Members of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition are supporting the nomination of U.S. Representative Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI). In a letter to our U.S. Senators, Great Lakes advocates wrote: “As a longtime advocate for clean water with a stellar bipartisan record, Rep. Haaland will listen to science and ensure the Interior Department fulfills its obligation to the public by protecting our region’s lakes, rivers, and streams.”

Read the Coalition’s letter here.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition Members said:

“Rep. Haaland has the experience and shown the leadership needed to guide the Department forward, proving herself ready to address the existential threat of climate change to our region, enhance Great Lakes restoration, and to work in collaboration with our communities and Tribal Nations to ensure DOI creates equitable opportunities for all American to enjoy our public lands and waters. We are pleased to offer our support for this nomination.”

 

HOW-Haaland-DOI-Nomination-Support-Letter-3.12.21-v.Final-Signed

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-groups-support-deb-halland-as-secretary-of-interior/

Pavan Vangipuram

With America’s water infrastructure in a dire situation, several Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition Leaders submitted letters and testimony to the US House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment urging them to fully fund wastewater infrastructure programs.

Click here to see the live testimony of Milwaukee Water Commons co-executive director Brenda Coley before the US House of Representatives’ Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Click here to read Brenda Coley’s testimony.

Click here to read a letter submitted by Ohio Environmental Council

Click here to read a letter submitted by Citizens’ Campaign for the Environment

Click here to read a letter submitted by the Minnesota Environmental Partnership and Fix the Pipes.

Click here to read comments from the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition.

The Great Lakes region faces a water infrastructure crisis, and the Coalition supports ramping up federal investments in drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure. Grappling with crumbling and unsafe drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, communities need a staggering $188 billion over the next 20 years to improve, upgrade, and repair drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. 

This work is increasingly prohibitive with costs too often being passed on to our most vulnerable communities that are least able to afford it. Investing in water infrastructure protects public health and the environment, improves climate resiliency of our communities, reduces maintenance and operational costs, and creates good-paying local jobs. 

Charged with protecting the nation’s water resources, this subcommittee handles important decisions having to do with wastewater infrastructure. Together, these decisions account for billions of dollars in investments and improvements to the nuts-and-bolts infrastructure that millions of Americans rely upon for clean water.

 

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-leaders-urge-congress-to-act-on-water-infrastructure/

Pavan Vangipuram

Members of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition are supporting the nomination of Michael Regan to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In a letter to Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee members, Great Lakes advocates wrote: “Under Mr. Regan’s leadership, we believe the EPA can forcefully and effectively champion clean water priorities that achieve environmental and public health outcomes.”

Read the Coalition’s letter here.

Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, said:

“Strong EPA leadership is essential to protect the health of the environment, Great Lakes, and our communities from serious threats such as toxic pollution, lead contamination, sewage, and climate change. We urge the Senate to confirm Michael Regan without delay so that the EPA can start protecting the health of people and communities. We look forward to working with Mr. Regan to ensure that safe and affordable drinking water is available to every person in this country and to stand up for communities which have disproportionately borne the brunt of pollution and environmental harm, including people of color, low-income communities, and indigenous people. We need to address serious threats to our drinking water now, because delay will only make the problems worse and more costly to solve.”

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-groups-support-michael-regan-as-epa-administrator/

Pavan Vangipuram

With the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States, the new Administration quickly took important steps to enhance federal action on the COVID pandemic, begin to redress environmental rollbacks, and prioritize the important work of embedding equity across federal policymaking. The Coalition recognizes the Biden Administrations quick executive actions as essential “starting points” in addressing the critical needs of our Great Lakes communities.

These executive actions include:

The Biden Administration has the opportunity to protect Great Lakes families during this COVID pandemic and equitably accelerate progress to restore the Great Lakes, protect our drinking water, and help the most vulnerable communities overcome the serious threats of pollution and unsafe water. We applaud these important first steps and look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to advance clean water priorities in the Great Lakes region, energizing our economy, standing up for racial equity, and confronting the climate crisis.

More details on specific actions:

Providing Economic Relief and Support to Working Families

What does it do?

The executive order, in recognition of the unprecedented housing affordability crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, extends federal eviction and foreclosure moratoriums through at least March 31, 2021.

Why is it important?

Ensuring families can safely remain in their homes during this pandemic and concurrent economic downturn that has left many unable to meet increasingly unaffordable housing and utility costs is essential. Extending federal protections and urging Congress to provide much needed aid is an important step, though after Congress took an initial step to address the unaffordability of water through the creation of a temporary water affordability program under the recently passed COVID relief package more action must be taken. We urge both the new Administration and Congress to quickly take up efforts to establish a nation-wide water shutoff moratorium and safe reconnection for all households for the duration of this national emergency.

Rejoining the Paris Agreement on Climate Change

What does it do?

President Biden, alongside several Executive Orders, re-committed the US to the Paris Climate Agreement. The US will once again become a Party to the agreement in 30 days.

Why is it important?

Climate change is an existential threat, leading to significant and far-reaching impacts across the Great Lakes region and exacerbating the public health and environmental challenges we face. Addressing this threat globally, nationally, and regionally is essential as we work to create more sustainable and resilient communities. Re-joining the Paris Climate Agreement is an important first step in reviving a comprehensive federal response necessary to protect our region and prepare it for the changes we are already experiencing today.

Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis

What does it do?

In a critical step, the executive order directs all executive departments and agencies to review actions taken over the last four years harmful to public health, environment, and unresponsive or unsupported by the best available science. This includes reviews of the Trump Administration’s:

“Navigable Waters Protection Rule” (85 Fed. Reg. 22250), the Trump Administration’s weakening of Clean Water Act protections through the redefining of waters of the U.S.

“Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule” (85 Fed. Reg. 42210), the Trump Administration’s undermining of state and tribal authority to protect their waters through the review and certification of federal Clean Water Act permits.

“National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Lead and Copper Rule Revisions” (86 Fed. Reg. 4198), the Trump Administrations insufficient revision of standards to protect drinking water.

Why is it important?

The success of Great Lakes restoration and the necessary work to provide clean water for all relies upon bipartisan, presidential leadership. Today legacy pollutants persist, well-known contaminants like lead continue to make drinking water unsafe, emerging contaminants like PFAS are being uncovered, climate change is overwhelming aging infrastructure, and changes to federal regulations have weakened clean water protections. Committing to review key environmental review, public participation, and clean water regulations is an important step in addressing these concurrent threats head-on.

Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

What does it do?

The Executive Order will launch a government-wide initiative to advance racial equity, “embedding equity across federal policymaking and rooting out systemic racism and other barriers to opportunity from federal programs and institutions” This includes: establishing advancing equity for all as a government-wide responsibility; directing agencies to undertake baseline reviews of their policies and programs; tasking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to work to allocate federal resources more equitably, empowering and investing in communities of color and other underserved communities. This move, importantly, will also rescind the Trump Administration’s order limiting the ability of federal agencies and contractors from implementing diversity and inclusion training.

Why is it important?

The Great Lakes face serious and urgent threats, threats that too often disproportionately impact people of color, low-income communities, and indigenous people. The Biden Administration has the opportunity to forcefully and effectively address this ongoing and historically disproportionate impact by centering equity and addressing environmental injustices across federal agencies and programs. This is an essential step to begin the difficult task of understanding the inequities and barriers in our system and begin to provide equitable benefits of environmental restoration and clean water protections to all.

The post President Biden’s First Day Executive Actions: A Brief Overview appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/president-bidens-first-day-executive-actions-a-brief-overview/

Pavan Vangipuram

The inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States presents opportunities to accelerate progress to protect and restore the Great Lakes and our nation’s drinking water and reverse environmental injustices that have disproportionately impacted people of color, low-income communities, and indigenous tribes, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition said today.

“The Biden Administration has the opportunity to accelerate progress to restore the Great Lakes, protect our drinking water, and help the most vulnerable communities overcome the serious threats of pollution and unsafe water,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Clean water priorities in the region fit squarely with Biden Administration priorities to energize our economy, stand up for racial equity, and confront the climate crisis. We urge President Biden to take strong and decisive action to protect and restore the Great Lakes, ensure every person has access to safe and affordable drinking water, and invite hard-hit communities to the decision-making table. White House leadership, in collaboration with Congress, will be essential to boost federal investment in clean water programs that have been producing results for the environment and economy in communities across the region.

“We look forward to working with the Biden Administration to swiftly address these concerns by championing clean water priorities that achieve ecological outcomes, while addressing environmental injustices. Clean water is a basic need, yet too many cities and towns struggle with unsafe water. The Biden Administration has the opportunity to ensure that clean and affordable water is available to everyone in the region by addressing systemic inequities that have led to widespread water shutoffs in people’s homes, persistent toxic lead contamination, and a growing water affordability crisis that, if not addressed, by 2022 will leave 1-in-3 Americans at risk of water bills they cannot afford to pay.

“The good news is that we have solutions to these problems. We look forward to partnering with the Biden Administration and the U.S. Congress to confront these serious threats to our drinking water now, before the problems get worse and more expensive to solve.”

Top priorities for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition include boosting federal investments in drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure, Great Lakes restoration and protection, lead-line replacement, and assistance to vulnerable communities—priorities that the Biden Administration can show leadership on with the release of its first annual budget in the coming months. The Coalition also strives to uphold clean water protections, secure drinking water protections for toxic PFAS and other contaminants, and to reverse roll-backs to drinking water and environmental safeguards undertaken by the previous presidential administration.

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-biden-administration-can-accelerate-progress-to-restore-great-lakes-protect-drinking-water-help-vulnerable-communities/

Pavan Vangipuram

In a major victory for Great Lakes and clean water advocates, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019 was signed into law yesterday by President Trump, paving the way for President-elect Biden and Congress to continue funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for five years, and increasing the program’s annual funding from $300 million to $475 million by 2026. Enactment of the law has been a top priority for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition, said:

“This is a huge victory for the more than 30 million people who rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water, health, jobs, recreation, and quality of life. Over the past decade, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been producing results for communities across the region, but serious threats remain. This bill recognizes the work we have left to do, and allows President-elect Biden and Congress to boost funding to tackle these threats before they get worse and more expensive to solve.

“We thank the Great Lakes congressional delegation for their relentless determination to pass this bill and to ensure that the Great Lakes and clean water remain national priorities. We applaud U.S. Reps. David Joyce (R-Ohio) and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) for their leadership, as well as the many Democrats and Republicans who worked in a spirit of bi-partisanship to get this legislation across the finish line.

“We look forward to working with elected officials to ensure that this successful program continues to meet ecological objectives while confronting environmental injustices that afflict the most vulnerable communities. We have the opportunity to lift up and help all communities – especially those that have borne the brunt of pollution and environmental harm.”

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative invests in local projects in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to clean up toxic pollution, fight invasive species, reduce runoff from cities and farms, and restore fish and wildlife habitat. The initiative has supported 5,449 projects that are helping to better the environment and economy.

The post Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act Signed Into Law, Boosting Great Lakes Funding appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-restoration-initiative-act-signed-into-law-boosting-great-lakes-funding/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (December 22, 2020)—End-of-year legislation to fund the government will boost investments to protect and restore the Great Lakes, increasing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative from $320 million to $330 million. The initiative is a top priority for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, said:

“This budget will keep Great Lakes restoration and protection efforts moving forward, even in the midst of a pandemic. These investments are encouraging to see.

“We’re happy to see Congress continue to support efforts to protect our Great Lakes, drinking water, public health, and quality of life. Federal investments in the lakes are producing results, but serious threats still remain. We look forward to final passage of this bill so that we can continue to move forward to help better our environment, economy, and public health.”

The massive $2.4 trillion package not only includes the consolidated federal budget bill, but also contains clean water investment priorities in the Water Resources Development Act to stop invasive Asian carp, support nature-based solutions to prevent flooding and storm damage, and assist vulnerable communities in addressing pollution. Congress, in its coronavirus relief package attached to the omnibus bill, also includes $638 million for vulnerable communities and utilities in drinking water and wastewater assistance.

Despite this progress, the U.S. Congress declined to enact a nationwide moratorium on water shutoffs leaving thousands – if not millions – without water at a time when clean water is essential to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Congress also failed to boost funding for drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure at a level commensurate to the need. More than $188 billion is needed in the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to fix and update inadequate water infrastructure that has led to ongoing sewage contamination as well as skyrocketing water bills for people.

“Congress left  important work on the table,” said Rubin. “Our job is not done until we’ve put an end to people having their drinking water shut off to their homes and to sewage contamination that threatens our health. We must upgrade our outdated drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure now, before these problems get worse and more expensive. Congress needs to act with purpose and urgency to ensure that every person in this country has access to clean, safe, and affordable water. The health of our communities depends on it.”

The post Final U.S. Budget Gives Great Lakes Funding Bump appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/final-u-s-budget-gives-great-lakes-funding-bump/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (December 21, 2020)—In a major victory for Great Lakes and clean water advocates, the U.S. Senate last night unanimously passed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019. The bill allows Congress to continue funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for five years, and increases the program’s annual funding from $300 million to $475 million by 2026. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the bill earlier this year by a vote of 373 to 45. The legislation heads to President Donald Trump for signature. Passage of the bill is a top priority for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition, said:

“This is tremendous news for the more than 30 million people who rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water, health, jobs, recreation, and quality of life. Over the past decade, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been producing results for communities across the region, but serious threats remain. This bill recognizes the work we have left to do, and allows Congress to boost funding to tackle these threats before they get worse and more expensive to solve.

