Contact: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Biden Signs Climate Bill into Law, a Historic Win for Great Lakes Restoration, Clean Drinking Water, Public Health

Great Lakes Coalition: ‘This is a monumental day that will hopefully turn the tide in our nation’s fight against climate change.’

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (August 16, 2022)—President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 into law today, a sweeping bill that confronts the climate crisis, supports Great Lakes restoration, and prioritizes assistance to communities most impacted by climate pollution and harm. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition heralded the bill.

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

“This is a monumental day that will hopefully turn the tide in our nation’s fight against climate change. For the millions of people in the region, who have borne the brunt of climate-induced heat waves and flooding that have exacerbated water pollution, threatened drinking water, destroyed homes and businesses, and hurt local economies, this bill is a sign of hope. The historic investments in this bill will help the nation and local communities confront the climate crisis, while supporting Great Lakes restoration, clean drinking water, and healthy communities. This bill is a game-changer, and we hope it sets the stage for continued action, before climate-induced problems get worse and more expensive to solve.”

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

The post Biden Signs Climate Bill into Law, a Historic Win for Great Lakes Restoration, Clean Drinking Water, Public Health appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/biden-signs-climate-bill-into-law-a-historic-win-for-great-lakes-restoration-clean-drinking-water-public-health/

Lindsey Bacigal

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 29, 2022)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is pleased to see climate legislation moving forward by way of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. At a regional level, this legislation would support Great Lakes restoration and protection, as well as help communities in the eight-state region prepare for, and adapt to, the threat of climate impacts, such as increased flooding, excessive heat and cold, and runoff pollution.

“This bill will help ensure an expeditious transition towards a better, more resilient future that protects our environment and our communities,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Investing in the communities most impacted by pollution and climate change can put people to work, set the stage for economic revitalization in our towns and cities, and ensure the long-term health of our communities and the Great Lakes we all rely on. We encourage the Senate and House to pass this bill without delay.”

The total package size of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is $369 billion. Important line items within this include:

  • Climate pieces:
    • $60 billion to boost domestic clean energy manufacturing
    • $30 billion in production tax credits for solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and critical mineral processing
    • $30 billion for grants and loans for states and utilities to advance the clean energy transition
  • $60 billion total in targeted funding for environmental justice communities
  • $2.6 billion for Investing in Coastal Communities and Climate Resilience
  • $390 million for NOAA Climate, Forecasting, and Oceans Science
  • $23 billion for Agricultural Conservation Investments and Technical Assistance
  • $3 billion for Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants
  • Over $120 billion to advance a clean energy transition

Comprehensive legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act is essential to confront the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and bolster resilience and natural infrastructure solutions in coastal restoration, forest management, and soil conservation. Federal investments to restore and protect the Great Lakes have been producing results for over a decade, yet serious threats remain and are being exacerbated by climate change, making them worse and more expensive to solve.

The Great Lakes region – like our nation – faces a web of compounding crises impacting the health of people and communities. The region has seen the direct result of underinvestment in community resilience and a lack of action on climate change, as communities face disastrous impacts from flooding, extreme weather, and heat waves. With climate change pushing our current infrastructure past its limits, the time to act is now.

Investing in climate action not only protects our Great Lakes ecosystem and public health but improves the resiliency of our communities and creates good-paying, local jobs. There are many examples of communities across the region acting to adapt to climate impacts, from the restoration of habitat that absorbs stormwater to prevent flooding to farm conservation actions that prevent animal waste and fertilizer from polluting local drinking waters. Now is the time to support these actions at a much larger scale, commensurate with the climate crisis before us.

The post Coalition Celebrates Climate Legislation and its Support of Great Lakes Restoration appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-celebrates-climate-legislation-and-its-support-of-great-lakes-restoration/

Lindsey Bacigal

This week, the House Appropriations Committee is looking at various draft budget bills for Fiscal Year 2023, including the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill, which is proposing robust funding increases for the Department of Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The bill contains $368 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, $20 million above current funding levels. The funding bill also contains $2.88 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which help communities pay for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects, respectively. Funding for the two SRF programs represent about an $118 million increase over current budget levels.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is pleased to see increases for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and the State Revolving Funds (SRFs), as these programs are at the heart of cleaning up the Great Lakes region and providing safe, clean drinking water for all.

Though increases are something to celebrate, unfortunately, the GLRI and SRFs were not funded at fully authorized levels: $400 million for the GLRI and $2.75 billion for each SRF program ($5.5 billion total authorization). The failure to budget for the full authorized amount – essentially leaving money on the table – is concerning, as there remains much work to do to tackle serious threats in the region, including toxic pollution, degraded fish and wildlife habitat, invasive species, and farm and city runoff pollution. The longer it takes for these problems to be solved, the worse and more expensive they will get.

The backlog of infrastructure work is well-known. The eight-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin needs more than $188 billion over 20 years to fix, repair, and update its drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The Coalition heralded last year’s bipartisan infrastructure law as a game-changer not only for the sizeable investment it was making now – but also because the law was dramatically increasing the amount the U.S. Congress could invest every year during the annual appropriations process. The failure to follow through is a missed opportunity.

Of note, full authorization of the GLRI has bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives. Just in late spring, a bipartisan group of 47 members of the House sent a letter to subcommittee chairs advocating for such, recognizing the importance of the program and its positive impact on the environmental and economic health of the region.

Approved by the subcommittee, the draft funding bill is now going to full markup in the House Appropriations Committee, and we hope to see the funding numbers go up to their fully authorized amounts.

The post House Committees to Take Up Spending Bills This Week appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/house-committees-to-take-up-spending-bills-this-week/

Lindsey Bacigal

On Wednesday, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a massive step forward in the fight to combat toxic PFAS pollution and protect clean drinking water.

First, the EPA is publishing four new drinking water lifetime health advisories for certain PFAS, using updated science to lower the accepted standard of PFAS concentration in water and further limiting the usage of PFAS in chemical and product manufacturing. Second, the EPA is making available $1 billion in grant funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS contamination. This will be the first of $5 billion through the IIJA that can be used to reduce PFAS in drinking water in communities facing disproportionate impacts from the forever chemicals.

“Though many organizations have been advocating for stronger PFAS standards, this progress wouldn’t be happening without the leadership of PFAS affected communities,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We are glad to see that communities that have experienced the greatest harms from these toxic chemicals are being prioritized in terms of funding.”

In the Great Lakes region, local groups like Save Our H2O, the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network, the Huron River Watershed Council, and Need Our Water have been working tirelessly to protect their own communities from further PFAS contamination, and subsequently, brought regional and national attention to this issue. The Coalition thanks them for their continued leadership.

These efforts support the goals of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition’s legislative priorities.

The post Big Win for PFAS Reduction appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/big-win-for-pfas-reduction/

Lindsey Bacigal

Contact: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

U.S. Reps Urge Funding Boost to $400M for Great Lakes Restoration

Coalition supports efforts by 47 U.S. House Republicans and Democrats to boost federal investments in restoration, protection efforts.

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (May 11, 2022)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is supporting a push by 47 bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives to boost federal investments in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to $400 million in the fiscal year 2023 budget. The program funds efforts to clean up toxic pollution, restore fish and wildlife habitat, manage invasive species, and reduce farm and city runoff pollution.

“Support for the Great Lakes and GLRI has long seen strong bipartisan support in Congress,” reads the letter from House members. “Halting or reducing this commitment would reverse years of progress, dramatically reducing the GLRI’s impact, and jeopardize the environmental and economic health of the region for generations to come.”

“Federal investments to restore the Great Lakes are producing results, but serious threats remain,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We thank members of the House of Representatives who continue to make Great Lakes restoration and protection a national priority. The Coalition looks forward to working with bipartisan members of Congress to support urgent actions to restore the Great Lakes, provide clean drinking water to millions of people, and help communities most impacted by pollution and environmental harm. Scaling back federal investments will only allow the problems to get worse and more expensive to solve.”

Signatories to the House letter include: Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Shontel Brown (D-Ohio), Sean Casten (D-Ill), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Antonio Delgado (D-N.Y.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Michael Doyle (D-Pa.), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Jesús García (D-Ill.), Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio), Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Chris Jacobs (R-N.Y.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), John Katko (R-N.Y.) Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), Ron Kind (R-Wis.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), Andy Levin (D-Mich.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.), Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.), Marie Newman (D-Ill.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Bradley Schneider (D-Ill.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Brian Steil (R-Wis.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), Michael Turner (R-Ohio), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), and Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.).

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

The post U.S. Reps Urge Funding Boost to $400M for Great Lakes Restoration appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/u-s-reps-urge-funding-boost-to-400m-for-great-lakes-restoration/

Lindsey Bacigal

Contact: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Senate Committee Passes Water Bill with Great Lakes, Invasive Carp Provisions

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (May 4, 2022)—The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today advanced the Water Resources Development Act of 2022, a key step in ensuring Congress passes this critical biennial water infrastructure legislation. The bill contains provisions that support Great Lakes restoration priorities, such as preventing the spread of invasive carp into the lakes and helping communities prepare for and adapt to climate change. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is supporting several provisions in the bill.

“This bill will help local communities restore and protect the Great Lakes—and will be essential as the region tries to adjust to the increasing impacts of climate change,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We support investments in the bill that will help communities prepare for, and adapt to, climate impacts stemming from intense storms and flooding. We also applaud the focus on preventing invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes.”

The Water Resources Development Act, a federal bill that funds water infrastructure projects undertaken by the U.S. Army Crops of Engineers, contains funding to prevent the spread of invasive carp into the Great Lakes, by funding the construction of a lock and dam to halt the advance of the non-native species. The legislation, if passed, would call for the federal government to pay for 90 percent of the cost. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is urging Congress to amend the bill so that the federal government covers the full cost of the project.

