
Lakes will come into attainment by 2015 with these standards
leaving 6 that will be required to take further steps;
counties in the Chicago area, Cleveland area, Detroit
area and Buffalo area.
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The EPA Clean Air Mercury proposal will reduce mercury
emissions nationally, including the Great Lakes region.
EPA has proposed two alternatives, a proposed rule
requiring utilities to install controls known as “maximum
achievable control technologies” (MACT) which would reduce
nationwide emissions of mercury by 14 tons (29 percent)
by the end of 2007 and a proposed rule establishing a
market based “cap-and-trade” program that would reduce
nationwide utility emissions of mercury by 69 percent
at full implementation.
Focusing Research
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NOAA is leading an intergovernmental effort to develop
a Global Earth Observation System over the next 10 years.
This system will provide integrated scientific data to
enable decision makers to better understand and develop
strategies to address environmental challenges to oceans
and coastal waters including the Great Lakes.
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NOAA’s Sea Grant Program and Great Lakes Environmental
Research Laboratory have funded and developed ballast
water removal technologies that will dramatically improve
the ability of ships to meet applicable standards.
Promoting International Activities
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In 2001, Congress and the Administration created the Detroit
River International Wildlife Refuge, the first international
refuge in North America, to protect islands, coastal wetlands,
marshes, shoals and riverfront lands along 18 miles of
the Lower Detroit River in Michigan and Canada.
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On May 1, 2003, Transport Canada and the U.S. Department
of Transportation signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to
work together to ensure the future viability of the Great
Lakes Seaway System as a commercial navigation waterway.
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