“We thank U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) for their leadership and determination to get this bill across the finish line. We also thank U.S. Reps. David Joyce (R-Ohio) and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) for their leadership to rally support in the House, as well as the many Democrats and Republicans who worked in a spirit of bi-partisanship to make sure that Great Lakes restoration and protection continues to be a national priority. Clean water is a basic need, and we need to do everything we can to ensure that clean, safe and affordable drinking water is available to everyone.

“We look forward to working with federal elected officials to ensure that this successful program continues to meet ecological objectives while confronting environmental injustices that afflict the most vulnerable communities. We have the opportunity to lift up and help all communities – especially those that have borne the brunt of pollution and environmental harm.”

Support for the Great Lakes Restoration Act has produced strong bipartisan support in the Senate with 13 co-sponsors (in addition to lead sponsor Sen. Stabenow) and in the House with 49 co-sponsors (in addition to lead sponsor Rep. Joyce). The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative invests in local projects in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to clean up toxic pollution, fight invasive species, reduce runoff from cities and farms, and restore fish and wildlife habitat. The initiative has supported 5,449 projects that are helping to better the environment and economy.

The post U.S. Senate Vote Paves Way to Boost Great Lakes Funding appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/u-s-senate-vote-paves-way-to-boost-great-lakes-funding/

Pavan Vangipuram

Thank you to all who joined us for our 2020 Great Lakes Seminar Series on December 7-10. If you were not able to attend any of the sessions, please see below for links to recordings of the presentations and discussion.

Monday, December 7

Keynote Speaker: Mandela Barnes, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Moderated by Brenda Coley, Milwaukee Water Commons
Time: 11:00-11:45am eastern 
VIEW Mandela Barnes here

Tuesday, December 8

Panel Discussion: Cultivating Authentic Partnerships with Tribes and Tribal Leaders
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 PM Eastern
This webinar will walk through the Ottaway River Dam Removal Project, a River Reborn, in the eyes of the seven grandfather teachings and discuss ways to cultivate relationships through shared vision.
Speakers: Brett Fessell, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
Tina Frankenberger, Tribal Councilor, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
Kira Davis, Conservation Resource Alliance
VIEW Cultivating Authentic Partnerships here
VIEW video played during presentation: “History of The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians – Anishinaabek” here

Panel Discussion: Engagement and Organizing in Great Lakes Communities
Time: 3:00 – 4:30 Eastern
Join us for information and examples on how communities around the region can have a voice – whether it is through organizing around an issue, engagement around a project, or finding new ways to build power in a community.
Speakers: Paco Ollervides, Green Leadership Trust
Nicole Brown, Detroit Future City
Anna-Lisa Castle, Alliance for the Great Lakes
VIEW Engagement and Organizing here

Wednesday, December 9

Presentation: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 101: Policy and Funding
Want to know more about the GLRI? How decisions get made? Join this session for a review the basics of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative works.
Time: 1:00-2:30pm eastern
Speaker: Chad Lord, Policy Director, Healing Our Waters—Great Lakes Coalition
VIEW GLRI 101: Policy and Funding here

Presentation: Equity and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Time: 3:00-4:00pm eastern
The HOW Coalition is just wrapping up a study of the GLRI through an equity lens and will share the methodology and the recommended initial next steps to advance and further equitable and just outcomes.
Speakers: Anna Brunner, National Wildlife Federation
Crystal Davis, Alliance for the Great Lakes
VIEW Equity and the GLRI here

Thursday, December 10

Panel Discussion: State Revolving Funds: A State-Level Program View
Time: 1:00-2:30pm eastern
Join experts from around the region to learn more about water infrastructure funding and the State Revolving Funds, including how the funding mechanism works in different states, where funding is being directed, what avenues are available to seek funding, and what work is being done to improve the program.
Speakers: Cyndi Roper, Natural Resources Defense Council
Anthonia Ogudipe, Alliance for the Great Lakes
Pete Bucher, Ohio Environmental Council
VIEW State Revolving Funds here

The post 2020 Great Lakes Seminar Series: Recordings appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/2020-great-lakes-seminar-series-recordings/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (December 9, 2020) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 yesterday, paving the way for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers investments to keep invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes and to prevent flooding in communities through nature-based solutions. The bill (S. 1811) also prioritizes better consultation with local communities—especially those that have historically borne the brunt of pollution, such as minority, low-income and indigenous communities—when carrying out projects. The bill does not re-authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the successful program that has been cleaning up toxic pollution, restoring wildlife habitat, and reducing runoff pollution.

Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, said:

“This bill advances important priorities for the Great Lakes and the millions of people who depend on them for their drinking water, health, jobs, and quality of life. We support many provisions in this bill and look forward to final passage by the Senate. However, we are disappointed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act was left out of the final package. We look forward to working with bipartisan members of Congress to ensure that we re-authorize this important program that is producing results for the environment and economy. Serious threats remain, and it’s important to address these problems now, before they get worse and most expensive to solve.”

The bill now heads to the Senate for final passage. It includes several provisions that are important to Great Lakes communities, including:

  • Authorizing Brandon Road Lock and Dam to help prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes.
  • Expanding the Corps of Engineers Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study that will provide critical guidance to help protect communities, infrastructure and ecosystems from flooding and high lake levels.
  • Prioritizing nature-based features (vegetation such as wetlands, parks, rain gardens) in Army Corps projects.
  • New standards for consultation with local and vulnerable communities.
  • New technical assistance and pilot programs to address resiliency planning and flood risk reduction in economically disadvantaged and rural communities.

The Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition sent a letter to House and Senate leaders, supporting Great Lakes priorities in the bill, while urging Congress to enact the full five-year reauthorization for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative via some other method, as previously proposed and passed, with incremental increases to its original funding level of $475 million.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 160 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at www.healthylakes.org or follow us on Twitter @healthylakes.

The post U.S. House Passes Water Infrastructure Bill with Great Lakes Priorities appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/u-s-house-passes-water-infrastructure-bill-with-great-lakes-priorities/

Pavan Vangipuram

Please join us December 7-10, 2020, for a series of presentations relating to restoring and protecting the Great Lakes. Topics will center around the theme of the democratization of water, including cultivating authentic partnerships, community engagement, Great Lake policy, equity and justice, and water infrastructure funding and decision-making. We’ll discuss ways that Great Lakes advocates, NGOs, communities, and institutions can participate in decision-making around water issues.

We’re thrilled to announce that Mandela Barnes, the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, will be joining HOW Coalition Board member Brenda Coley of Milwaukee Water Commons for a keynote presentation to kick off the series on Monday, December 7!

Join us for the following sessions. Come to any combination of events – registration is free and open to all. You must register for each event individually – calendar appointments will be sent from zoom for each event following registration. Please save your confirmation emails as they will contain unique links to join each session.

Monday, December 7

Keynote Speaker: Mandela Barnes, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Moderated by Brenda Coley, Milwaukee Water Commons
Time: 11:00-11:45am eastern 
REGISTER for Mandela Barnes here

Tuesday, December 8

Panel Discussion: Cultivating Authentic Partnerships with Tribes and Tribal Leaders
Time: 1:00 – 2:30 PM Eastern
Speakers: Brett Fessell, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
Kira Davis, Conservation Resource Alliance
REGISTER for Cultivating Authentic Partnerships here

Panel Discussion: Engagement and Organizing in Great Lakes Communities
Time: 3:00 – 4:30 Eastern
Join us for information and examples on how communities around the region can have a voice – whether it is through organizing around an issue, engagement around a project, or finding new ways to build power in a community.
Speakers: Paco Ollervides, Green Leadership Trust
Nicole Brown, Detroit Future City
Anna-Lisa Castle, Alliance for the Great Lakes
REGISTER for Engagement and Organizing here

Wednesday, December 9

Presentation: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 101: Policy and Funding
Time: 1:00-2:30pm eastern
Speaker: Chad Lord, Policy Director, Healing Our Waters—Great Lakes Coalition
REGISTER for GLRI 101 here

Presentation: Equity and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Time: 3:00-4:00pm eastern
The HOW Coalition is just wrapping up a study of the GLRI through an equity lens and will share the methodology and the recommended initial next steps to advance and further equitable and just outcomes.
Speakers: Anna Brunner, National Wildlife Federation
Crystal Davis, Alliance for the Great Lakes
REGISTER for Equity and the GLRI here

Thursday, December 10

Panel Discussion: State Revolving Funds: A State-Level Program View
Time: 1:00-2:30pm eastern
Join experts from around the region to learn more about water infrastructure funding and the State Revolving Funds, including how the funding mechanism works in different states, where funding is being directed, what avenues are available to seek funding, and what work is being done to improve the program.
Speakers: Cyndi Roper, Natural Resources Defense Council. Additional Speakers to be confirmed.
REGISTER for State Revolving Funds here

The post 2020 Great Lakes Seminar Series appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/2020-great-lakes-seminar-series/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (November 18, 2020) – In letters sent to the U.S. House and Senate today, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is urging Congress, as it wraps up business for the year, to support Great Lakes and clean water priorities that protect the drinking water of more than 30 million people, safeguard children from toxic lead contamination, prevent the shut-off of water to families, and confront the chronic problem of sewage fouling local waters.

“Congress has the opportunity to protect the drinking water, public health, and jobs of millions of people in the Great Lakes region, and we urge our elected officials to push these critical legislative priorities across the finish line,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “There’s important work left to do, and it’s time to get it done. The water problems will only get worse and more costly to solve.”

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is asking Congress to support five legislative priorities, as elected officials work to complete a federal budget by Dec. 11 and wrap up end-of-year business.

  1. Prioritize COVID-19 relief that includes a moratorium of water shut-offs to vulnerable communities and assistance to people and water utilities.
  2. Support Great Lakes and clean water priorities, including $335 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, as well as more than $11 billion in House-backed supplemental funding that will put people to work and create local jobs for drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure, toxic lead abatement, and assistance for vulnerable and tribal communities.
  3. Reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (as proposed by H.R. 4031 and S. 2295) with annual incremental increases to its original funding level of $475 million per year.
  4. Support Great Lakes priorities in the Water Resources Development Act, including investments in water infrastructure, research, and community assistance.
  5. Invest in drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure to help get at the more than $188 billion in need for projects in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The Coalition urges Congress to prioritize climate resiliency and supporting communities facing economic hardship by providing additional investments for disadvantaged communities and promoting investment in nature-based infrastructure projects.

The post Coalition to Congress: Support Great Lakes, Clean Water in Final Bills appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-to-congress-support-great-lakes-clean-water-in-final-bills/

Pavan Vangipuram

The 2020 election has been one for the history books. It featured record-smashing turnout amidst a deadly pandemic. Votes are still being tallied in a handful of states, final state certification of results are a few weeks away, and run-off elections in Georgia in January will decide which party controls the U.S. Senate. While the final chapter of this election cycle is still being written, here are a few takeaways that pertain to Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition priorities around the Great Lakes, drinking water, and public health:

  1. Unprecedented assault on clean water and environmental protections is coming to an end. With control of the executive branch shifting to President-elect Joe Biden, the assault on clean water and environmental protections will cease. Donald Trump has led the roll-back of more than 100 environmental protections – including those for streams and wetlands (link). The Coalition looks to the new Biden Administration to swiftly halt and reverse the rollbacks to clean water protections and regulations that communities rely on to keep their water safe. This includes reinstating or reimagining the clean water rule, stringent regulations that hold polluters accountable, and much more. We look forward to working with President-elect Joe Biden on these and other priorities in the months and years to come.
  2. Environmental justice will be prioritized. Pollution and environmental degradation disproportionately impact people of color, low-income communities, and indigenous people. The rollback of environmental protections over the last four years only adds harm on already vulnerable communities. President-elect Biden has already offered up a plan to elevate environmental justice priorities in his administration (link). And, while federal investment decisions will have to be made in collaboration with the U.S. Congress, the new administration wants to advance – not scale back – programs that impact vulnerable communities. The HOW Coalition is ready to help in efforts to ensure that environmental justice remains a top priority.
  3. The GLRI and Other Bedrock Great Lakes priorities are on safer ground. While the next Congress may be divided many of the Coalition’s funding priorities continue to enjoy broad bipartisan support. These include investments in, and expansion of, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure. The question before Congress is whether investments in these clean water priorities can be boosted to meet the needs of all communities We look forward to working with bipartisan members of Congress on these and other important priorities.
  4. Progress on climate change requires action. Global warming is wreaking havoc on our environment, economy, and public health. It is causing increased toxic algal blooms, more destructive flooding and untold costs to people, businesses and communities. While it is expected that a Biden Administration will re-join the global Paris Agreement to combat climate change and use executive authority to help control climate pollution, it remains hard to see how executive action alone will meet climate reduction goals. Cooperation with Congress will be key.
  5. There is still unfinished business for this Congress that must be addressed. Though the election is over, the congressional session is not. COVID-19 continues to ravage Great Lakes communities, disproportionately impacting communities of color and low-income communities. Blown-apart state and local budgets require urgent remedy. And the day-to-day business of government – the services that Great Lakes communities rely upon – must be funded. Foremost among these priorities must be a moratorium on drinking water utility shutoffs. No one should have to go without the basic need of clean water because of an inability to pay. The Coalition will be working with Congress in the coming weeks to advance clean water and Great Lakes priorities in the Water Resources Development Act, end-of-year federal budget, and COVID-19 relief.

Stay tuned for updates from Washington in the coming weeks as the Coalition continues to navigate the results of the 2020 election and its attendant transfer of power.

 

The post 2020 Election: Implications for Great Lakes, Drinking Water, Public Health appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/2020-election-implications-for-great-lakes-drinking-water-public-health/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (November 12, 2021) – The U.S. Senate released its annual budget bills on Tuesday, providing status-quo funding for core Great Lakes and clean water programs and omitting more than $11 billion in House-backed supplemental investments to fix drinking water and sewage infrastructure and tackle chronic lead contamination.

Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, said:

“The Senate’s budget bills signal business as usual at a time when urgent threats to our drinking water and public health demand a more robust response. We urge Senate and House members, as they work to forge a budget compromise, to ensure that every person has access to clean, safe and affordable water by substantially boosting federal investments in clean water priorities that will accelerate progress in restoring the Great Lakes, protecting our drinking water, improving access to affordable water, safeguarding our public health, and bolstering the economy.”

The U.S. Senate funding bills include:

  • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Senate Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2021: $320 million – same as Fiscal Year 2020 enacted. House FY2021: Up to $335 million — $15 million increase from FY2020.
  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: Senate FY2021: $1,638,826,000 — no increase from FY2020. House FY2021: same.
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: Senate FY2021: $1,126,088,000 — no increase from FY2020. House: same.
  • Small and Disadvantaged Communities program: Senate FY2021: $26.408 million — $1 million increase from FY2020. House FY2021: $26 million — $592,000 increase from FY2020.
  • Lead testing in Schools program: Senate FY2021: $26.5 million — $500,000 increase from FY2020. House FY2021: $26,000,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: Senate FY2021: $21.511 million — $2 million increase from FY2020. House: $20 million — $489,000 increase from FY2020.
  • 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: Senate FY2021: $32 million — 4 million increase from FY2020. House FY2021: $56,700,000 — $28.7 million increase.

The U.S. House has included the following emergency supplemental funding. The Senate has not included any emergency supplemental funding in its budget bills.

  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $6.355 billion
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $3.855 billion
  • Lead Testing in Schools: $50 million
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: $500 million
  • 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $400 million

The post U.S. Senate Releases Business-As-Usual Budget Bills appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/u-s-senate-releases-business-as-usual-budget-bills/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (October 30, 2020) – The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition named Marnie Urso as co-chair of their governance board. Urso serves as the policy director of Audubon Great Lakes, a regional office of National Audubon Society, where she works to advance environmental and policy initiatives in the Great Lakes region. She will officially start her co-chair role on November 2, 2020.

“We are thrilled to welcome Marnie Urso as the new co-chair of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Her passion and expertise will be essential in our efforts to restore and protect the Great Lakes and to support the millions of people who rely on the lakes for their drinking water, public health, jobs, and quality of life. Federal investments in the Great Lakes are producing results, but serious threats remain. We look forward to continue our strong relationship with Audubon to make the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes a national priority.”

“Healthy waters mean healthy people, birds and wildlife,” said Urso. “I am honored to be named co-chair of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. Protecting and restoring the Great Lakes is critical for the health and quality of life of the region and nation. I look forward to working with the Coalition in this new role to work for the equitable protection and restoration of this vital resource for all who depend upon it.”

The Great Lakes still face great threats but thanks to Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and its members, the region is cleaning up toxic pollution that threatens people and wildlife, reducing polluted runoff that causes harmful algal blooms, stopping invasive species that harm wildlife and outdoor recreation, reversing habitat destruction that harms the environment and hurts the economy, and fixing the region’s aging water infrastructure. Federal investments are producing results in communities across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

As policy director of Audubon Great Lakes (a member of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition), Urso leads conservation policy initiatives in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, working to mobilize Audubon’s 52 chapters and over 300,000 members across the region. Audubon Great Lakes works to conserve and restore the Great Lakes coastal ecosystem for the benefit of birds, other wildlife and people. Urso has been working to advance environmental public policy initiatives in the Great Lakes region and Washington DC for over 20 years – the last 15 of those with the National Audubon Society. Her primary focus over the course of her career has been state and federal policies focusing on Great Lakes restoration and climate change.

Audubon Great Lakes is a regional office of Audubon, learn more at gl.audubon.org and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 165 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at www.healthylakes.org or follow us on Twitter @healthylakes.

The post Great Lakes Coalition Names Audubon’s Marnie Urso as Co-Chair appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-coalition-names-audubons-marnie-urso-as-co-chair/

Pavan Vangipuram

Home to more than 30 million Americans, the Great Lakes region boasts a $7 billion commercial, recreational and tribal fisheries industry, which is reliant on a healthy ecosystem to thrive. Unfortunately, non-native species have taken hold in many of the lakes and surrounding wetlands and habitat. These aquatic and terrestrial invasive species are altering the basic functions of the Great Lakes and its connected waterways, disrupting fisheries and wildlife, hurting outdoor recreation, harming the economy, damaging infrastructure, and disrupting our way of life.

One of the biggest threats to Great Lakes fisheries and the broader Great Lakes economy is the invasive Asian Carp species, which already worked its way through the Mississippi River Watershed. Asian Carp has wrought profound economic and ecological damage in the ecosystems in which it has taken root. In places like the Illinois River, these invasive fish take over and make up 90 percent of the aquatic life present. In addition to the immense environmental damage they have caused, they present a threat to boaters—as the large fish, when startled by boats, jump out of the water and harm humans.

It is imperative to stop the invasive Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes. Chief among prevention methods are the construction of new defenses to repel the fish at Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Illinois, which would provide a crucial block for Asian Carp to enter the Great Lakes watershed from the Mississippi River watershed, where it has already taken hold.

The Brandon Road Lock and Dam is a proposed project that would be built on the Chicago River, below where it meets Lake Michigan. This project would provide a partial separation between the two watersheds, providing extra defense against Asian carp. Congress is poised to authorize construction of the project, which will follow the completion of preliminary engineering designs. A final agreement allowing the blueprints to be drawn up between the Army Corps and Illinois, where the project will be built is still pending.

Asian carp are not the only species threatening the Great Lakes – nor is the connection between the Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River the only means by which invasive species can enter the great lakes.  Another way invasive species can enter the Great Lakes comes from the ballast water, which ships take on to ensure consistent displacement as cargo is loaded and unloaded. This water is transported from port to port, and with it comes all manner of aquatic life, native and invasive. These vessels have the responsibility to not pollute waters with their discharge. Under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), the US EPA has the authority to protect U.S. waters from harmful biological pollution and needs to set strong standards that protect our Great Lakes, environment, economy, and communities from the harmful effects of non-native species. EPA proposed new discharge standards on Monday, October 26, which they claim will reduce ballast water’s environmental impact. It is accepting public comment on this proposal until November 25.

The 2020 election comes at a crucial moment for the Great Lakes and the communities that call this region home. We call on both major party presidential candidates, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, to pledge to build new prevention methods such as the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, as well as strengthen protections that clamp down on biological pollution from international vessels that discharge ballast water in the Great Lakes and other U.S. waters. These steps must be taken to ensure healthy lakes for the future to come.

The post Controlling Invasive Species in the Great Lakes: A 2020 Priority appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/controlling-invasive-species-in-the-great-lakes-a-2020-priority/

Pavan Vangipuram

Over the past decade, toxic algal blooms – giant plumes of algae that can contaminate drinking water, harm the ecosystem, and hurt the economy – have become a perennial issue in the Great Lakes and many inland waters.

Toxic algal blooms are having a profound impact on Great Lakes communities. A 2014 bloom in Lake Erie led to a “do not drink” advisory for more than 400,000 Toledo residents, and residents in communities across the region live under the threat of another disaster, while dealing with lost recreation, hurt businesses and ongoing economic and health issues that these blooms cause.

And the health effects from being exposed to these toxic blooms can be costly and debilitating. A 2019 study showed that exposure to these blooms can cause health impacts for residents that can reduce their life expectancy by years and cost tens of thousands of dollars in hospital bills.

Caused by a variety of factors including farm runoff of animal waste and fertilizer as well as a changing climate, toxic algal blooms have had a devastating impact on the health and economy of Great Lakes communities. A 2015 report estimates that these blooms can cost communities tens of millions of dollars in lost revenues from lost tourism, damaged property values, and required maintenance to water treatment facilities – and they’re only getting more frequent. As the climate changes, we can expect more intense and frequent algal blooms as storms grow wetter and waters grow warmer.

Stopping the spread of toxic blooms is a crucial element not only in providing water security, but economic well-being, for the tens of millions of Americans who rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water, recreation, fishing, tourism and a variety of other activities that power the Great Lakes economy. These blooms are everywhere – from Green Bay, Wis., to Saginaw Bay, Mich., as well as inland waters like Grand Lake St. Mary’s in Ohio.

This is why the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition is calling on presidential candidates to make addressing these toxic blooms a priority. This means investing in farm conservation practices and supporting policy solutions that help the region hit its goals to limit farm runoff pollution and curb toxic algae.

The next president needs to act with urgency because the region is not meeting its goals to reduce runoff pollution, and climate change will only exacerbate the threat of toxic algae as more intense storms wash more fertilizer and animal waste off of farm fields and into local waters.  Great Lakes communities can’t wait any longer. The time for action is now.

The post Toxic Algal Blooms: A 2020 Great Lakes Priority appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/toxic-algal-blooms-a-2020-great-lakes-priority/

Pavan Vangipuram

Communities across the Great Lakes are struggling with aging drinking and waste water infrastructure that is vital to providing safe drinking water, and nonstop wastewater treatment services that protect public health.

Thanks to federally funded programs such as the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), communities that struggle with aging water infrastructure can get low-interest or no-interest loans to upgrade these systems and protect communities and habitats over the long term.

These federal programs use an innovative financing structure that ensures a long-term supply of low-interest or no-interest loans for towns, cities and municipalities that need infrastructure improvements. Green Bay, Wisconsin is one success story of the SRF put into action. NEW Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, is perched at the edge of the Great Lakes, and serves about 236,000 residents, and cleans about 38 million gallons of water each day.

More than ten years ago, NEW Water realized that its solids handling facility was nearing the end of its useful life. Leaving things be was not an option; a compromised system would have jeopardized the nonstop service Green Bay residents and businesses had come to expect.

Leveraging SRF funding, NEW Water addressed this community need by building a new solids handling facility, called Resource Recovery and Electrical Energy, or R2E2.  Now that the project is complete, NEW Water is producing electricity, recovering and reusing heat, and is also recovering phosphorus in the form of struvite to be reused as a slow-release agricultural fertilizer. This project has shifted the utility from that of a consumer of resources, to that of a producer. In 2019, NEW Water’s biogas engine generators produced enough electricity to power about 1,560 average homes for an entire year.

“NEW Water-82” – To the right is the new solids building, part of the R2E2 facility, which features a state-of-the-art air pollution control system.

R2E2 enables NEW Water to continue providing clean water services for its community. NEW Water has recently received a Platinum Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for 17 years of consecutive, 100% permit compliance for wastewater discharge at its Green Bay Facility. Additionally, R2E2’s state-of-the-art air pollution control system allows NEW Water to meet and exceed stringent standards for air, which means cleaner air for the community.

“Thanks to the State Revolving Fund, we were able to save money for our ratepayers,” said Tom Sigmund, NEW Water Executive Director. “This added help is critical for communities like ours to protect valuable water resources and keep rates cost effective for the families, industries, and businesses who rely on us.”

The contributions of the SRF are many. The SRF staff at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources were critical in helping guide the NEW Water team through the funding application process. In large-scale projects such as R2E2, which cost approximately $180 million, approximately $144 million of which was funded through SRF, technical assistance can serve as a roadmap through the complexities of funding, which can involve multiple sources.

Green Bay’s success is one example of the sorts of benefits that communities can get from the State Revolving Fund Program. But more work needs to be done. The Great Lakes communities face an infrastructure backlog of over $188 billion, and the State Revolving Funds provide communities with the means to chip away at that. That’s why The Healing Our Waters—Great Lakes Coalition is advocating for additional water infrastructure funding (link to water infrastructure factsheet). With additional funding for the State Revolving Fund more communities facing problems like Green Bay did can get the help they need.

The post Waste Into Fuel: A Water Infrastructure Success in Green Bay appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/waste-into-fuel-a-water-infrastructure-success-in-green-bay/

Pavan Vangipuram

Clean water is the lifeblood of communities across the globe – it is a basic need that all humans share, and it is one we cannot do without. Unfortunately, many communities across the Great Lakes region do not have access to safe drinking water due to pollution, including toxic chemicals such as lead and PFAS, farm runoff, and industry-related contamination.

Over the past 10 years, federal investments to restore and protect the Great Lakes have focused on cleaning up pollution and past environmental harm. These investments are producing results, but there is more work to do.

It’s also important to prevent pollution in the first place. Federal funding must go hand in hand with strong clean water protections. This means strengthening policies to ensure that polluters are not allowed to foul the water we all rely upon.

It is up to all candidates running for president in 2020 to explain how they will uphold clean water protections, oppose the weakening of environmental laws, and ensure that Great Lakes communities have access to clean water.

Water pollution continues to plague rural and urban communities alike. From cancer-causing PFAS contamination in Oscoda, Michigan to toxic metals in Wisconsin being released into Lake Michigan, these pollutants affect all of our communities, as all of our waters are connected.

It’s vital to prevent pollution at its source, whether a stream or the Great Lakes themselves, because all of our waters are connected. All streams and rivers flow into bodies of water that we rely on for our health and recreation. There are no streams and rivers where it is safe to pollute. When polluters are able to pollute waters in one area, that pollution contaminates water throughout the system.

With towns and cities still struggling with unsafe drinking water, we need more – not less – protections for clean water.

These protections must take local voices into account. States and tribes must have the power to protect local rivers, wetlands, streams, lakes and the Great Lakes themselves, from pollution. We must honor our communities and the stake they have in ensuring that that children and families do not have to go without the basic need of clean water.