You can find the Coalition’s full comments to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in support of these key Great Lakes provisions on our website.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

The post Senate Committee Passes Water Bill with Great Lakes, Invasive Carp Provisions appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/senate-committee-passes-water-bill-with-great-lakes-invasive-carp-provisions/

Lindsey Bacigal

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition

Contact:
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Great Lakes Coalition Releases Funding Priorities in Letters to House Appropriations Leaders

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (April 28, 2022)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and more than 90 of its member organizations released its 2023 fiscal year congressional investment priorities to restore and protect the Great Lakes and provide clean, safe, and affordable drinking water to communities, in letters to U.S. House appropriations leaders.

“Federal investments to restore the Great Lakes and provide clean, safe, and affordable dinking water are producing results in communities around the region,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Yet serious threats remain. The ongoing presence of drinking water restrictions, fish consumptions advisories, and beach closures – as well as the rising cost of water – underscore that the federal government cannot let up now. Congress needs to keep funding solutions that protect our drinking water and the health of communities. We look forward to working with the Great Lakes delegation to ensure that we are doing all we can to protect the Great Lakes and the millions of people in the region, especially the communities that have been most impacted by pollution and harm.”

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is calling on members of Congress to fund:

  • The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $400 million to clean up toxic pollution, restore habitat, and reduce runoff pollution;
  • The Clean Water State Revolving Fund at $4.4 billion and Drinking Water State Revolving Funding at $3.9 billion to help communities fix and update drinking water and wastewater infrastructure;
  • Programs to research, monitor, and evaluate progress and challenges of clean-up efforts through programs like the Sea Grant and NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab;
  • Programs to help communities prepare for, and adapt to, the impacts of climate change, such as flooding;
  • Invasive carp action plan to keep the non-native fish out of the Great Lakes; and,
  • Farm conservation programs that pay farmers to take specific actions to improve water quality and soil health and to prevent toxic algal blooms.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

The post Great Lakes Coalition Releases Funding Priorities in Letters to House Appropriations Leaders appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/great-lakes-coalition-releases-funding-priorities-in-letters-to-house-appropriations-leaders/

Lindsey Bacigal

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and a multitude of partners have sent five letters in support of Great Lakes priorities as part of the annual appropriations process. These letters highlight Great Lakes priorities in the annual appropriations process, ensuring our members of Congress understand the wide array of funding priorities essential to clean water and Great Lakes restoration. The letters were sent to five of the twelve Appropriations Committees in Congress, specifically those that fund Coalition priorities.

Read the letters by clicking the links below:

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Committee

This subcommittee has jurisdiction over the EPA and the DOI (including USGS and FWS). This includes funding for the GLRI, the USGS and FWS’s invasive species activities and research, and the array of EPA clean water and water infrastructure grant programs. The letter details the importance of these programs and makes our respective FY2023 funding requests.

Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Committee

This subcommittee has jurisdiction over funding for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. This includes the Corps role in protecting the basin from invasive carp through investments in Brandon Road PED, in addition to enhancing Great Lakes restoration and resiliency through research and coastal infrastructure improvements. The letter details these programs and makes our respective FY2023 funding requests.

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

This subcommittee has jurisdiction over NOAA programs. This includes funding for the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, Marine Debris, research into HABs, and several grant programs like Sea Grant and the Coastal Zone Management Grants. The letter details these programs and makes our respective FY2023 funding requests.

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

This subcommittee has jurisdiction over the USDA and Farm Bill programs. This includes the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and its programs important for providing the technical assistance and investments needed to reduce agricultural runoff and its impact on water quality and the growing threat of HABs. The letter details these programs and makes our respective FY2023 funding requests.

State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies

This subcommittee has jurisdiction over the State Department who funds and operates the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission. The letter details this program and makes our respective FY2023 funding request.

The post FY2023 Appropriations Letters appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/fy2023-appropriations-letters/

Lindsey Bacigal

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition

Contact:
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Five Take-aways From Biden Budget

The Biden Administration released its proposed budget on Monday, March 28. There’s a lot to like in the budget, as well as some things that could be improved (read more in the Coalition’s Biden budget press release). Here are some take-aways from the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

  1. The budget is good for clean water advocates. The budget, by and large, is very robust. It boosts funding to core environmental and clean water programs, and provides the EPA and other agencies with significant funding increases to effectively staff and implement these programs. It also continues to prioritize helping communities most impacted by pollution and environmental harm. And it confronts climate change—which is exacerbating many threats to the Great Lakes and communities in the region, such as polluted runoff and flooding.
  2. The budget is not perfect. In fairness, no budget is. The main head-scratcher in the Biden Budget is the cut to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the marquee program to protect and restore the Great Lakes. The program invests in activities like cleaning up toxic pollution, restoring fish and wildlife habitat, and reducing runoff pollution. The $8 million cut (from current funding of $348 million to $340 million) really does not make sense, given the fact that 1) federal investments to restore the Great Lakes have been so effective (just read some of the Coalition’s many Great Lakes restoration success stories), and 2) there is much more work to do to tackle serious threats that contribute tot fish consumption advisories, beach closures, and drinking water restrictions throughout the region.
  3. The Biden Administration (and Congress) cannot rest on their laurels. The Biden Administration’s proposed budget comes on the heels of the historic passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law (the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) that will, over the next five years, provide an unprecedented level of federal funding for many clean water priorities. As has been said (by the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and others), this funding will be a game-changer in helping communities confront water pollution challenges. These investments, however, will not fix all of the problems that plague the Great Lakes and the communities in the eight-state region. That’s why annual federal budgets need to remain robust. It will be counterproductive if federal lawmakers use these supplemental funds to supplant annual funding to essential clean water programs under the assumption that the bipartisan infrastructure law took care of everything.
  4. Congress needs to seal the deal. The president kicks off the budget process. Congress has the final say. Now it’s up to the Great Lakes congressional delegation to ensure that regional Great Lakes and clean water priorities are funded in the fiscal year 2023 budget, which begins Oct. 1. The good news is that members of Congress are already circulating a letter urging colleagues to support $400 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
  5. The Biden Administration needs to follow through on implementation. Ensuring that federal investments reach the communities most impacted by pollution will be essential. The Biden Administration has emphasized its commitment to doing just that. It will be important that its actions match its words. There are still many communities that have a difficult time accessing federal funds due to insufficient staff capacity or lack of information. We encourage the Biden Administration continue to enhance community outreach and offer technical assistance to communities that have historically not had access to federal funding. This will help ensure that everyone has access to the help they need to, one day, provide clean, safe, and affordable water to everyone.

The post Five Take-aways From Biden Budget appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/five-take-aways-from-biden-budget/

Lindsey Bacigal

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition

Contact:
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

President’s Budget FAQ

How do Great Lakes and clean water programs fare in the Biden Administration’s budget?
The Biden Administration’s FY2023 proposed $5.8 trillion budget request provides significant boosts in funding for key environmental, clean water, and Great Lakes programs. Increases to key agencies such as the EPA, United States Geological Survey (USGS), United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) serve to build up staff capacity to effectively implement and enhance Great Lakes restoration and protection. However, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was only funded at $340.1 million–a reduction of $8 million from current funding levels and far short of the $400 million that Congress has authorized for the program.

What’s the major take-away from the budget?
Overall, the Biden Administration’s proposed budget supports clean water priorities, providing a solid foundation on which Congress can start the annual appropriations process. It boosts funding to reduce lead in drinking water, maintains funding for the nation’s primary water infrastructure loan programs, and increases the EPA’s budget to confront climate change and address environmental injustices. However, it comes up short in funding the nation’s principal Great Lakes restoration program–the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. 

The Biden Budget makes a big deal about increasing staffing at agencies like the EPA. Why is this important in terms of efforts to restore the Great Lakes restoration and other clean water priorities?
The EPA is the nation’s environmental watchdog, and it needs to have adequate staffing to do the job–including the administration of programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The Biden Administration has proposed an increase in EPA agency staffing by 1,900 employees to more than 16,200 staff. This investment recognizes the need for employees who enforce environmental laws, better consult with local communities in restoration and protection efforts, and expedite the EPA’s work. EPA staffing was drastically cut by the Trump Administration, so this effort to rebuild the Agency’s capacity is sorely needed to address the multitude of environmental issues across the nation.  

How does the Biden budget compare with previous budgets?
The Biden budget includes game changing funding increases that would dramatically expand and strengthen key agencies, though a few questions remain regarding primary Great Lakes and water infrastructure programs coming up short of authorization levels. The Biden budget includes the largest funding level ever for the EPA: $11.9 billion for fiscal year 2023–a $2.6 billion increase from the current fiscal year funding from Congress ($9.56 billion). 

What do you like about the Biden Administration’s proposed budget?
Clearly, the Biden Administration is prioritizing clean water protections and investments that will help the nation address serious pollution challenges. It supports foundational environmental programs and provides support to the federal agencies charged with carrying out the work. It addresses climate change–which is causing all sorts of problems for the environment and economy–and it is prioritizing getting help to the communities most impacted by pollution.

What don’t you like about the Biden Administration’s proposed budget?
The real head-scratcher in the Biden Budget is the cut to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Not only was this marquee program not fully funded, the proposal unintentionally put forth an $8 million cut from the recently enacted FY22 level of $348 million, which passed before the budget was written. Further, the request is far below the GLRI’s authorized funding level of $400 million. This is disappointing, as the federal investments through the program have been producing results for many years. Yet, serious threats remain and more work needs to be done. Many communities are still grappling with health-threatening pollution and lack of access to clean, safe, and affordable water. Now is not the time to cut back on this successful program.