Clean water protections save money for the nation and for local communities by preventing costly cleanups. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – and by preventing dangerous and costly pollution, clean water protections more than pay for themselves in terms of lives saved and damage avoided.

Without strong clean water protections, we run the risk of undoing the progress we’ve made in cleaning up the Great Lakes and the streams and rivers that feed into them. The time is now. 2020 must be the year we redouble our commitment to strengthen our clean water protections and ensuring that no one must go without the basic need of clean water.

The post Strengthening Clean Water Protections: A 2020 Vision appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/strengthening-clean-water-protections-a-2020-vision/

Pavan Vangipuram

Dear Coalition Members,

Happy Tuesday! We hope your Labor Day weekend was restful and relaxing. Here’s what we’ve been up to these past couple of weeks!

HOW Quarterly Update: Be sure to mark your calendars on Wednesday, September 16, from 1-2 pm EST for a member update on what’s hpapening in Congress and what we’re looking ahead to in the fall. Stay tuned for more details, and a registration link!

Congressional Recess: Congress is still in recess, but the House will come back for a committee work period next week followed by a two week work period for the full House of Representatives. Stay tuned for updates!

WRDA Sign-on: Thanks to all who signed on to our letter thanking Congress for moving a Water Resources Development Act and urging support for Coalition priorities in a final agreement! You can read the letter here.

Great Lakes Priorities Series – GLRI: With the Democratic National Convention underway and the Republican National Convention next week, we’re releasing a series of blog posts on our 2020 Great Lakes Platform, which details clean water priorities that we’re calling on both candidates for president to support. Please see the first in the series here and stay tuned for more!

Coalition in New York Times: The New York Times recently published a letter from Coalition Director Laura Rubin highlighting the need for both major presidential candidates to champion policies that will benefit Great Lakes communities. Check it out here, and re-tweet us here!

Great Lakes Priorities Series – Water Infrastructure: We’ve published the second in our series of in-depth articles on our 2020 Great Lakes Platform! This week, we take a look at the woeful $188 billion water and wastewater infrastructure backlog that’s plaguing communities across the region, and what presidential candidates who want to support our communities must do to address it. Don’t forget to re-tweet us!

EPA Wetlands Grant: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applications to monitor ecological conditions in the coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes. Approximately $10 million of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding will be made available to one applicant to implement the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program for five years. The deadline for applications is Oct. 26, 2020. Click here for more information!

Soil And Water Webinar: Join the Michigan Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society for a couple of water quality presentations September 17, 2020 at 11:00 AM EST. The first will describe a project in the River Raisin Watershed in which IWR is conducting tile drain monitoring and sharing the data with producers to inform conservation efforts on their fields. The second will review IWR’s efforts to improve water quality and enhance groundwater recharge in the Maple River Watershed through an NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program. More information and a registration link here.

The post Great Lakes Digest – September 8, 2020 appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-digest-september-8-2020/

Pavan Vangipuram

Dear Coalition Members,

Happy Tuesday! Thanks to all who came to our quarterly update last week – if you missed it, no worries! We’ve got a link to the recording below.

Below, please see some updates!

Congress and COVID: Congress is back in session as negotiations for a COVID-19 relief package and funding for the new fiscal year continue. Please click here to retweet us and urge our representatives to support clean water priorities as part of the package!

Presidential Social Media: Please help us get presidential candidates to support our clean water platform by participating in our social media outreach. We’ve made it easy by providing daily tweets. If you’d like to continue to get daily quick social media links while the 2020 Presidential campaign is still in swing, please e-mail our communications coordinator, Pavan Vangipuram at VangipuramP@nwf.org. He’s making a list and checking it twice!

Additional COVID assistance funds: The HOW Coalition has received additional funds for regrants! We are offering grants to help NGOS and Frontline groups in this time of crisis toward new and ongoing water equity work, particularly oriented around helping overcome challenges presented by COVID-19. Please click here for more information and to see the application.

ICYMI – Coalition Quarterly Update: If you missed our quarterly update , don’t worry – we’ve got a recording for you right here.

Call for Climate Action: The International Association for Great Lakes Research released an unprecedented statement urging drastic changes to deal with climate change. Read the letter and share widely!

Job Opportunity: The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance is seeking a Watershed Coordinator! The Lower Fox River Watershed Coordinator will be responsible for working in cooperation with partner agencies, organizations, and individuals to advance, track and report work being done in the region to meet the 2040 Lower Fox River pollutant reduction targets to improve water quality in the Fox River and the Bay of Green Bay. Click here for more information.

The post Great Lakes Digest – September 22, 2020 appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-digest-september-22-2020/

Pavan Vangipuram

Today is part two in our series on Great Lakes Priorities that both major party Presidential candidates must pledge to address in order to truly stand with Great Lakes communities. Last week we looked at the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and the wonderful work it continues to do for the Great Lakes and the 30 million Americans who call the region home. This week we’ll be looking at water infrastructure and the ways that communities are impacted by a lack of funding for basic infrastructure.

Safe, affordable drinking water is a basic human need, but too many Great Lakes communities suffer from a lack of access. Among the many cracks in our infrastructure that COVID-19 has revealed, the humanitarian crisis that afflicts millions of Americans – the lack of access to safe, affordable drinking water – must be addressed by the next President.

Our current water safety and affordability woes stem from decades of under-investment in the nation’s water infrastructure. Over the past forty years, federal investments in local wastewater and drinking water infrastructure have dropped precipitously. And the results are tragic. Upwards of 16 million Americans have experienced a water shutoff, and one study predicts that by 2022, more than one-third of people in the United States will have trouble paying their water bills.

As federal funding dropped off, local authorities have had to pick up the slack, and, too often, they cannot keep up. This has resulted in cracked pipes, lead and heavy metal exposure, along with soaring maintenance costs and skyrocketing water bills for local people. Great Lakes communities, particularly low-income communities and communities of color, feel the brunt of this disinvestment through higher costs and less safe water.

The EPA estimates that fixing, updating and modernizing the region’s crumbling water infrastructure will cost up to $188 billion over the next 20 years, and that backlog grows every year that we fail to invest in our nation’s water infrastructure.

The Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition is calling on the next president to create and fund an equitable plan that addresses our region’s $188 billion backlog in drinking water, wastewater and storm water infrastructure to ensure that all people have safe, clean and affordable drinking water.

America is at a crossroads, and together we can choose to bequeath to future generations a thriving water system where access to clean water is something that no one has to go without. That future can be ours with equitable investments that make sure that communities that have borne the brunt of decades of disinvestment are heard first and foremost.

But time is of the essence. Every year that passes without a solution is one more year of risk for thousands of water systems that are in need of maintenance. Sewage overflows, corroded pipes, and lead poisoning are just some of the consequences that communities are dealing with and will continue to deal with, so long as this infrastructure backlog is left unaddressed.

It’s time for both Joe Biden and Donald Trump to pledge to stand with Great Lakes communities and communities across America. It’s time for them to pledge to work with Congress on a realistic, actionable and equitable plan to deal with what America has put off for too long, including a tripling of federal investments, to start. America’s communities can’t wait.

The post A Great Lakes Water Infrastructure Plan for the 2020s appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/a-great-lakes-water-infrastructure-plan-for-the-2020s/

Pavan Vangipuram

Dear Coalition Members,

Happy Monday! We hope you are enjoying these waning summer days. We’re happy to welcome you to the first in an ongoing series of bi-weekly digests, where you can keep up with what the coalition is focused on. Below, please find some updates on what the Coalition has been doing around the presidential nominating conventions, getting out the vote for 2020, and other exciting developments!

WRDA Negotiations in Congress: Thanks to the efforts of our Coalition members, partners and allies, this year’s America’s Water Infrastructure Act and Water Resources Development Act contain many of our funding priorities! Now, the bills are being reconciled by House and Senate leadership—and we want to make sure the final versions of these bills are as strong as they can be. Please sign on to our letter to House and Senate negotiators, thanking them for taking up these bills and urging them to support Coalition clean water priorities in the final bill.

2020 Election: Get involved! While the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition does not endorse or oppose political parties or candidates for office, that does not mean that we cannot make our voices heard! We’ve put together a 501-(c)(3)-friendly Civic Engagement Guide  for our members to use in their get-out-the-vote efforts that includes state-specific information on how to register to vote, find polling places, and request vote-by-mail and absentee ballots. On September 1, we’ll be joining the Choose Clean Water and the Delaware River Watershed Coalitions in a national get-out-the-vote effort. Stay tuned for more!

Great Lakes Priorities Series – GLRI: With the Democratic National Convention underway and the Republican National Convention next week, we’re releasing a series of blog posts on our 2020 Great Lakes Platform, which details clean water priorities that we’re calling on both candidates for president to support. Please see the first in the series here and stay tuned for more!

Podcast with Paco: Check out this podcast with Equity and Action Advisory Committee member Paco Ollervides on how nonprofit boards can become more diverse and representative of our demographics.

Equity Roadmap: Congratulations to Coalition Member Milwaukee Water Commons on the release of a new report, Milwaukee: An Equitable Water Future, with the U.S. Water Alliance and the Milwaukee Water Equity Taskforce! Check it out and spread the word!

Water is Life Festival: The 2020 Water is Life festival is going virtual this year due to COVID-19, so don’t miss out! With Coalition partners Freshwater Future and We The People Michigan, this two day festival (September 5-6) will feature arts, music and inspiration! Register here.

Racism: The Real Public Health Crisis: If you missed this excellent talk with Coalition supporters The Erb Family Foundation about the public health impacts of white supremacy culture in America, don’t worry – there’s a recording. Check it out!

Job Opportunity: Our friends over at the Alliance for the Great Lakes are hiring a Staff Writer! Please be sure to forward this posting along!

The post Great Lakes Digest – August 24, 2020 appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/gld_aug_24_2020/

Pavan Vangipuram

Democrats and Republicans are hosting their nominating conventions this week and next. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition – while we do not endorse or oppose any candidate for office – are urging all candidates to adopt a strong Great Lakes platform.

Today, we kick off a series of articles on the Coalition’s five-plank clean water platform. We’ll be discussing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative today, and over the next week, we’ll discuss the need for elected officials to boost clean water infrastructure funding, uphold clean water protections, fight invasive species, and confront toxic algal outbreaks.

Over the last 10 years, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has been a major driver behind the rejuvenation and recovery of the Great Lakes ecosystem from toxic pollution and other harmful human effects.

But serious threats remain. The 2020 election unfolds amid persistent threats to the health and safety of our Great Lakes communities. While significant progress has been made, much more remains to be done.

To build upon the gains already made and ensure a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem for future generations, presidential contenders Joe Biden and Donald Trump must pledge to increase the authorization and funding for the GLRI to $475 million to boost our work of cleaning up toxic contamination, reducing polluted runoff, stopping invasive species, restoring wetlands and other habitats, and responding to emerging threats.

Since 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been providing results for communities in the Great Lakes states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. Through innovative partnerships with local environmental organizations, state and federal governments, and citizen groups, the GLRI has made progress in cleaning up some of the most toxic hotspots around the region – sites with cancer-causing pollutants that closed beaches, led to fish consumption advisories, and prohibited the drinking of water.

Nearly two-fifths of the region’s most toxic hotspots have been cleaned up, sparking redevelopment and business opportunities on waterfronts and improving water quality for drinking water. Conservation practices on local farms have doubled, reducing harmful polluted runoff that feeds toxic algae. Habitat and wildlife restoration and connectivity continue to improve with over 5,250 miles of rivers cleared of dams and other barriers.

These projects are protecting drinking water, providing more recreational opportunities, and helping the health of communities. At a time when clean, safe drinking water is even more vital to health and safety, these GLRI funds make a difference.   In Michigan, GLRI funds helped remove and replace a risky, dilapidated dam with a natural “rock ramp” – allowing fish access to Saginaw Bay for the first time in over a century. In Wisconsin, a streambank restoration reduced storm runoff, improving flood management and providing habitat for native species. In Pennsylvania, over 400 acres of wetland habitat were removed of invasive species and restored to a healthy habitat, greatly increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation.

These are just a few of the thousands of projects that the GLRI has enabled over the past ten years – and many more are waiting to start! The bottom line is that there is more work to do, and we cannot let federal restoration efforts falter. Cutting funding will only make projects harder and more expensive the longer we wait. If every person is to have a healthy community to live in, with safe drinking water and fish to eat, and equitable access to recreate on clean beaches, shorelines, and restored landscapes, we must increase our efforts and focus resources in these areas today. Moving forward, our work will only get harder as the climate changes and we discover new threats.

Candidates who support the Great Lakes must make an unequivocal pledge to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at no less than $475 million and provide a robust roadmap for continuing the progress we’ve made into the 2020s.

The post The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: A 2020 Vision appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative-a-2020-vision/

Pavan Vangipuram

As the 2020 election fast approaches, the importance of civic participation in the election process is more important than ever. Great Lakes individuals must vote in order to make our voices heard and ensure that our elected officials are held accountable.

Below, please find state-by-state resources that will help your members vote this election cycle. Please note that the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition is a non-partisan group that does not endorse or support parties or candidates for office. All resources below are curated from publicly-facing state websites.

Illinois:

Indiana:

Minnesota:


Michigan
:

New York:

Ohio:

Pennsylvania:

Wisconsin:

The post 2020 Civic Engagement Guide appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/2020-civic-engagement-guide/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 31, 2020) — The Healing Our Waters–Great Lakes Coalition applauds the passage of the U.S. House spending package (H.R. 7617) this afternoon, the second package key to funding Great Lakes programs across the region in fiscal year 2021, which begins Oct. 1. The two packages (the first of which cleared the House last week) include modest year-over-year increases that are bolstered substantially by more than $11 billion in emergency supplemental funding for clean water programs.