Explain the significance of the Biden Administration’s request versus the amount Congress has authorized. Why is this important?
There is a limit to how much the federal government can spend on programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is referred to as an authorization. Congress has authorized up to $400 million in funding for the GLRI in FY23. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has urged the Biden Administration and the U.S. Congress to fund the GLRI and other clean water programs at their authorized levels (in this case, $400 million) for several reasons. The most important reason is that there is still a glaring need: The region still suffers from toxic pollution, sewage overflows, and harmful algal blooms that close beaches, poison drinking water, and make fish unsafe to eat. These are serious public health threats that need to be addressed. It is also important to address these problems now, because delay will only make the problem worse and more costly to solve.

Why did the Biden Administration propose cutting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative?
We don’t know! Federal investments to restore the Great Lakes have been producing results in local communities, and we need to keep up the good work to make sure that everyone has access to clean, safe and affordable drinking water. We don’t agree with this decision and will work with Congress to fund the GLRI to FY23 authorized levels..

The bipartisan infrastructure law is going to provide billions of dollars of new funding for clean water priorities over the next five years, including $1 billion for Great Lakes restoration actions. Doesn’t that make up for any cuts in the Biden Administration budget?
The bipartisan infrastructure law is going to be transformational over the next five years–injecting long-overdue federal investment to update our nation’s inadequate drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, as well as bolster Great Lakes restoration investments. That said, it will not fix all of our problems. For instance, the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have a staggering $188 billion of work needed to update their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. So while the bipartisan infrastructure law deserves to be celebrated and appreciated–it truly is a game changer–it will be important in future years to not allow these funds to supplant annual federal investments. For instance, the $1 billion in the bipartisan infrastructure law is targeted to cleaning up almost all of the most contaminated sites in the Great Lakes by 2030, but annual appropriations are still needed to address the other four remaining GLRI program areas

What comes next?
Presidential budgets kick off the annual budgeting process. Congress controls the purse strings and will have the final say in terms of what programs get funded at what levels in the next federal budget. The proposed budget emphasizes the Biden Administration’s commitment to clean water protection, ecosystem restoration, and addressing environmental injustice. This is a strong starting point for the U.S. House and Senate to begin debate on next year’s funding package. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition looks forward to working with Congress to ensure that Great Lakes and clean water priorities receive the attention they deserve in the final funding package.


Biden budget, by the numbers

Agency Funding

  • EPA
    • $11.9 billion budget request for the agency, an increase of $2.3 billion (a nearly 24% increase over fiscal year 2022 (FY22) enacted).
  • NOAA
    • $6.9 billion request for the agency, an increase of over $1 billion (a nearly 17% increase over FY22 enacted).
  • USGS
    • $2 billion appropriations request for the agency, an increase of over $300 million (a 21% increase over FY22 enacted).
  • USFWS
    • $3.7 billion request for the agency, an increase of $350 million (a 21% increase over FY22 enacted).

Water Infrastructure
Overall, the President’s budget includes $4.4 billion for water infrastructure, advancing efforts to upgrade drinking water and wastewater infrastructure which will protect water quality, enhance community resilience, and ensure communities have safe drinking water. 

Funding for specific programs, includes:

  • State Revolving Funds (pg. 13-15, 61-64, EPA’s budget breakdown)
    • CWSRF
      • The Clean Water SRF, which helps communities fix and upgrade wastewater infrastructure, was funded at $1.64 billion. Congress funded the program at $1.64 billion in the current fiscal year. 
      • This funding level is lower than the FY23 authorized level, which is $4.38 billion.
    • DWSRF
      • The Drinking Water SRF, which helps communities fix and upgrade drinking water infrastructure, was funded at $1.13 billion. Congress funded the program at $1.13 billion in the current fiscal year.
      • This funding level is lower than the FY23 authorized level, which is $3.87 billion. 
  • Other key programs
    • Overall
      • According to the EPA’s budget breakdown, “In FY 2023, a combined $340.7 million is requested to implement programs created by AWIA [America’s Water Infrastructure Act] across four program projects, including: Drinking Water Infrastructure Resilience, Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse grants, Technical Assistance for Wastewater Treatment Work, and Water Infrastructure Workforce Investment” (pg. 60).
        • Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Grants
          • $280 million request for the program, which meets FY23 authorization levels, and is an increase from FY22 enacted at $43 million
        • Water Infrastructure Workforce Development
          • $17.711 million request for the program, a significant increase from the FY22 enacted level of $4 million
      • The Biden Administration’s budget also proposes $560 million to support 20 new grant programs authorized by the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (pg. 64, EPA’s budget breakdown). A few highlights include:
        • $50 million for the Household Decentralized Wastewater Grant Program
        • $75 million for the Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Grant Programs, which includes $50 million for Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability and $25 million for the Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program

Climate
The Biden Administration is integrating consideration of climate change impacts across agency decision-making and investing in science, resilience, and public engagement. The following breaks down agency investments in relation to climate change. 

  • EPA
    • The President’s budget prioritizes EPA funding for tackling the climate crisis.
    • This includes $100 million in grants to Tribes and states that will support on-the-ground efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency in the nation’s infrastructure. 
  • NOAA
    • According to an NOAA press release, the budget proposes $350 million to expand NOAA’s role in climate science with the goal of building critical climate products and services to enhance federal and local responses to climate change and build resiliency across communities. 
    • Also proposed, $491 million to restore marine, estuarine, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems. 
  • USGS
    • According to a USGS press release, “The 2023 budget funds critical science on climate change as it relates to ecosystems, species and biodiversity—including science on species at-risk of needing protection under the Endangered Species Act.”
    • The same release states, “One key focus in the 2023 budget is understanding the impacts of sea-level rise and extreme storm events on coastal wetland ecosystems. The USGS would expand decision-support tools for conserving biodiversity in the face of climate-related impacts and develop tools and models for predicting the impacts of a changing climate on water availability and ecosystem health.”
  • USFWS
    • As per an USFWS press release, “The Service is focusing on climate change across all of its programs. The Service’s Science Applications activity, consisting of Cooperative Landscape Conservation and Science Support programs, works with partners in developing plans to conserve landscapes across the country to address climate change as well as other conservation needs. The Service is requesting a total of $57.5 million for these programs.”
  • Army Corps of Engineers
    • The President’s budget includes $600,000 for the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study.
    • Of note, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition requested $3 million for the study. Though lower than requested, a second year of funding to move this study forward is positive progress. 

Environmental injustice
According to an EPA press release, “The Budget invests more than $1.45 billion across the Agency’s programs that will help create good-paying jobs, clean up pollution, advance racial equity, and secure environmental justice for all communities.” In FY23 this will include “$300.8 million and 211.9 FTE in the Environmental Justice program will expand support for community-based organizations, indigenous organizations, Tribes, states, local governments, and territorial governments in pursuit of identifying and addressing environmental justice issues through multi-partner collaborations” (pg. 10, EPA budget breakdown). 

The EPA is also aiming to implement the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, “with the goal of delivering at least 40 percent of the overall benefits of relevant federal investments to underserved and overburdened communities” (pg. 10, EPA budget breakdown). 

The EPA has requested $295 million for the Environmental Justice program (pg. 4, EPA budget breakdown), which includes:

  • $140 million for environmental justice implementation grants (an increase from the FY22 enacted level of $94 million)
  • $50 million for competitive grants to reduce the disproportionate health impacts of environmental pollution in environmental justice communities
  • $25 million for an Environmental Justice Community Grant Program for grants to nonprofits to reduce the disproportionate health impacts of environmental pollution in environmental justice communities
  • $25 million for an Environmental Justice State Grant Program for grants to states to create or support state environmental justice programs
  • $25 million for a Tribal Environmental Justice Grant Program for grants to tribes or intertribal consortia to support tribal work to eliminate disproportionately adverse human health or environmental effects on environmental justice communities in Tribal and Indigenous communities
  • $15 million for a competitive Community-based Participatory Research Grant Program for grants to institutions of higher education to develop partnerships with community-based organizations to improve the health outcomes of residents and workers in environmental justice communities
  • $10 million for an Environmental Justice Training Program for grants to nonprofits for multi-media or single media activities to increase the capacity of residents of underserved communities to identify and address disproportionately adverse human health or environmental effects of pollution. 

Invasive species
Key federal agencies are proposing funding increases for action against invasive species, including invasive carp. Examples include: 

  • USGS is requesting $47.9 million for the Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program–an increase of $7.5 million over fiscal year 2022 enacted, with an expanded focus on climate-driven invasive species.
  • USFWS is requesting an expansion of the aquatic invasive species program.
  • The Army Corps of Engineers is advancing construction on the Brandon Road Lock and Dam by including $47.9 million in the budget request. This is important in the effort to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. They are also requesting $14.3 million for supporting operations and maintenance of the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal. 

Lead
The President’s budget is requesting $182 million for the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program, which is an increase of more than $160 million over previously enacted. This includes a request of $80 million for the Safe Water for Small and Disadvantaged Communities Drinking Water grant program, a large increase from the $27 million enacted in FY22; and $36.5 million to continue funding of the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing grant program. 

PFAS
As per the EPA’s press release, “PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that threaten the health and safety of communities across the Nation. As part of the President’s commitment to tackling PFAS pollution, the Budget provides approximately $126 million in FY 2023 for EPA to increase its understanding of human health and ecological effects of PFAS, restrict uses to prevent PFAS from entering the air, land, and water, and remediate PFAS that have been released into the environment. EPA will continue to act on the Agency’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap to safeguard communities from PFAS contamination.”