“The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports the House funding package that was passed today,” said Chad Lord, policy director for the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition. “The two packages together substantially boost federal investments in clean water priorities that will accelerate progress in restoring the Great Lakes, protecting our drinking water, improving access to affordable water, safeguarding public health, and bolstering the economy.”

“The priorities in this bill are long-standing Coalition priorities, and we look forward to working with bipartisan members in the Senate to pass this legislation to better our environment, economy, and to protect our public health.”

Regular Appropriations:

  • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Up to $335 million — $15 million increase from Fiscal Year 2020 enacted (FY2020).
  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $1,638,826,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $1,126,088,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Small and Disadvantaged Communities program: $26,000,000 — $592,000 increase from FY2020.
  • Lead testing in Schools program: $26,000,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $20,000,000 — $489,000 increase from FY2020.
  • 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $56,700,000 — $28.7 million increase.
  • NOAA Harmful Algal Blooms: $22,000,000 — $3 million increase.
  • NOAA Sea Grant: $71,000,000 — $4 million increase.
  • Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal Barrier – $14,300,000 — $360,000 increase.

Additional Emergency Supplemental Funding:

  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $6,355,000,000
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $3,855,000,000
  • Lead Testing in Schools program: $50,000,000
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $1,000,000,000
  • 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $400,000,000

The post Second Major Funding Package Clears U.S. House, Includes Great Lakes, Clean Water Priorities appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/second-major-funding-package-clears-u-s-house-includes-great-lakes-clean-water-priorities/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (July 29, 2020) — The House of Representatives today passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2020 by a voice vote. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports several core Great Lakes and clean water priorities in the bill that help stop Asian carp, halt toxic algal outbreaks, and create incentives for nature-based solutions to flooding and other environmental problems. The bill also calls for expanding an existing study to look at the impact of record high lake levels on coastal flooding, storm damage, ecosystem restoration and recreation.

“This bill advances solutions to confront serious threats facing the Great Lakes and communities—and the investments it makes in clean water priorities will benefit our environment and economy,” said Chad Lord, policy director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We thank members of the Great Lakes congressional delegation for standing up for our Great Lakes, drinking water, public health, and quality of life.”

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed similar water infrastructure legislation in April, which not only included the Water Resources Development Act, but also supported critical investments in stormwater, drinking water, and wastewater infrastructure.

“Water infrastructure legislation is moving in both the House and Senate,” continued Lord. “Clean water is a basic need. Now is the time for Congress to come together and pass a water infrastructure bill that helps Great Lakes communities ensure everyone has access to safe, affordable water.”

The Water Resources Development Act (H.R. 7575) authorizes the construction of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to prevent invasive Asian Carp from entering the Great Lakes and wreaking environmental and economic harm.

The bill also contains provisions to study and combat the rise of toxic algal blooms, which can poison drinking water and threaten the health of communities which rely on the Great Lakes for water.

In addition, the 2020 Water Resources Development Act includes provisions for:

  • Nature-based solution for flood control projects in which wetlands, parks, forests, and rain gardens absorb rain and storm water before it overwhelms communities.
  • Studies of the effects that rising lake levels are having on Great Lakes communities.
  • Technical assistance to non-Federal interests and federal agencies to plan for increased flooding and extreme weather caused by climate change.
  • A pilot program to explore strategies for damage reduction during extreme weather events for economically disadvantaged communities.

The Coalition sent a letter to the Senate Committee outlining provisions it supports in April. You can read it here.

Congress must reconcile the two bills this fall before sending final legislation to the President.

The post House Passes Bill, Bolstering Defenses Against Asian Carp, Toxic Algae appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/house-passes-bill-bolstering-defenses-against-asian-carp-toxic-algae/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 24, 2020) — The Healing Our Waters — Great Lakes Coalition applauds the U.S. House of Representatives and its Great Lakes Delegation for passing the Interior and Environment funding bill this afternoon. The bill’s modest year-over-year increases are bolstered substantially by more than $11 billion in emergency supplemental funding for clean water programs.

“The Healing Our Waters — Great Lakes Coalition fully supports the House Interior and Environment funding bill that was passed today,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters — Great Lakes Coalition. “The bill substantially boosts federal investments in clean water priorities that will accelerate progress in restoring the Great Lakes, protecting our drinking water, improving access to affordable water, safeguarding public health, and bolstering the economy.

“The priorities in this bill are long-standing Coalition priorities, and we look forward to working with bipartisan members in the Senate to pass this legislation to better our environment and economy and to protect our public health.”

The bill also includes an additional $500 million in emergency supplemental funding for lead pipe replacement through the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program. Lead by Rep. Tlaib (MI-13) and Rep. Kildee (MI-05), supported by the Coalition and approved by the House, the amendment doubled the funds available for the program.

The Interior and Environment funding bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. The funding bill includes:

Regular Appropriations:

  • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Up to $335 million — $15 million increase from Fiscal Year 2020 enacted (FY2020).
  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $1,638,826,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $1,126,088,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Small and Disadvantaged Communities program: $26,000,000 — $592,000 increase from FY2020.
  • Lead testing in Schools program: $26,000,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $20,000,000 — $489,000 increase from FY2020.
  • 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $56,700,000 — $28.7 million increase.

Additional Emergency Supplemental Funding:

  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $6,355,000,000
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $3,855,000,000
  • Lead Testing in Schools program: $50,000,000
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $1,000,000,000
  • 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $400,000,000

The bill includes funding for fiscal year 2021, which begins October 1, 2020, and ends September 30, 2021.

The post Great Lakes Coalition Applauds House Passage of Major Infrastructure Bill appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-coalition-applauds-house-passage-of-major-infrastructure-bill/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 10, 2020)—The Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Coalition is strongly supporting the U.S. House Interior and Environment funding bill, which passed out of committee today and contains substantial increases in clean water priorities, including Great Lakes restoration, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and lead-reduction in drinking water. The bill’s modest year-over-year increases are bolstered substantially by more than $11 billion in emergency supplemental funding for clean water programs in the bill.

“The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition fully supports the House Interior and Environment funding bill that was passed out of committee today,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “The bill substantially boosts federal investments in clean water priorities that will accelerate progress in restoring the Great Lakes, protecting our drinking water, improving access to affordable water, safeguarding public health, and bolstering the economy.

“The priorities in this bill are long-standing Coalition priorities, and we look forward to working with bipartisan members in the House to pass this legislation to better our environment and economy and to protect our public health.”

The Interior and Environment funding bill now heads to the full House of Representatives for consideration. The House is expected to vote on the bill later this month. The funding bill includes:

Regular Appropriations:

  1. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Up to $335 million — $15 million increase from Fiscal Year 2020 enacted (FY2020).
  2. Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $1,638,826,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  3. Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $1,126,088,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  4. Small and Disadvantaged Communities program: $26,000,000 — $592,000 increase from FY2020.
  5. Lead testing in Schools program: $26,000,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  6. Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $20,000,000 — $489,000 increase from FY2020.
  7. Sec. 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $56,700,000 — $28.7 million increase.

Additional Emergency Supplemental Funding:

  1. Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $6,355,000,000
  2. Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $3,855,000,000
  3. Lead Testing in Schools: $50,000,000
  4. Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: $500,000,000
  5. Sec. 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $400,000,000

The clean water priorities in the bill have been long-standing priorities for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. The bill includes funding for fiscal year 2021, which begins October 1, 2020, and ends September 30, 2021.

The post Coalition Applauds $11 Billion Boost for Drinking Water, Great Lakes in House Bill appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-applauds-11-billion-boost-for-drinking-water-great-lakes-in-house-bill/

Pavan Vangipuram

The Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition is providing $25,000 in ­­grants to community organizations working to assist those who have felt the myriad effects of COVID-19, specifically related to clean water.­

Grantees include Abiinooji-Aki Inc. in Hayward, Wis., the Flint Development Center in Flint, Mich., the Junction Coalition in Toledo, Ohio, True Skool in Milwaukee, Wis., and Milwaukee Water Commons in Milwaukee, Wis. Each will receive a $5,000 grant toward new and ongoing water equity work, particularly oriented around helping overcome challenges presented by COVID-19.

“We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has been disproportionately impacting low-income communities and communities of color, particularly Black and indigenous communities,” said Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition Director Laura Rubin. “Several of our member organizations serve communities that struggle with access to clean water and water-based recreation, water affordability, and water equity issues. We hope that these grants can help them continue to do this important work.”

“This grant will give Milwaukee Water Commons the capacity to implement new, crisis-specific technological and communications strategies to strengthen our coalitions and increase the capacity of our partners to work for water equity and justice, which is even more critical during this time of COVID-19 crisis and its disproportionate impact on communities of color,” said Milwaukee Water Commons Co-Executive Director Brenda Coley.

Water is so vital and most needed for all of eternity and beyond,” said MaryEllen Baker of Abiinooji-Aki Inc. “My body, mind and spirit is so touched with the thoughts of how many individuals, families, communities and countries we’ll be able to enlighten about life, water, and Mother Earth with the Women and Water Symposium this August.”

“We are TRUEly grateful for the BOLD doers out there and we are inspired more than ever. People are stepping up and working together in collective support, that’s #TRUEgiving, said Shalina S. Ali, co-executive director of TRUE Skool. “TRUE Skool has continued to engage our amazing youth and community network during these uncertain times and this investment helps with unforeseen adjustments. “

The list of grantees includes:

Abiinooji-Aki Inc: Founded in 1992, Abiinooji-Aki works to empower the Ojibwe Tribe in the northern Great Lakes. This grant will go toward the 4th Annual Women and Water Coming Together Symposium, August 2-6, bringing together women and men and providing them with Native American Teachings, Healing Rituals, Songs and Stories to educate the public on the natural order of things around life and water. The goal is personal empowerment and advocacy for long-term clean water solutions.

Flint Development Center: A project of the Flint Development Group, the Flint Development Center is a community space that provides the residents of Flint facilities to safely engage in recreational, social and cultural programs. The grant will go toward bolstering The Mckenzie Croom Flint Community Lab and The Flint Communications HUB, as well as daily food and water drives and community outreach and education.

Junction Coalition: Serving the diverse Junction neighborhood of Toledo, Ohio, the Junction Coalition is a network of dedicated individuals working toward equitable outcomes for Toledo’s residents. The grant will go toward preventing water shutoffs and increasing citizen participation in local cleanup efforts.

Milwaukee Water Commons: Rooted in connection and community collaboration, Milwaukee Water Commons promotes stewardship of, equitable access to and shared decision-making for our common waters. The grant will go toward communications efforts to support ongoing anti-racism work.

TRUE Skool: A grassroots art movement in Milwaukee, Wisc., TRUE Skool uses urban arts as a tool to engage youth in social justice and humanities education, community service, and civic engagement. This grant will go toward summer youth programs oriented toward environmental justice and water equity.

The post Great Lakes Coalition Awards $25,000 in COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency Assistance Grants to Frontline Groups appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-coalition-awards-25000-in-covid-19-pandemic-emergency-assistance-grants-to-frontline-groups/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 7, 2020)—The Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Coalition is strongly supporting the U.S. House Interior and Environment funding bill, which contains substantial increases in clean water priorities, including Great Lakes restoration, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and lead-reduction in drinking water. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies today approved by voice vote its fiscal year 2021 bill. The bill’s modest year-over-year increases are bolstered substantially by more than $11 billion in emergency supplemental funding for clean water programs that were added to the bill.

“The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition fully supports the House Interior and Environment funding bill,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “The bill substantially boosts federal investments in clean water priorities that will accelerate progress in restoring the Great Lakes, protecting our drinking water, improving access to affordable water, safeguarding public health, and bolstering the economy. The priorities in this bill have been long-term Coalition priorities, and we look forward to working with bipartisan members in the House to pass this legislation to better our environment and economy, and to protect our public health.”

The Interior and Environment funding bill, which was favorably reported by the subcommittee today is headed for full committee vote on Friday, includes:

Regular Appropriations:

  • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Up to $335 million — $15 million increase from Fiscal Year 2020 enacted (FY2020).
  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $1,638,826,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $1,126,088,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Small and Disadvantaged Communities program: $26,000,000 — $592,000 increase from FY2020.
  • Lead testing in Schools program: $26,000,000 — no increase from FY2020.
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program: $20,000,000 — $489,000 increase from FY2020.
  • Sec. 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $56,700,000 — $28.7 million increase.

Additional Emergency Supplemental Funding:

  • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $6,355,000,000
  • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $3,855,000,000
  • Lead Testing in Schools: $50,000,000
  • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: $500,000,000
  • Sec. 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants: $400,000,000

The clean water priorities in the bill have been long-standing priorities for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. The bill includes funding for fiscal year 2021, which begins October 1, 2020, and ends September 30, 2021.

The post $11 Billion Boost for Drinking Water, Great Lakes in House Interior Bill appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/11-billion-boost-for-drinking-water-great-lakes-in-house-interior-bill/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 1, 2020)—The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Moving Forward Act, which would authorize over $1.5 trillion in new infrastructure spending. The bill, H.R. 2, includes $40 billion over five years for sewage infrastructure and boosts Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding to $475 million annually. It also devotes more than $1 billion over five years to help public utilities deal with toxic PFAS contamination. And it devotes more than $22 billion over five years to replace lead pipes into people’s homes. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports the bill.