The post President’s Budget FAQ appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/presidents-budget-faq/

Lindsey Bacigal

Contact:
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Biden Budget on Clean Water: Boost to Water Infrastructure, Cuts to Great Lakes Restoration

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (March 29, 2022)—The Biden Administration’s proposed budget, released yesterday, cuts the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, boosts funding to reduce lead in drinking water, maintains funding for the nation’s primary water infrastructure loan programs, and increases the EPA’s budget to confront climate change and address environmental injustices.

“The Biden Administration’s proposed budget supports clean water priorities broadly, while coming up short in funding the nation’s marquee Great Lakes restoration program,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Federal investments to restore the Great Lakes and address pollution have been immensely important over the years. However, serious threats remain, and with many communities still grappling with health-threatening pollution, it’s important that the federal government do all that it can to ensure that every person has access to clean, safe and affordable water.

“The Biden Administration’s proposed budget provides a strong starting point for the U.S. House and Senate to discuss how best the country can meet its clean water goals. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition looks forward to working with members of Congress to make sure Great Lakes and clean water priorities receive the attention they deserve in the federal budget in order to protect our Great Lakes, drinking water, public health, and way of life.”

The Biden Administration’s budget contains:

  • $11.9 billion for the U.S. EPA for fiscal year 2023. Congress funded the agency at $9.56 billion in the current fiscal year.
  • $340.1 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Congress funded the GLRI at $348 in the current fiscal year.
  • $1.64 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which helps communities fix and upgrade wastewater infrastructure. Congress funded the program at $1.64 billion in the current fiscal year.
  • $1.13 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which helps communities fix and upgrade drinking water infrastructure. Congress funded the program at $1.13 billion in the current fiscal year.
  • $140 million for grants to communities to confront environmental injustices. Congress funded the program at $94 million in the current fiscal year.
  • $182 million for the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program, which is an increase of more than $160 million over previously enacted.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 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 Biden Budget on Clean Water: Boost to Water Infrastructure, Cuts to Great Lakes Restoration appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/biden-budget-on-clean-water-boost-to-water-infrastructure-cuts-to-great-lakes-restoration/

Lindsey Bacigal

Contact: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Budget a Mixed Bag on Great Lakes, Clean Water Priorities

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (March 9, 2022)—The federal budget released today for this year is a mixed bag as it pertains to programs to address urgent threats to drinking water and the Great Lakes that impact millions of people in the eight Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

“Context matters, and it is important to consider this budget in relation to the full body of work undertaken by Congress this past year,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “On one hand, the recent bipartisan infrastructure bill has been a shot in the arm to clean water and Great Lakes priorities. It invests $50 billion in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, funds an additional $1 billion in Great Lakes restoration efforts, and boosts the amount of money the federal government is allowed to spend over the next five years to meet clean water goals. The passage of that bill shows that Congress understands the severity of threats to our water resources and the need to do more. On the other hand, today’s budget does not fully fund the programs that will allow us to tackle the urgent problems that threaten our drinking water, public health, and Great Lakes—problems that will only get worse because of climate change. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition believes that at a time when millions of people are still grappling with unsafe water due to toxic pollution, sewage overflows, lead pipes, and other threats, Congress needs to fully fund programs that have been producing results in communities over the last several years.”

The federal budget released today:

  • Funds the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $348 million. Congress has authorized the program for up to $375 million.
  • Funds the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to help communities upgrade wastewater infrastructure at $1.639 billion. Congress has authorized the program for up to $4 billion.
  • Funds the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to help communities upgrade drinking water infrastructure at $1.126 billion. Congress has authorized the program for up to $3.5 billion.

In recent years, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, our members, and partners have pushed for significantly higher federal investments in clean water priorities to address the backlog of work needed to protect people from cancer-causing pollution, sewage overflows, inadequate drinking water systems, and higher water bills. The eight-state Great Lakes region needs at least $188 billion in water infrastructure repairs.

“Federal investments to restore the Great Lakes and to provide drinking water to our communities have been producing results—but serious threats remain,” said Rubin. “The decades-long disinvestment in our nation’s water infrastructure has left an enormous amount of work to do. We are grateful for the work over the past year by Congress to boost funding for important clean water and drinking water programs. It is important to not let up now.”

Congress has yet to complete a budget for the current fiscal year, which runs through Sept. 30, and has passed a series of short-term budgets. The current budget, if it passes, will fund the government through the year.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

The post Budget a Mixed Bag on 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/budget-a-mixed-bag-on-great-lakes-clean-water-priorities/

Lindsey Bacigal

Contact: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

EPA Targets Historic Water Infrastructure Funding to Communities Most Impacted by Pollution
Coalition: Agency’s focus essential to protect drinking water, clean water, and public health of millions of people.

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (March 8, 2022)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is applauding the EPA’s plan to collaborate with states, tribes and local officials to ensure that historic federal investments to fix drinking water and wastewater infrastructure reach communities most impacted by pollution. The plan, released today, provides guidance on how more than $40 billion in federal funding will be spent as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“For the millions of people across the country and in the Great Lakes region who still struggle with unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation services, this is welcome news,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We wholeheartedly support the EPA’s focus to tackle the biggest problems first in the communities most harmed by pollution as a way to protect the drinking water and public health of people in communities large and small. These investments are good for communities, clean water, and the Great Lakes. We look forward to working with the Biden Administration and the EPA to ensure the strong vision for these investments is realized so that we are helping the people who need it the most.”

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supported the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which invests almost $50 billion in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and allows the federal government to boost funding for similar investments over the next five years. The law also contains $1 billion for Great Lakes restoration investments through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Read more information on the EPA guidance

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

The post EPA Targets Historic Water Infrastructure Funding to Communities Most Impacted by Pollution appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/epa-targets-historic-water-infrastructure-funding-to-communities-most-impacted-by-pollution/

Lindsey Bacigal

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition

Contact:
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Advocates Urge Congress to Support Great Lakes, Climate Priorities
Coalition meetings with D.C. lawmakers come as Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report underscores need to take aggressive action to confront climate crisis.

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (February 28, 2022)—Restoring the Great Lakes, fixing water infrastructure, and confronting climate change are top priorities for Great Lakes advocates, who will be meeting with members of Congress via dozens of virtual meetings this week as part of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition’s annual Great Lakes Days February 28-March 4.

“Our message to federal officials is simple: We’re making progress, but there’s a lot more work to do,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We cannot let our guard down at a time when many communities are still struggling with polluted water, sewage overflows, toxic contamination, and dangerous flooding. Climate change is making these problems worse. We look forward to working with members of Congress to support solutions to restore our Great Lakes, protect our drinking water, and confront the climate crisis, while helping the communities that have been most impacted by health-threatening pollution.”

The annual week of meetings with members of Congress comes as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is releasing a new report emphasizing the serious damage climate change is causing. The report notes that the large-scale restoration of habitat, wetlands, and floodplains in regions like the Great Lakes can buffer communities from some of the impacts of a warming climate; although these actions must be accompanied by efforts to drive down carbon pollution to prevent the worst impacts. The severe storms and erratic weather are already impacting the Great Lakes and communities (read the Coalition’s climate factsheet for more information), and tackling climate change is a top priority for the Coalition.

“Federal support for restoring the Great Lakes must go hand in hand with national action to curb climate pollution,” said Rubin. “Both are needed if we are to protect our environment, economy, and public health. Unfortunately, the communities most impacted by water pollution also continue to be disproportionately impacted by climate change, from increased flooding to hazardous air pollution. We urge members of Congress who have championed Great Lakes restoration over the years to urgently take steps to confront the climate crisis. Inaction will only make the problems worse and more expensive to solve.”

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is asking members of Congress to:

  • Fund efforts to restore and protect the Great Lakes at no less than $400 million in fiscal year 2023 through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
  • Fund efforts to help communities prepare for and adopt to climate change through a host of initiatives that support farm conservation programs ($27 billion), replace lead service lines to homes ($9 billion), boost coastal resilience ($6 billion), and reverse environmental injustices ($5 billion) in fiscal year 2023.
  • Fund essential water infrastructure programs that support community drinking water infrastructure ($4.4 billion) and wastewater infrastructure ($3.9 billion) in fiscal year 2023, as well as prioritize grants, rather than loans, to take the burden off cash-strapped communities and residents who are seeing skyrocketing water bills.
  • Strengthen clean water protections by establishing pollution limits for toxic pollutants such as PFAS and other chemicals that threaten the health of people.

Read the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition’s policy priorities list and the full list of funding priorities for more information.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

The post Advocates Urge Congress to Support Great Lakes, Climate Priorities appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/advocates-urge-congress-to-support-great-lakes-climate-priorities/

Lindsey Bacigal

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition
Contact: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

$1B Investment in Toxic Pollution Clean-up a ‘Game-Changer’ for Great Lakes, Communities

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (February 17, 2022)—The Biden Administration’s plan to invest an additional $1 billion to clean up toxic pollution in the Great Lakes region, announced today, will be essential to restore the Great Lakes and to protect the drinking water, public health, and jobs of millions of people in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, New York, and Wisconsin, according to the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

“This investment will be a game-changer in the effort to clean up pollution that has poisoned local drinking water and threatened the health of communities,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “This investment will benefit millions of people, provide a shot in the arm to Great Lakes restoration efforts, and support local economies. We thank President Biden, his administration, and the members of Congress who supported this funding for recognizing the urgent need to address this serious threat.”

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition pushed for increased Great Lakes investments in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The bill contains an additional $1 billion for Great Lakes restoration actions.

The Environmental Protection Agency is directing that funding to clean up the most polluted sites in the region. These sites – called Areas of Concern – contain high levels of cancer-causing and health-threatening pollution, such as PCB’s, mercury, and other chemicals, that have poisoned the water and led to drinking water restrictions, fish consumption advisories, and beach closures.

“The clean-up of these toxic hot-spots will benefit communities most impacted by pollution, which tend to be low-income, Black, Latino, Asian and Indigenous communities,” said Brenda Coley, co-chair of the Coalition and co-executive director of Milwaukee Water Commons. “We thank EPA Administrator Michael Regan for his leadership in tackling the biggest pollution problems in the region and confronting environmental injustices that continue to plague our communities. As these projects move forward, it will be essential to engage and partner with local communities, as we strive to achieve the common goal of access to clean, safe and affordable drinking water.”

The U.S. and Canadian governments, in the 1980s, identified 43 contaminated sites, which they deemed Areas of Concern. To date, six sites have been remediated on the U.S. side. The Biden Administration anticipates Infrastructure Investment and Job Act funding will clean up 22 additional sites by 2030, including:

  • Illinois: Waukegan;
  • Indiana: Grand Calumet River;
  • Michigan: Clinton River, Detroit River, Manistique River, Muskegon Lake, River Raisin, Rouge River, St. Clair River, St. Marys River, and Torch Lake;
  • Minnesota/Wisconsin: St. Louis River;
  • Ohio: Black River, Cuyahoga River, and Maumee;
  • New York: Buffalo River, Eighteenmile, Rochester Embayment, and Niagara River;
  • Wisconsin: Fox River, Milwaukee Estuary, and Sheboygan.

“This funding will accelerate vital restoration efforts,” said Marnie Urso, co-chair of the Coalition and senior policy director for Audubon Great Lakes. “Many of these polluted sites are in communities along the Great Lakes shoreline that contain important habitat for birds. Federal investments to remediate these sites benefit people and wildlife —and these investments have been doing wonders to help recover declining populations of threatened and declining species such as the Piping Plover and Black Tern.  Thanks to this investment in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative their future is brighter.”

The $1 billion in the bipartisan infrastructure bill was directed to support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which has supported the restoration of fish and wildlife habitat, clean-up of toxic pollution, reduction of farm and city runoff, and management of invasive species. Increasingly, restoration investments have been heralded as a way to help communities prepare for and adapt to climate change.

“Investments to restore the habitat, wetlands and natural areas around these toxic hotspots will be vital to restore the Great Lakes and help communities deal with the impacts from a changing climate,” said Mike Shriberg, co-chair of the Coalition and regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional Center. “The region is already experiencing more erratic weather and increased rain due to climate change. These investments will help communities combat flooding, sewage overflows, and other problems that are being exacerbated by global warming.”

Federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative investments over the last 12 years have helped clean up long-standing legacy pollutants. The infusion of an additional $1 billion will allow more sites to be remediated more quickly.

“This funding will help close the book on one of the most infamous pollution episodes in our nation’s history,” said Lynn McClure, co-chair of the Coalition and senior regional director of the National Parks Conservation Association. “The EPA’s goal is to use these funds to clean up and restore highly polluted areas, including the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern—the same river that caught fire and sparked a national environmental movement. Cleaning up this corridor, which extends for 100 miles through northern Ohio and Cuyahoga Valley National Park, will be good for the people and wildlife that visit and call this area home.”

The bipartisan infrastructure bill, passed by the Senate and the House in the fall, contains significant federal investments to update the nation’s water infrastructure and address other clean water priorities in the Great Lakes region and across the country. Read more about the EPA’s Area of Concern program.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

###

The post $1B Investment in Toxic Pollution Clean-up a ‘Game-Changer’ for Great Lakes, Communities appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/1b-investment-in-toxic-pollution-clean-up-a-game-changer-for-great-lakes-communities/

Lindsey Bacigal

Contact:
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Coalition Urges Feds to Fully Fund Invasive Carp Defenses

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (February 8, 2022)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is urging U.S. representatives to fully fund controls to prevent invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes and causing environmental and economic harm. In a letter to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment and the broader House delegation in the eight-state region, the Coalition and 54 members urged the House delegation to fully fund a new lock and dam in Illinois that would deploy state-of-the-art technology to keep the invasive fish from entering Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes.

“Invasive carp pose a clear and present danger to the Great Lakes environment and economy,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “These invasive fish are not the problem or responsibility of only one state. Invasive carp are a national problem. As we have seen over the last decade, invasive carp have wreaked havoc up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers—upending the ecosystem and harming people and local economies along the way. We need the federal government to address this national problem so that we don’t allow the unthinkable—allowing invasive carp to take hold in the Great Lakes.”

Currently the state of Illinois would be responsible for paying 20 percent of the cost of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam and its array of technology to keep invasive carp from getting through. The Coalition and its members argue that due to the national threat posed by the invasive fish and the pressing need to move forward without delay, the federal government should assume the costs of the entire project, which are expected to be upwards of $800 million.

The environmental groups are urging for the cost-share change in the 2022 Water Resources Development Act, a bi-annual funding bill that funds U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

###

The post Coalition Urges Feds to Fully Fund Invasive Carp Defenses appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-urges-feds-to-fully-fund-invasive-carp-defenses/

Lindsey Bacigal

Contact:
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Coalition Supports Biden Administration Push for Stronger Clean Water Protections

February 7, 2022 (ANN ARBOR, MICH.)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed rule to strengthen clean water protections essential to the health of communities and the Great Lakes. The agencies are proposing a rule that will determine the level of protections for several classifications of streams and wetlands.

The Coalition and 50 member organizations, in a comment letter submitted today, supported the rule-making, which will replace Trump administration guidance that weakened clean water protections and opened the door for rivers and wetlands to be polluted and destroyed. Read the letter on our website.

“With many of our cities and towns living with unsafe drinking water, we need more – not less – protection for clean water,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We support the Biden Administration’s action, and we encourage them to move quickly to develop and to put in place stronger protections for streams and wetlands that are essential to our drinking water, Great Lakes, public health, recreation, and quality of life.”

More than 117 million people in the United States depend on drinking water sources that are fed in part by streams and wetlands. In the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, more than 30 million people rely on drinking water fed by these waters.

“Preserving and protecting streams and wetlands is also essential to protect the health of communities that are facing the impacts of environmental degradation, pollution, and flooding,” states the letter. “Clean drinking water is a basic need, and we should be doing all we can to ensure that everyone has access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water. Re-establishing strong clean water protections is essential to achieving the goals of swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters.”

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

###

 

The post Coalition Supports Biden Administration Push for Stronger Clean Water Protections appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-supports-biden-administration-push-for-stronger-clean-water-protections/

Lindsey Bacigal

On January 14, members of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition alongside many of its partners across the country sent two letters (seen below) to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide input regarding implementation of new State Revolving Fund (SRF) funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. One letter, sent to Radhika Fox, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, provided principles for equitable implementation of the new SRF funding and the other, delivered to Michael S. Regan, EPA Administrator, gave funding recommendations for actions related to green infrastructure and climate resiliency.

 

EPA Letter - Climate and Natural Infrastructure in the SRF 1-14-2022

 

EPA Letter - Equitable IIJA SRF Implementation - 1-14-2022

 

The post Coalition Members Provide Input on SRF Funding Implementation appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-members-provide-input-on-srf-funding-implementation/

Lindsey Bacigal

Contact: 
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113   
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589   

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition

January 20, 2022 (ANN ARBOR, MICH.)—The U.S. House held a hearing today on two bills that support the restoration of fish and wildlife habitat in the Great Lakes region. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports both bills, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2021 (H.R. 5973) and the Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2021 (R.R. 4092), as an important component of restoring the Great Lakes and the species that rely on it.

“These programs are essential for the successful restoration and protection of the Great Lakes, the many species that rely on them, and the recreational opportunities that so many people enjoy,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Federal investments to restore the Lakes have been producing results, but serious threats remain. Continuing to fund these programs will help us maintain the progress we’re seeing and benefit local communities around the region.”

Kira Davis, a Tribal Citizen of Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and program director of Conservation Resource Alliance, provided testimony during the virtual hearing, held by the House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife. Davis is a governance Board member of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

“The value of [these bills] … is the recognition and support provided to the vital zones working as a conduit between land and water,” wrote Kira Davis in testimony to the subcommittee (read her testimony). “These zones, such as wetlands, coastlines, riparian corridors, and stream embankments can be overlooked even though these sensitive corridors are where most wildlife, aquatic life and other indicator species thrive. In my culture and by science standards, all is connected, and without addressing impacts to these conduits, we are only creating short term solutions to protect the natural system without considering generations to come.”

The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2021, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), reauthorizes funding that supports activities such as dam removals, wetland restoration, and species recovery.

The Coastal Habitat Conservation Act of 2021, a national program, supports actions to protect, restore, and enhance coastal habitats, including those in the Great Lakes region.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

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The post House Holds Hearing on Bills to Restore Great Lakes Habitat  appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/house-holds-hearing-on-bills-to-restore-great-lakes-habitat/

Lindsey Bacigal

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition believes that clean water for all depends on a strong democracy. Last year, after the January 6 siege on the Capitol, the Coalition issued the following statement (below) that underscores our commitment to a strong democracy and opposition to efforts to disenfranchise people and communities in the electoral process. One principle of our democracy is that the people affected by a problem should have a say in its solution. This is especially important in cases where communities have been harmed by pollution. The Coalition supports efforts to increase participation in our democracy and the decision-making process, including efforts to bring people and communities to the table that have historically been excluded.