“We thank the members of the House of Representatives that voted for the Moving Forward Act, which will benefit communities, public health, and the Great Lakes,” said Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition Director Laura Rubin.  “The need for this investment in our nation’s infrastructure is undeniable and urgent. The federal government’s decades-long disinvestment in water infrastructure has led to a staggering $188 billion backlog in work in the Great Lakes region, public health crisis due to lead contamination and other pollutants in drinking water, and skyrocketing water rates that are leaving many people with unaffordable water bills. These new investments will go a long way in improving access and affordability to the basic need of clean drinking water. We look forward to working with bipartisan members of the Senate to pass and fund this legislation.”

U.S. Reps. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) were responsible for inserting into the bill the amendment authorizing $4.5 billion per year ($22.5 billion over five years) to replace dangerous lead pipes to protect people from lead poisoning.

The post House Passes Massive Infrastructure Bill to Benefit Drinking Water, Great Lakes appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/house-passes-massive-infrastructure-bill-to-benefit-drinking-water-great-lakes/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (June 30, 2020)—The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday began debate on the Moving Forward Act, which would authorize over $1.5 trillion in new infrastructure spending. The bill, H.R. 2, includes $8 billion for sewage infrastructure and boosts Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding to $475 million. It also devotes more than $1 billion to help public utilities deal with toxic PFAS contamination. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports the bill.

“The Moving Forward Act will benefit communities, public health, and the Great Lakes,” said Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition Director Laura Rubin. “The need for this investment in our nation’s infrastructure is undeniable and urgent. The federal government’s decades-long disinvestment in water infrastructure has led to a staggering $179 billion backlog in work in the Great Lakes region, public health crisis due to lead contamination and other pollutants in drinking water, and skyrocketing water rates that are leaving many people with unaffordable water bills. These new investments will go a long way in improving access and affordability to the basic need of clean drinking water. We look forward to working with bipartisan members of Congress to pass and fund this legislation.”

The post U.S. House Infrastructure Package A Boon for Great Lakes appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/u-s-house-infrastructure-package-a-boon-for-great-lakes/

Pavan Vangipuram

The 2020 election has unfolded at a critical juncture for the Great Lakes and the communities who call this region home. We’ve seen progress over the last 15 years to restore and protect the Great Lakes.

But more work remains. Though a scheduled debate between major party Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden in Michigan had to be canceled recently due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the environmental issues that are pressing upon Great Lakes communities have not let up – indeed, the pandemic has exposed critical fault lines in the infrastructure needed to protect the Great Lakes.

That’s why the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition is urging White House aspirants Donald Trump and Joe Biden to support a robust clean water platform to tackle Great Lakes issues now and beyond. Environmental stewardship and healthy communities are not only about fixing problems as they arise – they’re also about putting solutions in place for the long term that leave no community behind. We are asking candidates to:

Invest in Water Infrastructure

The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened already existing inequities when it comes to water rates and affordability. The pandemic illustrated how  water shutoffs impact low-income communities and communities of color. These impacts have been growing for decades because of disinvestment in community water infrastructure. The federal government’s contribution to local water infrastructure projects has declined from 63 percent of water infrastructure spending in 1977 to 9 percent today. This disinvestment has left communities struggling with high rates and unsafe water.

To stand up for Great Lakes communities, candidates must triple federal investments to fix our region’s water infrastructure. A staggering $179 billion is needed to address the infrastructure backlog in the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. And climate change will only exacerbate existing challenges due to more intense rain events that can overwhelm antiquated infrastructure. Our next president must make our water infrastructure backlog a priority.

Support Great Lakes Restoration

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is producing results to protect and restore the Great Lakes from a variety of threats in the 10 years it has been in place. But much more work needs to be done. The next president must ramp up Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding to $475 million to boost the work already done in cleaning up toxic contamination, reducing polluted runoff, stopping invasive species, restoring wetlands and other habitats, and responding to emerging threats.

The Great Lakes are the source of drinking water for 30 million Americans, and provide billions of dollars in fishing, recreation, tourism and other industries to local economies. Over the past decade, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has provided the communities that live around the Great Lakes untold economic and social benefits. Studies show that the GLRI returns to the community $3 in economic benefit for every $1 invested. You can find a list of some of the great projects we’ve written about here.

Support Clean Water Protections

Clean water is a basic human need, but too many towns and cities are still living with unsafe drinking water, due to well-known contaminants like lead and emerging contaminants such as toxic PFAS. Federal laws that help communities protect drinking water from threats like lead and PFAS must be rigorously enforced. Candidates who support the Great Lakes must commit to enforcing clean water and drinking water laws and developing tougher standards to help community’s clean-up and prevent public health problems from legacy pollutants, existing contamination, and emerging threats in the region’s waterways.

Control Invasive Species

The Great Lakes support a $7 billion fishing industry that is being threatened by invasive species – particularly Asian Carp. In places in the Illinois River, where the carp have taken over, these invasive fish make up 90 percent of the aquatic life present. It is vital that Asian Carp not be allowed to take root in the Great Lakes. The next President must commit to building new prevention measures at Brandon Road Lock and Dam to prevent the transfer of Asian Carp from the Mississippi River Basin to the Great Lakes Basin.

End Toxic Algal Blooms

Toxic blooms of algae are a significant threat to the ecology of the Great Lakes and the safety of the drinking water for those who live in Great Lakes communities. In 2014, a toxic algal outbreak blanketed western Lake Erie, prompting Toledo city officials to issue a “do not drink” advisory impacting more than 400,000 people. Slow progress has been made towards the 40 percent Lake Erie phosphorus reduction target for 2025, and both observed and projected climate change impacts, such as increases in heavy rainfall and rising temperatures, are increasing the prevalence and threats posed by HABs across the region. Candidates must explain how they will reduce harmful algal blooms across the region by linking the region’s Farm Bill conservation funding and Clean Water Act programs to numeric, water-quality based outcomes.

 

The post The 2020 Election: A Critical Time for the Great Lakes appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/the-2020-election-a-critical-time-for-the-great-lakes/

Pavan Vangipuram

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced on June 3 that the agency was reestablishing the Great Lakes Advisory Board, after allowing the board to sit in limbo for nearly three years. The board, a multi-stakeholder group comprised of academics, civic servants, advocates, tribes, water utilities, and industry interests, has provided guidance to the EPA to direct how the agency implements federal Great Lakes restoration and protection actions.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports re-constituting the Great Lakes Advisory Board, if it is done in the spirit of advancing restoration and protection priorities. Here’s our take on the recent action, including what the board can accomplish over the last five months of President Trump’s first term in office.

Questions Remain about Goals of Advisory Board

Generally, we support reconvening the advisory board. However, it’s hard to reconcile EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s crowing about the Trump Administration’s support of the Great Lakes when you examine what the current White House has done, or, what it has not done.  The Trump Administration had no use for the advisory board. The Trump EPA has convened the board two times during his presidency—in the first six months of his term. By comparison, the Great Lakes Advisory Board convened 23 times during President Obama’s second term in office. This, perhaps, is not surprising given the Trump Administration’s track record on the environment, generally, and Great Lakes, specifically. The Trump Administration gutted Great Lakes funding three times in its proposed budgets to Congress (the last time changing its mind when cornered at a visit to Michigan); eviscerated clean air and clean water protections (most recently a rollback of protections for streams and wetlands and weakening of state and tribal authority to protect local waters); and, it has disregarded science in much of its policy-setting.

The new board has a lot of work to make up for. If the board had been reconstituted earlier, it may have been a welcome outside voice to help provide input on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan 3 – the five-year strategy to guide federal restoration priorities and investments. But the action plan was released last fall during the board’s hiatus. With only five months left before national elections, it will be important for the EPA to quickly explain what the advisory board hopes to accomplish in the months ahead./

Board Can Tackle Trump Disconnect on Environmental Protections, Environmental Justice

There is important work that the board, in theory, could help with. A good start would be to look at the connection between Great Lakes restoration goals and the aforementioned roll-back of clean water protections and other environmental laws. The board could implore the EPA to immediately halt Trump Administration executive actions that undermine clean water goals for the Great Lakes and waters across the country. The EPA’s own Science Advisory Board, for instance, found that the weakening of Clean Water Act guidance would lead to less protections for streams and wetlands. It would be beneficial to have federal restoration investments supported by federal law, not undermined by it by faulty interpretations of it.

The board can also examine a topic that it has asked the EPA to take more seriously in the past—the issue of environmental justice. The EPA itself has concluded that people of color, rural people, under-resourced communities and tribal communities disproportionately bear the brunt of pollution and degradation. It is important now, as the country grapples with the recent killing of George Floyd and systemic racism in society, that federal agencies look at how they are contributing to systemic racism. Great Lakes restoration and protection efforts can be included in that conversation. For example, in the nearly three years since the Great Lakes Advisory Board’s last convening, the connected issues of water shutoffs and water affordability have become increasingly salient and dire for millions of people in the Great Lakes region and across the country. Michigan State University researchers have found that, unless recent increases in water rates subside, by 2022 more than one-third of people in the United States will have trouble affording their water bills. Of course, the question is: Will the board deliver?

Board Leadership

Whether the board can deliver rests on two things—the EPA Administrator and the composition of the Advisory Board.  EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s record gives us pause. Under his leadership, the EPA dismantled core environmental protections. This needs to stop. Secondly, the success of the board depends on the members themselves. There are many talented individuals on the board—some of whom are hold-overs from the last iteration of the Great Lakes Advisory Board under President Obama. There is also ample representation from chemical, fossil fuel, and agriculture industries—sectors which have not always been keen to adopt forward-thinking environmental actions. In fact, many of those industries have been leading the charge for weakening environmental protections. Further, there is only one environmental voice on the board. That’s insufficient. (Full disclosure: The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition nominated itself to serve on the advisory board as well.) The Coalition would have preferred more environmental organizations on the board. This is not a difficult problem to solve if the Trump Administration welcomed those voices: The board previously had 20 people serve on it, and now it has 14. It would be easy to add members and strengthen the voices of those who are both advocating for and implementing Great Lakes restoration and protection projects in local communities.

Public Engagement Critical

We’ve laid out some areas where the board could definitely help; we’ve also outlined plenty of reasons that give us pause that this is merely for show. The formation of the Great Lakes Advisory Board in 2013 was an important step forward in the effort to restore and protect the Great Lakes. After the unprecedented regional collaboration in 2005 of more than 1,500 people to craft a $20 billion plan to restore and protect the Great Lakes, by 2012 the federal government had started to fund the plan. Projects were underway. It was time to assess what was working and what more needed to be done. The formation of Great Lakes Advisory Board was a way to continue to solicit stakeholder input to make sure that diverse voices maintained a seat at the table to help guide federal policy and implementation of federal restoration efforts. Great Lakes Advisory Board recommendations back then supported efforts to promote climate change, environmental justice, and adaptive management considerations into future planning. That kind of stakeholder input is still important—really, it always is. Convening outside stakeholders to challenge assumptions, provide new ideas, invite public input, and hold decisionmakers accountable is vital. The public always needs to be invited to help keep efforts on track and to ensure that restoration activities are as efficient and effective as possible. We hope that this effort is a roll-up-the sleeves, get-to-work endeavor that helps advance restoration priorities.

For our part, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition will continue to be a strong voice for restoration and protection and robust community engagement. And we will hold federal officials accountable if they shirk their duties.

The post EPA Reestablishes Great Lakes Advisory Board, after Three Years in Limbo appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/epa-reestablishes-great-lakes-advisory-board-after-three-years-in-limbo/

Pavan Vangipuram

The Trump Administration last week continued its assault on clean water protections, as the EPA finalized a rule that curtails the power of states and tribes to protect local rivers, wetlands, streams, lakes, and the Great Lakes themselves, from pollution. The rule strips decision-making authority from local communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York—leaving them more vulnerable to pollution.

Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, said:

“The Trump Administration’s actions make it painfully clear that it does not care about clean water, healthy communities, and, ultimately, the Great Lakes. With many of our towns and cities still living with unsafe drinking water, now is not the time to cut back on clean water enforcement. We need more – not less – protection for clean water. We urge the EPA to withdraw its proposal and work cooperatively with local communities, states and tribes to protect our waters that we depend on for drinking water, public health, jobs, and our quality of life.”

The Coalition is not alone in its opposition. Last year, Govs. Tony Evers (Wisconsin), J. B. Pritzker (Illinois), Tim Walz (Minnesota), Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), and Tom Wolf (Pennsylvania) opposed the Trump Administration’s attack on local waters, writing to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler: “We strongly oppose any attempt by this administration to undermine state authority and ability to enforce water quality standards. We remain committed to do what is necessary to protect sources of drinking water, public health and our environment. The residents of our states deserve to have this critical work continue unimpeded. We urge this administration to reconsider this executive order and respect the rights of states to protect our waters.”

Under current law, any project—such as a new pipeline or industrial facility—that could discharge pollution into waters of the United States must receive a federal permit. Historically, local communities have been able to have a voice in assessing whether the project can go forward as planned, whether it needs to make adjustments to account for potential environmental damage, or, in some cases, whether the project must be abandoned because it cannot meet local water and environmental standards. In the last few years, communities have used their authority to protect their waters from harmful pollution that coal terminals, liquefied natural gas export facilities, and pipelines discharge into vital streams and bodies of water.

The Trump Administration’s decision to strip states and tribes of decision-making authority makes it much harder—if not impossible—for local communities to protect local rivers, lakes, streams and other waters that they depend on for drinking water, recreation, and jobs.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition strongly opposed the move when it was announced, provided comment opposing the rule change, and urged the EPA to reconsider.