HOW Statement on Democracy

The post Clean Water for All Depends on a Strong Democracy appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/clean-water-for-all-depends-on-a-strong-democracy/

Lindsey Bacigal

Contact: 
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113   
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589   

U.S. House Members Urge Biden to Support Great Lakes Funding 

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (December 21, 2021)—More than 30 U.S. House Democrats and Republicans sent a letter to President Biden yesterday, urging him to include in his 2023 budget at least $400 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a federal program to clean up toxic pollution, restore fish and wildlife habitat, reduce runoff pollution, and combat invasive species.  

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

“We thank members of the Great Lakes congressional delegation for continuing to make Great Lakes restoration and protection a national priority. Federal investments to restore and protect the Great Lakes have been producing results in communities across the region, but urgent problems remain. We encourage the Biden Administration to show its support for Great Lakes restoration and protection by fully funding this important program. Now is not the time to falter, or the problems will only get worse and more expensive to solve.”   

Signatories to the House letter include: Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Dan Kildee (D-Mich.), Chris Jacobs (R-N.Y.), Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.), John Katko (R-N.Y.), Bradley S. Schneider (D-Ill.), Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Bill Foster (D-Ill.), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Bryan Steil (R-Wis.), Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-Ill.), Sean Casten (D-Ill.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), Marie Newman (D-Ill.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Andy Levin (D-Mich.), Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).  

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition issued a letter recently, urging the Biden Administration to include in its 2023 proposed budget at least $400 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.  

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes. 

### 

The post U.S. House Members Urge Biden to Support 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-house-members-urge-biden-to-support-great-lakes-funding/

Lindsey Bacigal

We the People of Detroit – Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition

Contact: Jordan Lubetkin, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Groups Support Biden Administration Efforts to Combat Toxic Lead, Protect Health of Communities

DETROIT, MICH. (December 20, 2021)—We the People of Detroit and the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition are supporting the Biden Administration’s efforts to combat lead poisoning in communities. The administration released a plan late last week to accelerate the removal of toxic lead in water pipes that can harm families—especially children. It is estimated that more than 10 million people in in rural and urban communities in the United States are at risk for lead poisoning due to lead service lines.

“We applaud the efforts of the Biden Administration to confront this serious threat to our communities,” said Monica Lewis Patrick, president of We the People of Detroit. “The millions of people who are at risk for lead poisoning need help and relief to protect themselves and their families. We are glad to see President Biden and Vice President Harris taking the bull by the horns and taking action to help the people most impacted by this insidious pollution.”

The plight of residents in Flint, Mich., and more recently in Benton Harbor, Mich., who have not been able to safely drink their water due to lead poisoning, have shed a light on the national problem of lead-tainted pipes in millions of homes across the nation—many of them in older Midwestern cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Milwaukee and Chicago. Lead poisoning afflicts rural communities as well.

The Biden Administration has been a vocal supporter of increased efforts to address lead contamination, and federal funding to remove and replace lead pipes has been substantially increased through investments in the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“Clean water is a basic need, but right now too many communities in the United States are dealing with health-threatening pollution,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We need to do all we can to ensure that every person has access to safe, clean and affordable water and are glad that the Biden Administration and U.S. Congress are ratcheting up investments to protect our communities from lead poisoning. As lead-abatement programs move forward, we need to ensure that funds are being targeted to the biggest problems and the people most in need. These investments will protect community health, safeguard our drinking water, and put local people to work.”

The Biden Administration has stated it will work to target government investment to help communities most impacted by pollution. Data from the EPA says some communities—especially low-income, Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities—are more likely to be dealing with serious health threats from pollution.

We the People of Detroit and the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes support efforts to ensure that the communities that have been harmed the most by pollution are prioritized when it comes to cleanup, and that the people who live in those communities have a voice in the solutions.

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The post Groups Support Biden Administration Efforts to Combat Toxic Lead, Protect Health of Communities appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/groups-support-biden-administration-efforts-to-combat-toxic-lead-protect-health-of-communities/

Lindsey Bacigal

CONTACT:
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113  
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589  

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (DECEMBER 16, 2021)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and 63 of its members are urging the Biden Administration to fully fund Great Lakes restoration efforts that clean up toxic pollution, restore wildlife habitat, reduce runoff pollution, and fight invasive species. In a letter sent yesterday to the director the Office of Management and Budget, the Coalition is urging the Biden Administration to request $400 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in the president’s annual budget, expected in February. Read the letter on our website. 

“Federal investments to restore and protect the Great Lakes have been producing results in communities across the region,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “However, urgent problems remain, and much work still needs to be done to ensure that everyone in the region has access to safe, clean, and affordable drinking water. We hope that the Biden Administration shows its support for the Great Lakes and our drinking water by fully funding this important program.”  

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has supported more than 6,000 projects in the eight-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in support of clean drinking water, heathy communities, and recreational opportunities. These efforts are helping communities clean up toxic pollution to protect the health of people, reduce farm runoff to safeguard drinking water, and restore fish and wildlife habitat to support outdoor recreation. 

“The Great Lakes still face urgent problems, and much work needs to be done,” the Coalition writes in its letter to OMB. “Dwindling habitat, invasive species, and toxic pollutants threaten the region, endangering human and wildlife health, lowering property values, and hurting the region’s economy. Moreover, emerging contaminants and a changing climate continue to exacerbate the challenges we face, many of which disproportionately impact people that have historically borne the brunt of environmental injustice. Allowing these problems to get worse will only put our communities at risk and make them more expensive to solve.” 

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.    

### 

The post Coalition Urges Biden Administration to Support Great Lakes in 2023 Budget Request   appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-urges-biden-administration-to-support-great-lakes-in-2023-budget-request/

Lindsey Bacigal

On Monday, November 15, President Biden signed into law a sweeping bipartisan infrastructure package, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), paving the way for historic investments in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, Great Lakes restoration, and core clean water priorities. This historic legislation is a big step forward in addressing the water infrastructure crisis threatening our communities and accelerating the restoration of the Great Lakes. But what are these investments and how can they help communities most impacted by pollution? 

What can this mean for the region?  

The new law has the potential to be transformative for the 8-state Great Lakes region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and New York) and the nation, potentially investing over $1.2 trillion in a broad range of infrastructure priorities from roads and bridges to broadband and water infrastructure. Some of the key topline investments with the potential to aid our states and communities in making progress on clean water and environmental restoration priorities include: 

  • $1 billion in supplemental funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) over 5 years 
  • $50 billion in clean water and drinking water infrastructure through key Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs, including: 
    • $11.7 billion for both the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF & DWSRF) programs 
    • $15 billion for lead service line replacement through the Drinking Water SRF program 
    • $10 billion to address emerging contaminants through the Small and Disadvantaged Communities program, the Drinking Water SRF, and the Clean Water SRF 
  • Billions in potential additional funding for existing and new water infrastructure programs over the next 5 years with up to: 
    • $22.8 billion for the Clean Water SRF 
    • $20 billion for the Drinking Water SRF 
    • $1.4 billion for EPA’s Sec. 221 Sewer Overflow grant program 
    • $700 million for EPA’s Reducing Lead in Drinking Water and Lead in Schools programs 
    • $250 million for a new EPA Individual Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System grant program 

Why is this important and how does this help my community? 

Our communities have been grappling with crumbling and unsafe drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for decades. At minimum, it is estimated that the Great Lakes region needs a staggering $188 billion over the next 20 years to improve, upgrade, and repair systems, showcasing the need for a transformational federal commitment in this critical infrastructure. This work has also become increasingly unaffordable for communities and residents, as the federal contribution to water infrastructure declined precipitously over the last four decades, falling from 63 percent of water infrastructure spending in the 1970s to 9 percent today. This new package will nearly double traditional federal contributions to the SRF program over the next 5 years with a further $25 billion in targeted investments to address lead service line replacement and emerging contaminants. 

How do these funds help the communities most in need? 

Despite this significant investment, far too often the costs of repairing and replacing critical water infrastructure are being passed on to those who can least afford it. A lack of investment that has disproportionately impacted communities that have historically borne the brunt of pollution and now are faced with water utility bills that have doubled or tripled over the last decade. How does this increased investment begin to address some of the existing financial barriers to entry for investing in the most underserved communities?

Despite this significant investment, far too often the costs of repairing and replacing critical water infrastructure are being passed on to those who can least afford it. A lack of investment that has disproportionately impacted communities that have historically borne the brunt of pollution and now are faced with water utility bills that have doubled or tripled over the last decade.3 How does this increased investment begin to address some of the existing financial barriers to entry for investing in the most underserved communities?  

This legislation will require that half of the funds provided for the SRF program be used to provide 100% principal forgiveness or be distributed as grants, a significant increase over the previously capped level of permitted subsidy in the program. Moreover, the $25 billion in targeted funds for lead service line replacement and emerging contaminants is mandated to be fully distributed as loans with 100% principal forgiveness or as grants. This subsidization can dramatically reduce the cost burden of repairing or replacing failing infrastructure for many of communities in the region. 

It is important, though, to be clear that this is only a start. Much of the challenge of equitable implementation will fall on the state, which will receive most of these funds to distribute through existing systems. These systems are often a challenge for many small or low-income communities and utilities to navigate. Moving forward, it is essential to continue to engage the federal-state-local partnership to enhance public engagement, invest in technical assistance, and make sure our most vulnerable communities are centered in this implementation process.

How much money will flow to my state? 