The Trump Administration’s disregard of local community input and oversight in local permitting decisions (known as Clean Water Act 401 certification process) comes on the heels of another sweeping rollback of clean water protections for streams and wetlands by the Trump Administration. The moves will further endanger waters that our communities depend on for drinking water, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and more.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is committed to opposing attacks on clean water protections. To protect and restore the Great Lakes and local rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands, it will take both robust federal investments and strong clean water protections.

To that end, the Trump Administration’s recent professed support for the Great Lakes through federal funding via the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative cannot erase a horrendous track record of eviscerating bedrock environmental protections that protect the air we breathe and the water we drink and are essential to protect the health of children and families—especially those in communities that have historically borne the brunt of environmental injustice, such as people of color, tribes, rural communities, and under-resourced communities.

The bottom line is that everybody has to do their part to protect the Great Lakes from pollution and degradation. Giving the green light to polluters to pollute more, taking away the voice of local communities in decision-making, and then making citizens pay for the cost of cleanup is not a vision of Great Lakes restoration that we support. It is ineffective, counterproductive, and undermines our progress, because it means that as we take one step forward, we are taking two steps backward.

The post Trump Assault on Clean Water Leaves Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, other Great Lakes States Vulnerable to More Pollution appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/trump-assault-on-clean-water-leaves-wisconsin-michigan-pennsylvania-other-great-lakes-states-vulnerable-to-more-pollution/

Pavan Vangipuram

Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition Director Laura Rubin recently sent a personal note to members in response to the tragic murder of George Floyd. We wanted to share it with the broader Great Lakes community.

Dear HOW Coalition members and partners,

The murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis was another painful reminder of how entrenched racism is in our society and how much work remains to create a just and equitable society.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition believes that we all have a role to play – as individual citizens and as advocacy organizations – in reforming local, state, and federal institutions to break the cycle of injustice and oppression that people of color – especially Black people – experience on a daily basis.

The Coalition supports efforts to break down systemic racism and racist policies that inflict physical, economic, and environmental harm on people of color. And we support the front-line organizations working in local communities to put an end to the violence, pollution, and economic harm that have been perpetrated on people of color, especially Black and Indigenous Americans, since the founding of our country.

There are several front-line organizations in the 160-member Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition that work every day to advance social justice in all of our communities. We’ve listed several of them below, so that you can learn more about them. I encourage you to get to know the work of these organizations and familiarize and educate yourselves about the programs and history of these groups—because while we all have a role to play in creating this equitable and just society, these groups can show us the way.  Please consider providing financial support to them or volunteering with them in addition to learning more.

Flint Development Center: http://www.flintdc.org/ The center in Flint, Mich., provides facilities where the residents of Flint and Genesee County can safely engage in recreational, social, educational, cultural, community service, civic, and governmental activities.

Green Leadership Trust: http://www.greenleadershiptrust.org/ The Trust works to build an environmental and conservation movement that wins, focusing on building power and diversity in any advocacy sector.

Junction Coalition: https://junctionfunction419.wixsite.com/junctioncoalition The Coalition in Toledo, Ohio, provides a viable voice to neighbors to cultivate healthy relationships throughout the community. The Junction Coalition seeks to promote four fundamental pillars of environmental, economic, social justice and peace education with local, state, and federal government to build a better quality of life for community members and for business owners who benefit the Junction community.

Milwaukee Water Commons: https://www.milwaukeewatercommons.org/ Milwaukee Water Commons is a cross-city network that fosters connection, collaboration and broad community leadership on behalf of our common waters. The organization promotes the stewardship of, equitable access to, and shared decision-making for our common waters.

We the People of Detroit: https://www.wethepeopleofdetroit.com/ As a community-based grassroots organization, We the People of Detroit aims to inform, educate, and empower Detroit residents on imperative issues surrounding civil rights, land, water, education, and the democratic process.

Wisconsin Green Muslims: https://wisconsingreenmuslims.org/ The grassroots environmental justice group educates the Muslim community and the general public about the Islamic environmental justice teachings, to apply these teachings in daily life and to form coalitions with others working toward a just, healthy, peaceful and sustainable future.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is committed to supporting and elevating the work of groups on the front lines of environmental injustice, and to work alongside leaders of color. The Coalition also commits to use our collective power to promote just and equitable policies and federal investments that recognize the specific barriers people of color and Black people face in benefiting from clean, safe and affordable water, as well as access to nature.

If there are ways that I or the Coalition can be of help, please reach out to me. If there are groups who are working on the frontlines to overturn environmental and racial injustices, please let me know. I am committed to an inclusive Coalition that prioritizes the health and well-being of people and communities as we work to restore and protect our region’s rivers, streams, wetlands, and Great Lakes. And I am here for you.

Laura

The post Working Towards a More Just and Equitable Society appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/working-towards-a-more-just-and-equitable-society/

Pavan Vangipuram

COVID-19 has devastated communities across the Great Lakes region, and has deepened many already existing racial and social inequities in public health outcomes, access to safe and clean drinking water, and many other areas. At the same time, many HOW Coalition members and other organizations are working within the communities that the Coronavirus pandemic has hit the hardest, advocating for and providing relief to those who need it most.

To support in these efforts, the HOW Coalition is offering help to member NGOS and frontline groups, and to facilitate members helping other members in this time of crisis. Working with our network of Coalition members, the Governance Board, and the Equity Advisory and Action Committee, we are offering financial resources and human resources (technical, policy, research, communication skills) through a small grant program (details below).

We recognize that many of our member groups and frontline groups and individuals need additional financial resources along with additional skills-based resources during the pandemic.  Through the Coalition’s relationships we hope to identify and provide these needed resources.

The HOW Coalition has up to $25,000 in funds and is developing a resource bank of skills and services available from HOW member groups.  The HOW Coalition is starting this effort with $25,000 but we are seeking opportunities to increase the amount of these funds.

Please click here to see the application. 

HOW is accepting applications from member frontline groups that focus on providing needed funds or resources to organizations for services during the pandemic.  Preference will be given to HOW member groups and we will encourage membership for others.

Applications can be brief and should not exceed one page.  Applications MUST include:

  • Goals for the proposed activity, the tactics and activity that will be employed, and the outcome/s (e.g. people served).
  • An explanation of why the applicant/organization is best positioned to do this work.
  • The budget needed for the work (financial or resource)
  • A timeline for work
  • Application forms can be found here

Please do not exceed one page for the narrative of the application.  Typical awards will be between $1,000-5,000.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  You can expect a response within 2 weeks from your application. There is no deadline for application.

Examples of project or needs that would be fundable include (but are not limited to):

Research—research on public drinking water stations, policy options, or other strategy

Trainings–remote work skills and tools, outreach strategies, cultural sensitivity

Writing–grant deliverables, translation services, press releases

Communications—assistance with setting up email list serves, zoom meetings or subscriptions, media training and advice, review of communications materials

Policy—consultation on strategy and implementation

Materials or supplies—masks, gloves, food, bottled water, printing

Staff—specific and time limited staffing needs

Direct Lobbying is ineligible.

A final report on how the funds were used, the outcome, and any lessons learned is required within a month of the completion of the project.

The post COVID-19 Crisis Help to Frontline Communities appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/covid-19-crisis-help-to-frontline-communities/

Pavan Vangipuram

Prioritizing the health and safety of the Great Lakes and the drinking water it provides to over 30 million Americans must be part of federal government investments to recover from the devastating Coronavirus pandemic, wrote nine organizations, representing businesses, tribes, local and state government, and environmental groups, in a letter to ranking members of Congress. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, representing hundreds of Great Lakes environmental groups, was a signatory to the letter.

“These are common-sense priorities for ensuring that everyone who calls the Great Lakes home has access to the basic need of clean drinking water,” said Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition director Laura Rubin. “As Congress considers stimulus measures to help America’s economy recover, it must recognize that investments in the Great Lakes and drinking water infrastructure will yield long-term environmental and public health benefits. We proudly join the groups who are signatories of this letter in urging Congress to support these clean water and Great Lakes priorities without delay.”

In April, the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition sent Congress a letter calling for stimulus funds to be used in repairing aging water infrastructure and Great Lakes restoration activities that protect source water, as well as for the prevention of water shut-offs.

The post Coalition Supports Investments in Drinking Water, Great Lakes in Stimulus Bill appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-supports-investments-in-drinking-water-great-lakes-in-stimulus-bill/

Pavan Vangipuram

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is supporting a bill introduced today in the U.S. House of Representatives that reverses the Trump Administration’s roll-back of clean water protections. The “Clean Water for All Act” stops the Trump Administration’s removal of protections for streams and wetlands—waters that feed public drinking water supplies for more than 117 million people across the country, including nearly 30 million people in the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, said:

“We wholeheartedly support this bill. Clean water is a basic need. With many of our cities and towns living with unsafe drinking water, we need more – not less – protection for clean water. We cannot allow pollution into small waterways without it affecting the rest of the water we all depend on. We all know wetlands and streams flow into small rivers, which flow into bigger rivers, and into lakes, including our Great Lakes, and ultimately the ocean. We look forward to working with elected officials to support this bill and protect our drinking water, our Great Lakes, and our public health.”

Within two years of the bill’s passage, a new clean water rule is to be crafted by the administrator of the EPA and secretary of the Army. According to the bill, the rule must prevent any: degradation of surface water quality; increased contaminant levels in drinking water sources; increased risks to human life or property; and disproportionate adverse impacts on minority or low-income populations.

The post Coalition Supports Bill Reversing Trump Attacks on Clean Water appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-supports-bill-reversing-trump-attacks-on-clean-water/

Pavan Vangipuram

Two major bills that boost water infrastructure investment were unanimously reported out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee yesterday, a major step forward in ensuring that all communities have access to clean and safe drinking water, as well as healthy ecosystems, the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition said. The bipartisan America’s Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2020 and Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 provide more than $4 billion in new funding for water infrastructure and almost $1 billion targeted at helping low-income, rural and tribal communities.

“This is a great start toward addressing some of the issues that have unfortunately prevented many in the Great Lakes region from accessing the basic need of clean drinking water,” said Laura Rubin, Director of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition. “The nation is facing a water infrastructure crisis. Communities are facing unsafe water from toxic pollutants like lead and PFAS, while seeing their water rates skyrocket. These federal investments are urgently needed to help provide clean and affordable drinking water to everyone – especially those people in communities which have historically borne the brunt of pollution and injustice. We urge the Senate to pass these bills now, because the longer we wait, the more costly and difficult these projects become.”

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition delivered a letter to Congress, which over 65 organizations signed, supporting key provisions in the bills such as:

  • Increasing the authorization for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to $2 billion and incrementally up to $3 billion, to help communities fix, repair, and update wastewater systems.
  • Providing $2.5 billion in additional funding to help communities fix, repair and update drinking water infrastructure.
  • Ensuring that a minimum of 10 percent of federal funding through the clean water SRF and 14 percent of federal funding through the drinking water SRF are provided as grants or no-interest loans to help resolve water affordability problems in communities across the country.
  • Tripling of grants, from $100 million to $300 million, to remediate toxic PFAS contamination, tackling a persistent threat to drinking water.
  • Investing almost $1 billion in new water infrastructure investment in low-income, rural and tribal communities.
  • Supporting lead-reduction projects in schools and communities.
  • Increasing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative authorization from $300 million to $375 million.

The bills now head to the full Senate for consideration.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has urged the U.S. Congress to boost water infrastructure for the last several years, as water affordability and poor quality continues to plague communities across the region. Great Lakes cities such as Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit have seen water rates increase dramatically over the last ten years, in large part due to inadequate federal investment.

The U.S. EPA estimates that the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin need more than $179 billion over the next 20 years to fix, update, and maintain their wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.

According to a Michigan State University report, if water rates continue to rise as they have, more than 35 percent of people in the United states will struggle to afford their water bills by 2022.

The post Bills to Inject $4 Billion in New Water Infrastructure Funding, Start Confronting Environmental Injustices appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/bills-to-inject-4-billion-in-new-water-infrastructure-funding-start-confronting-environmental-injustices-2/

Pavan Vangipuram

Two major bills that boost water infrastructure investment were unanimously reported out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee yesterday, a major step forward in ensuring that all communities have access to clean and safe drinking water, as well as healthy ecosystems, the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition said. The bipartisan America’s Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2020 and Drinking Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 provide more than $4 billion in new funding for water infrastructure and almost $1 billion targeted at helping low-income, rural and tribal communities.

“This is a great start toward addressing some of the issues that have unfortunately prevented many in the Great Lakes region from accessing the basic need of clean drinking water,” said Laura Rubin, Director of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition. “The nation is facing a water infrastructure crisis. Communities are facing unsafe water from toxic pollutants like lead and PFAS, while seeing their water rates skyrocket. These federal investments are urgently needed to help provide clean and affordable drinking water to everyone – especially those people in communities which have historically borne the brunt of pollution and injustice. We urge the Senate to pass these bills now, because the longer we wait, the more costly and difficult these projects become.”

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition delivered a letter to Congress, which over 65 organizations signed, supporting key provisions in the bills such as:

  • Increasing the authorization for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to $2 billion and incrementally up to $3 billion, to help communities fix, repair, and update wastewater systems.
  • Providing $2.5 billion in additional funding to help communities fix, repair and update drinking water infrastructure.
  • Ensuring that a minimum of 10 percent of federal funding through the clean water SRF and 14 percent of federal funding through the drinking water SRF are provided as grants or no-interest loans to help resolve water affordability problems in communities across the country.
  • Tripling of grants, from $100 million to $300 million, to remediate toxic PFAS contamination, tackling a persistent threat to drinking water.
  • Investing almost $1 billion in new water infrastructure investment in low-income, rural and tribal communities.
  • Supporting lead-reduction projects in schools and communities.
  • Increasing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative authorization from $300 million to $375 million.