With billions expected to flow through new and existing programs, federal and state agencies are rushing to prepare to administer these investments over the next 5 years. For state administered SRF programs, this could mean preparing for millions in additional funding, which can have significant impacts for communities. 

While we don’t have exact figures, projecting out funding for non-targeted SRF funds consistent with previous year allocations, we can theorize that the Great Lakes states could see the following increases in the federal contribution to their respective CWSRF and DWSRF programs. The “Minimum IIJA Investment as Enacted” reflects what is expected to flow to each state from the funds directly provided by the bill upon signing, but the “Maximum IIJA Investment” reflects the potential maximum if Congress supports the amounts authorized to be appropriated in addition to the initial funding in future years: 

(All figures are approximate and do not include state match or other contributions) 

What’s next? 

This historic victory is a leap forward in investing in the communities of the region and in the Great Lakesthemselves, but it is only the first step in the process. More work is needed to empower communities to invest these funds where they are most needed and ensure that all have access to safe, clean water. 

Moreover, in Congress the job is not done. The passage of the IIJA begins to address our regional water infrastructure crisis. But these issues cannot be addressed in the longterm without acting on the climate crisis. Climate change threatens communities as more intense storms lead to more flooding, overwhelming sewer systems, contaminating drinking water sources, and pushing current infrastructure past its limits. The good news is that there is an immediate opportunity to build on the passage of the IIJA by taking long-overdue action on climate change through the Build Back Better Act. In the coming days and weeks, we will see the House and the Senate continue consideration of this package, which could result in over $550 billion in climate investments to help the nation transition to a more sustainable future while helping communities adapt and become more resilient to the impacts of a warming climate. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition urges our Great Lakes delegation to work together to quickly reach a final agreement as the failure to address climate change will only make existing problems worse and limit the long-term impact of this historic infrastructure victory. 

The post What Does the Infrastructure Act Mean for the Great Lakes Region? appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/what-does-the-infrastructure-act-mean-for-the-great-lakes-region/

Lindsey Bacigal

CONTACT:
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589 

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (November 19, 2021)—The U.S. House passed sweeping legislation this morning to help communities prepare for, and adapt to, climate change and restore clean water. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is heralding many of the investments in the Build Back Better Act, which contains the largest federal investment in the nation’s history to confront the climate crisis. The package will now move to the Senate, which is expected to take up the reconciliation process as early as December 1. 

“We applaud the House for taking action. Climate change is here. It is impacting the Great Lakes. It is harming our communities. And it is only going to get worse, if we wait any longer to act,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “The extreme weather, more frequent and severe flooding, and erosion being driven by climate change is straining the region’s inadequate water infrastructure, harming communities, hurting the economy, and jeopardizing the health of people.”  

The Build Back Better Act contains over $550 billion in climate investments to get us to a clean energy future, while helping communities adapt, including: 

  • $6 billion in investments for the conservation, restoration, and protection of our coastal habitats and enhancing the resilience of our coastal communities threatened by climate change. 
  • $10 billion to address the threat of lead in drinking water: 
    • $9 billion for disadvantaged communities and schools. 
    • $970 million for lead remediation in rural communities. 
  • $1.85 billion to address sewer overflows. 
  • $225 million for water assistance programs. 
  • $150 million for individual household decentralized wastewater treatment systems. 
  • Over $27 billion for agriculture programs including farmland conservation, regenerative agriculture, and climate research. 
  • $3 billion for environmental and climate justice block grants. 

Climate change is exacerbating many threats to the Great Lakes and communities, including polluted runoff that causes toxic algal blooms, sewage overflows that close beaches, and flooding that jeopardizes homes, businesses, and communities. 

We encourage the Senate to act swiftly on legislation that confronts the climate crisis and provides the tools and resources communities so desperately need to protect themselves from the devastating economic, environmental and public health impacts of climate change. 

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes. 

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The post Coalition Applauds House Action on Climate, Urges Senate Action to Protect Great Lakes, Communities   appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-applauds-house-action-on-climate-urges-senate-action-to-protect-great-lakes-communities/

Lindsey Bacigal

CONTACT:
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Ann Arbor, Mich. (November 15, 2021)—President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill today, paving the way for historic investments in drinking water and sewage treatment infrastructure, Great Lakes restoration, and core clean water priorities. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is heralding the bill as a tremendous victory for people and communities.

“The bipartisan infrastructure bill is a victory for the Great Lakes and the millions of people who depend on them for their drinking water, health, jobs, and quality of life,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “This bill is a big step forward in addressing the water infrastructure crisis threatening our communities and will provide much-needed help to the people who have been most impacted by pollution. We thank President Joe Biden and members of Congress for working together to make infrastructure and clean water a national priority.”

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest $1.2 trillion in the nation’s infrastructure, including $50 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. Investing in water infrastructure protects public health and improves climate resiliency of our communities, reducing maintenance and operational costs, and creating good-paying local jobs. The act also contains $1 billion to clean up toxic pollution, restore fish and wildlife habitat, reduce farm and city runoff pollution, and confront invasive species through the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, according to the EPA, need more than $188 billion over 20 years to update their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. (This chart contains the water infrastructure needs of each state.)

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

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The post Biden Signs Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, Boon for Great Lakes, Clean Water appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/biden-signs-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-boon-for-great-lakes-clean-water/

Lindsey Bacigal

CONTACT:
Jordan Lubetkin, LubetkinJ@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113

Coalition: ‘We hope that today’s vote to bolster our nation’s water infrastructure provides momentum for taking action on climate change.’

Ann Arbor, Mich. (November 6, 2021)—The U.S. House passed a bipartisan infrastructure package last night in a 228 to 206 vote that boosts federal investment in core Great Lakes and clean water programs, including significant investments in water infrastructure and $1 billion in additional funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The bill, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed the U.S. Senate in August by a 69-30 bipartisan vote. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition encouraged federal lawmakers to use its passage as momentum to act on climate change.

“The bipartisan infrastructure bill is a victory for the Great Lakes and the millions of people who depend on them for their drinking water, health, jobs, and quality of life,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “This bill is a big step forward in addressing the water infrastructure crisis threatening our communities. We’ve seen the positive impact that federal investments in the Great Lakes and clean water have had on the region. These infrastructure investments will allow for this important work to continue and provide much-needed help to the communities that have been most impacted by pollution. We thank members of Congress for supporting this vital bill and urge President Biden to sign it into law.”

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act now heads to President Joe Biden. Once signed into law, the bill will invest $1.2 trillion for infrastructure work, including authorizing $35 billion in water infrastructure investments over five years, supplemented by over $62 billion in additional appropriations to augment critical infrastructure programs and address public health threats.

The investments in the bill will help address the water infrastructure crisis in the region and across the country. The Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, according to the EPA, need more than $188 billion over 20 years to update their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. (This chart contains the water infrastructure needs of each state.)

This Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will address:

  • aging and crumbling drinking water and wastewater infrastructure (with over $70 billion in federal investments);
  • replacement of harmful lead service lines ($15 billion); and,
  • action on emerging contaminants like toxic PFAS ($10 billion).

The act also advances ecosystem restoration efforts, improving the resilience of our communities and protecting our waters through:

  • $1 billion in supplemental funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to restore habitat, clean up toxic pollution, reduce runoff pollution, and manage invasive species; and,
  • $1.9 billion in supplemental funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aquatic restoration projects, some of which can potentially fund projects to protect and restore Great Lakes coastal habitats and fisheries.

This funding is a significant step forward in protecting communities throughout the Great Lakes region, and the bill contains many priorities of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

The Coalition is also urging Congress to use the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as a catalyst to take significant action to address the climate crisis and to boost investments that help communities prepare for, and respond to, impacts due to climate change – so-called climate resilience –as currently being considered under the Build Back Better framework.

The extreme weather, more frequent and severe flooding, and erosion being driven by climate change is straining the region’s and nation’s inadequate water infrastructure, harming communities, hurting the economy, and jeopardizing the health of people.

“Confronting the climate crisis goes hand in hand with protecting and restoring the Great Lakes,” said Rubin. “We hope that today’s vote to bolster our nation’s water infrastructure provides momentum for taking action on climate change. We urge Congress to quickly reach agreement on legislation that confronts the climate crisis and provide the tools and resources communities so desperately need to protect themselves from the devastating economic, environmental and public health impacts of climate change. We have solutions, and it is time to use them before the problems get worse and more costly.”

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

The post Coalition Applauds Passage of House Bill with Billions for Water Infrastructure, $1B for Great Lakes Restoration appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-applauds-passage-of-house-bill-with-billions-for-water-infrastructure-1b-for-great-lakes-restoration/

Lindsey Bacigal

U.S. Senate Funding Bills Boost Clean Water, Great Lakes Investments
Federal interior and environment bill contains $350 million for Great Lakes restoration, $3.3 billion for water infrastructure.

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (October 19, 2021)—The U.S. Senate released its nine remaining funding bills yesterday that boost federal investments to restore the Great Lakes, remove toxic lead from drinking water, confront sewage overflows, and reduce farm and city runoff pollution. The interior and environment spending bill contains $350 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and more than $3.3 billion to upgrade drinking water and sewage infrastructure. The boost in clean water priorities is more than was allocated in last year’s federal budget, although less than bills backed by the U.S. House.

“We are glad to see the U.S. Senate boost funding for essential clean water programs that people depend on for their drinking water, health, and quality of life,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Federal investments are producing results in local communities, although we know serious threats remain. We encourage House and Senate leaders, as well as the Biden Administration, to use all of the tools at their disposal to fully fund restoration efforts and to ensure every person in this country has access to clean, safe, and affordable water. This includes robust federal investments to protect the health of people and communities, as well as policy solutions that prevent pollution and further harm. Further, as climate change continues to exacerbate many threats – from sewage overflows to toxic algal blooms to flooding in neighborhoods – we encourage elected officials to act with urgency, purpose, and ambition so that we meet this moment with solutions that are commensurate to the threats at hand. Delay will make the problems worse and more expensive to solve.”