The bills now head to the full Senate for consideration.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has urged the U.S. Congress to boost water infrastructure for the last several years, as water affordability and poor quality continues to plague communities across the region. Great Lakes cities such as Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit have seen water rates increase dramatically over the last ten years, in large part due to inadequate federal investment.

The U.S. EPA estimates that the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin need more than $179 billion over the next 20 years to fix, update, and maintain their wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.

According to a Michigan State University report, if water rates continue to rise as they have, more than 35 percent of people in the United states will struggle to afford their water bills by 2022

The post Bills to Inject $4 Billion in New Water Infrastructure Funding, Start Confronting Environmental Injustices appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/bills-to-inject-4-billion-in-new-water-infrastructure-funding-start-confronting-environmental-injustices/

Pavan Vangipuram

The Trump Administration announced today its final policy to replace the Obama-era “Clean Water Rule” that governed how the EPA regulates streams, wetlands and other bodies of water.

The Trump Administration’s policy greatly reduces clean water protections, and is the latest in a recent series of administration rollbacks of clean water and clean air protections which have tended to disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition strongly opposes the move.

“We strongly oppose this move from the Trump administration to finalize its attempt to weaken clean water protections,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition. “All of our waters are connected, and this new rule threatens the public health of the more than 30 million Americans who rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water.

“Clean Water is a basic need and a top health priority. With many of our towns and cities still living with unsafe drinking water, now is not the time to cut back on clean water enforcement. We need more – not less – protection for clean water.

“With this assault on clean water protections, the administration is undermining efforts to restore the Great Lakes, threatening drinking water supplies, jeopardizing public health, and damaging the outdoor economy and quality of life of the Great Lakes region.”

The post Clean Water Rollbacks an Assault on Public Health appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/clean-water-rollbacks-an-assault-on-public-health/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (April 9, 2020) – Congress must pursue a strategy that ensures its response to the COVID-19 crisis helps those who need it the most and sets our nation on a path to a strong, robust recovery, wrote 75 members of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition, in letters delivered to the US House and Senate today. They called for water service to be restored for those people who have had their service shut off as well as a moratorium of water shutoffs.

The letters call on Congress to institute a moratorium on water shutoffs and restoration of water services to those who have already had it shut off to ensure that no American is without the basic need of clean, safe water during this crisis. The letters also call for a broader strategy of water infrastructure and restoration investments, including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, that ensure that the nation comes out of this crisis with a more secure water system, and that the cracks in our water infrastructure and delivery systems are repaired for the long term.

Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition Director Laura Rubin said:

“Clean water is a basic human need, and we must ensure that everyone has access to it. We must address the water insecurity crisis by focusing on inadequate federal investment. At a time when COVID-19 is ravaging communities across America, it is unconscionable that Americans are being cut off from the water they need to live and protect themselves from this terrible disease.

“But our response cannot stop at the immediate problem. Congress must look further and invest in water infrastructure and restoration projects that will help all our communities recover in a way that’s durable and long-lasting.”

The letters from the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition read:

“The federal government, working with state and local agencies, must require utilities to stop water shutoffs and safely restore water service to households that have lost it … Alarmingly, one nationwide assessment revealed that around 15 million Americans experienced a water shutoff – one out of every 20 households across the country. In Detroit, 112,000 people had their water shut off between 2014 and 2018. In 2017 alone, it has been estimated that one in ten Detroiters experienced a shutoff. Water shutoffs disproportionately impact cities with higher rates of poverty, unemployment, and people of color.

In addition, the letters continue, “Fixing our region’s failing infrastructure can put people to work and set the stage for economic revitalization in our towns and cities. Federal investment in our water infrastructure also can ensure safe, clean water is available to everyone in the region.”

The post Coalition Calls on Congress to End Water Shutoffs, Boost Funding for Water Infrastructure, Great Lakes appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-coalition-calls-for-water-infrastructure-investments-moratorium-on-water-shutoffs/

Pavan Vangipuram

Trump Budget Undermines Efforts to Protect Drinking Water, Great Lakes

Strong support for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is undermined by drastic cuts to other core clean water programs.

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (Feb. 10, 2020) – The Trump Administration’s proposed 2020 budget, released today, supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, but undermines these proposed investments by substantially cutting core clean water and drinking water programs elsewhere in the budget. The White House budget comes on the heels of the Trump Administration’s historic roll-back of clean water protections.

Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition, said:

“This budget is one step forward, three steps backward. The bottom line is that the Trump Administration’s proposed budget undermines efforts to protect our drinking water and our Great Lakes. One budget line item cannot erase an overall budget that contains drastic cuts to essential clean water programs. With many of our towns and cities still struggling with unsafe drinking water, now is not the time to cut funding or clean water protections. We need a White House that will use all of the tools at its disposal to fight for clean drinking water for all of the people who call this country home.”

The Trump Administration’s proposed budget includes:

  • $320 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to clean up toxic pollution, reduce runoff pollution, and restore fish and wildlife habitat – level with current fiscal year 2020 funding of $320 million
  • $1.12 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to help communities pay for sewer upgrades and repairs – almost $500 million less than fiscal year 2020 funding of $1.64 billion
  • $863 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund to help communities pay for drinking water infrastructure – almost $266 million less than fiscal year 2020 funding of $1.13 billion
  • 27 percent cut to U.S. EPA budget

The post Trump Budget Undermines Efforts to Protect Drinking Water, Great Lakes appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/trump-budget-undermines-efforts-to-protect-drinking-water-great-lakes/

Pavan Vangipuram

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (February 5, 2020)—In a major victory for clean water advocates, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019. The bill reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for 5 years, and increases the program’s funding from $300 million to $475 million per year by 2026.

Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition Director Laura Rubin said:

“This is excellent news for the 30 million Americans who rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water, jobs recreation and way of life. Over the past decade, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been producing results for communities across the region, but serious threats remain. This reauthorization recognizes the work we have left to do to ensure that the basic need of clean drinking water is fulfilled for all who call this region home.

“We thank Reps.  David Joyce (R-Ohio) and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) for their leadership in passing this vital bill, and the dozens of Republicans and Democrats who are co-sponsoring the bill and  working in a spirit of bi-partisan cooperation to make sure that Great Lakes restoration and protection remain a national priority.”

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative invests in local projects in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to clean up toxic pollution, fight invasive species, reduce runoff from cities and farms, and restore fish and wildlife habitat.

The post House Vote Paves Way for Boost to Great Lakes Funding appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/house-vote-paves-way-for-boost-to-great-lakes-funding/

Pavan Vangipuram

Today the U.S. Senate Great Lakes Task Force sent a letter to the Trump Administration, urging it to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at no less than $320 million. The administration will release its proposed budget on Monday, Feb. 10. Signatories to the letter include Great Lakes Task Force co-chairs U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), as well as Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.).

Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, said:

“We thank the bi-partisan group of senators—especially Task Force co-chairs Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio)—who are working to keep Great Lakes restoration a national priority. Federal investments in the Great Lakes are producing results, but more work remains. President Trump can show his support for the Great Lakes and clean water by robustly funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in his proposed budget. Further, the president can reconsider his recently announced roll-back of clean water protections for millions of people in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, New York, and Minnesota. Strong funding and strong clean water protections are both essential.”

The post Coalition Thanks Bi-Partisan Group of Senators for Making Great Lakes a Priority appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-thanks-bi-partisan-group-of-senators-for-making-great-lakes-a-priority/

Pavan Vangipuram

Great Lakes Coalition Opposes Trump Assault on Clean Water Protections
“With many of our towns and cities still living with unsafe drinking water, now is not the time to cut back on clean water enforcement.”

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (January 23, 2020) – The Trump Administration is expected to announce today that it will greatly reduce clean water protections for streams and wetlands across the country. These streams and wetlands connect to the drinking water supplies that millions of people in the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin rely on.

“We strongly oppose this move from the Trump Administration to weaken clean water protections,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition. “Clean Water is a basic need. And with many of our towns and cities still living with unsafe drinking water, now is not the time to cut back on clean water enforcement. We need more – not less – protection for clean water.”

“With this assault on clean water protections, the administration is undermining efforts to restore the Great Lakes, threatening drinking water supplies, jeopardizing public health, and damaging the outdoor economy and quality of life of the Great Lakes region.”

The post Great Lakes Coalition Opposes Trump Assault on Clean Water Protections appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-coalition-opposes-trump-assault-on-clean-water-protections/

Pavan Vangipuram

Environmental Leaders Urge Army Corps of Engineers to Include Great Lakes Projects in Work Plans

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (Jan 7, 2019) — Last month, a coalition of environmental organizations came together to urge Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) R.D. James and Office of Management Budget Acting Director Russell Vought to include critical Great Lakes Restoration Projects in the FY2020 work plan for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

As threats to the health of the Great Lakes continue to intensify, the coalition urged the Office of Management Budget and the Secretary of the Army to ensure that vital funding for Great Lakes restoration projects remain a priority.

“We are grateful for the much-needed support the region has received with investments leading to on-the-ground results across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin,” the coalition wrote, “However, the Great Lakes still face many urgent problems and we urge the Corps include projects of critical importance to the Great Lakes in the FY2020 Work Plan. The problems we face will only get worse and the price we pay will be much higher if the federal partnership with the region is delayed or scaled back.”

Read the full letter here.

The post Environmental Leaders Urge Army Corps of Engineers to Include Great Lakes Projects in Work Plan appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/environmental-leaders-urge-army-corps-of-engineers-to-include-great-lakes-projects-in-work-plan/

Pavan Vangipuram

This week, Congress passed and the President signed the FY2020 budget, funding critical Great Lakes and clean water programs. This budget is the culmination of a year of hard work and advocacy on the part of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition and our members and partners, who engaged with communities to identify environmental needs and met with elected officials in Washington, D.C.,  and in their home states to let their representatives know how important the Great Lakes are for our drinking water, our economy and our way of life.

Here are a few highlights in this year’s budget:

1) Increased Funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

For the first time since 2011, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative saw a funding increase, from $300 million to $320 million.

For more than a decade, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been the bedrock of restoration efforts across the Great Lakes. The initiative has funded thousands of restoration projects in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, including projects to restore wildlife habitat, fight invasive species, clean up toxic pollution, and much more.

Click here to read about some of the amazing projects that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has funded.

2) Equitable Investments in Clean Drinking Water Infrastructure

The 2020 budget includes investments in infrastructure, including, $25.4 million for grants to small and disadvantaged communities. These grants will work to upgrade the drinking water infrastructure in communities that have traditionally been disinvested in, including rural communities and communities of color.

The budget also includes $19.5 million in grants to reduce lead in drinking water, which has been a persistent and prevalent problem in low-income communities.

Additionally, the budget includes $28 million in new dedicated funding to combat sewage overflows and build infrastructure for stormwater re-use. Sewage overflows and stormwater runoff are a major factor in polluting the streams and rivers that flow into the Great Lakes, and mitigating these sources must come at the local level. This new funding gives municipalities and water districts the tools they need to start fixing outdated sewage and stormwater infrastructure.

These investments are in addition to federal funding for two national water infrastructure program—the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, programs that provide low-interest loans to communities to fix and modernize wastewater infrastructure and drinking water infrastructure, respectively. Those programs saw slight declines in the current budget. Congress allocated $1.64 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (a $55 million decrease over fiscal year 2019) and $1.13 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (a nearly $38 million decrease over fiscal year).

3) Combating Invasive Species

The 2020 budget includes an increase in funding for research and action to prevent invasive species, particularly Asian Carp, from entering the Great Lakes. An additional $14 million was allocated for activities to prevent Asian Carp from entering and establishing in the Great Lakes, bringing total funding up to $25 million, while an additional $3 million was allocated to fund further research into early detection practices and control technologies critical to slowing the expansion of Asian Carp.

Stopping the spread of Asian Carp and preventing their establishment in the Great Lakes is a major priority for the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition and its partners, and this budget acknowledges the seriousness of the threat and the work we have left to do. The Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition supports the work that our partners are leading in making sure these harmful species do not enter the Great Lakes.

4) Researching and monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms

Toxic algal blooms threaten the drinking water and economy of Great Lakes communities, and the 2020 budget allocates $19 million to research and forecast these blooms.

Using these funds, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other agencies will continue to work collaboratively with research partners, developing integrated approaches to understand the drivers, forecast, and help keep communities informed of the threat of toxic blooms. Research will also help to improve management strategies to reduce the frequency, severity and impacts of these blooms.

5) Funding critical science and research

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the 2020 budget includes funding to continue the critical science, research, and education needed to help restore and protect the waters that communities across the Great Lakes rely on. This includes funding for: the Great Lakes Science Center and National Sea Grant College Program.

Funded at $11.8 million, including an additional $3 million in this year’s budget, the Great Lakes Science Center is a facility operated by the U.S. Geological Survey for essential ecosystem assessment and fisheries management research. These funds will be crucial in surveying the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem and providing information to respond to threats as they occur.

The National Sea Grant College Program is a federal-university partnership program that works to maintain a healthy coastal environment and economy. The 2020 budget acknowledged its importance by increasing funding by $6 million for a total of $74 million. By combining university expertise with public outreach experts, the Sea Grant program is a critical research program for ensuring that our Great Lakes remain healthy and vibrant.

All told, the final budget provides a solid foundation to keep federal restoration on track and sets the stage for progress in 2020. As Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition Director Laura Rubin said: “We look forward to working with Congress in the new year to ensure that the Great Lakes remains a bi-partisan priority.”

The post 2020 Budget a Win For the Great Lakes appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/2020-budget-a-win-for-the-great-lakes/

Pavan Vangipuram