The release of the Senate funding bills comes as members of Congress discuss the fate of a $1 trillion infrastructure investment package and additional legislation to fund federal safety net and climate change programs. The Senate bills released yesterday will fund the U.S. government for fiscal year 2022, which goes from October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022. The next step of the process is for House and Senate negotiators to reach consensus on a final federal budget before a temporary budget deal expires in December.

The Senate proposal to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $350 million is $10 million above the Biden Administration’s budget request, but $25 million below the authorized levels of the program supported by the House. The Senate spending bill includes the following key programs:

  • Great Lakes Protection and Restoration
    • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: $350 million – a $20 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
    • Invasive Carp funding: $36 million across U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey programs – a $0.4 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
  • Water Infrastructure
    • Over $3.3 billion for Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure programs.
      • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $1.69 billion – a $50 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
      • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $1.18 billion – a $50 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
      • An additional $439 million for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure grants is provided for Congressionally Directed Spending.
    • Sewer Overflow Grants: $56 million – a $16 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
    • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: $72 million – a $50.5 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
  • Clean Water Protection
    • Clean water state grants: $235 million – a $5 million increase over fiscal year 2021.
    • Nonpoint pollution grants: $180 million – a $3 million increase over fiscal year 2021.

 

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

The post U.S. Senate Funding Bills Boost Clean Water, Great Lakes Investments appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/u-s-senate-funding-bills-boost-clean-water-great-lakes-investments/

Lindsey Bacigal

HOW Coalition - Support Comprehensive Infrastructuere Legislation (9.29.21) (002)

The post HOW Letter to Representatives: Support Comprehensive Infrastructure Legislation appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/how-letter-to-representatives-support-comprehensive-infrastructure-legislation/

Lindsey Bacigal

Ann Arbor, Mich. (August 31, 2021) —The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is pleased to see the Trump Administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule vacated by the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona because the rule causes environmental harm. Restoring protections for streams and wetlands has been a priority of the Coalition.

“This decision is a victory for millions of people who depend on streams and wetlands for their drinking water and their health,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “With so many of our cities and towns living with unsafe drinking water, we need more – not less – protections for clean water. We look forward to working with the Biden Administration to put in place solid clean water protections to protect our drinking water, public health, and Great Lakes.”

The ruling comes as the result of a lawsuit by six federally recognized Indigenous tribes (Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation, Quinault Indian Nation, Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) represented by Earthjustice, who sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for passing a rule that eliminated Clean Water Act protections for thousands of miles of streams and wetlands.

The Navigable Waters Protection Rule was a significant step backward for the health of the Great Lakes region’s waterways. The Trump Administration’s interpretation of the Clean Water Act ignored the overwhelming scientific evidence of the connectivity of waterways that we all rely on; discounted the negative impacts of unregulated pollution in ephemeral and intermittent streams; disregarded the importance of wetlands; and placed our drinking water and the waters that drive our economy at great risk.

The Coalition now urges the Biden Administration to move ahead immediately to restore and implement the regulatory definition in effect prior to the Navigable Waters Protection Rule and begin the rulemaking process on its replacement by the end of the year.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

###

CONTACT:
Jordan Lubetkin, LubetkinJ@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589
Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113

The post Court Decision Victory for Clean Water, Great Lakes appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/court-decision-victory-for-clean-water-great-lakes/

Lindsey Bacigal

Senate Passes Infrastructure Bill with $1B for Great Lakes Restoration
Coalition: Bill a Big Step Forward in Addressing Infrastructure Crisis

Ann Arbor, Mich. (August 10, 2021)—In a 69-30 vote, the U.S. Senate has passed a bipartisan infrastructure package that boosts federal investment in core Great Lakes and clean water programs, including $1 billion in additional funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The water infrastructure investments in the bill, according to the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, represent a big step forward to address serious threats to people’s drinking water and public health.

“This funding will be a shot in the arm to make our Great Lakes and our communities healthier,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Federal investments to restore the lakes have been producing results, yet serious threats remain. Poisoned drinking water, closed beaches, contaminated fish, and unaffordable water bills continue to impact people in cities and towns across the region and underscore the need to address these urgent problems now, before they get worse and more costly to solve. We look forward to working with Congress and the Biden Administration to get this and other bills across the finish line so that we can meet this moment in history and ensure that every person has access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water.”

The Senate’s bipartisan infrastructure agreement, H.R. 3684 – the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” – is a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package that includes $55 billion in new federal spending for water infrastructure programs.

The bill includes supplemental funding to restore the Great Lakes and to begin to address our nation’s water infrastructure crisis. Over five years, the bill appropriates:

  • $1 billion for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative;
  • $19.9 billion for sewage treatment infrastructure through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund;
  • $17.3 billion for drinking water infrastructure under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund;
  • $15 billion for lead service line replacement;
  • $10 billion to address emerging contaminants across key water infrastructure programs; and
  • $1.9 billion for Army Corps aquatic ecosystem restoration projects.

The bill also reauthorizes and expands key water infrastructure programs for five years, including:

  • EPA’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, authorizing $14.65 billion for each program;
  • EPA’s Sec. 221 Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants, authorizing $1.4 billion;
  • EPA’s Small and Disadvantaged Communities program, authorizing $510 million; and
  • EPA’s Reducing Lead in Drinking Water and Lead Testing in Schools grant programs, authorizing $700 million across both programs.

The bill will now moves to the U.S. House for further consideration.

In the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin $188 billion dollars is needed for water infrastructure repairs and upgrades over 20 years.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

###

CONTACT:

Jordan Lubetkin, LubetkinJ@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589

Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113

The post Senate Passes Infrastructure Bill with $1B for Great Lakes Restoration appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/senate-passes-infrastructure-bill-with-1b-for-great-lakes-restoration/

Jordan Lubetkin

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 1, 2021) – Today, House Appropriators approved the fiscal year 2022 Interior and Environment funding legislation, advancing historic funding levels for key agencies and providing robust funding for clean water and Great Lakes restoration programs. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is pleased to see the House respond to bi-partisan support for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), proposing funding the program at $375 million in the new fiscal year. The committee also approved historic funding levels for the EPA, proposing a much-needed funding increase for the agency of almost 23% to $11.4 billion for fiscal year 2022.

On June 21, the Coalition and 93 of its members sent a letter to Congress advocating for full funding of the GLRI. Laura Rubin, director of the Coalition stated, “We are glad to see that such an effort did not go unnoticed. The GLRI has improved the lives of millions in the region and more funding will allow for more efforts to move forward in protecting and preserving the region, its communities, and its residents.”

Key Great Lakes and clean water programs funded under this proposal include:

  • Great Lakes Protection and Restoration
    • Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: $375 million – a $45 million increase over fiscal year 2021 enacted
    • Invasive Carp funding: $36.6 million across US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Geological Survey programs – a $1 million increase over fiscal year 2021 enacted
  • Water Infrastructure
    • Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $1.87 billion – a $232 million increase over fiscal year 2021 enacted
    • Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: $1.36 billion – a $232 million increase over fiscal year 2021 enacted
    • Sewer Overflow Grants: $60 million – a $20 million increase over fiscal year 2021 enacted
    • Reducing Lead in Drinking Water: $81.5 million – a $60 million increase over fiscal year 2021 enacted
  • Clean Water Protection
    • Clean water state grants: $235 million – a $5 million increase over fiscal year 2021 enacted
    • Nonpoint pollution grants: $180 million – a $3 million increase over fiscal year 2021 enacted

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.

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 HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

Contact for media: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113

Contact for policy: Alexis J. Lopez-Cepero, Senior Legislative Analyst, lopez-cepero@npca.org

The post Coalition Pleased to See Full Funding of GLRI Proposed appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-pleased-to-see-full-funding-of-glri-proposed/

Lindsey Bacigal

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 1, 2021) – Today, the House of Representatives passed comprehensive infrastructure legislation, advancing work to bring billions of dollars of new investment to communities across the Great Lakes region. H.R. 3684, the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act, which passed the House by a 221-201 vote, would provide over $168 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and affordability measures over the next 10 years. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition applauds the House for taking this important step forward, and in a letter sent earlier this week, the Coalition urged members of the House to ensure legislation to address the region’s water infrastructure crisis reaches the President’s desk this summer.

There is a nationwide water infrastructure crisis impacting the health and safety of people and communities. For the Great Lakes region states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, a staggering $188 billion over the next 20 years is needed to improve, upgrade, and repair drinking water and wastewater systems. This work is increasingly unaffordable for communities and residents, as the federal contribution to water infrastructure has declined precipitously over the last four decades, falling from 63 percent of water infrastructure spending to 9 percent today. Too often these costs are being passed on to those who can least afford it, disproportionately impacting communities that have historically borne the brunt of environmental injustice with water utility bills doubling or tripling over the last decade.

Coupled with the threat of climate change, failing infrastructure will only continue to get worse and more expensive the longer it takes to be fixed. We are already seeing these disastrous effects, as evidenced by the recent flooding in areas across the basin.

“Fixing our region’s failing infrastructure will put people to work, revitalize our communities’ economies, and ensure safe, clean, and affordable water is available to all,” stated Laura Rubin, director of the Coalition. “Our communities need action now.”

The INVEST in America Act is a good step for addressing our regional and nationwide needs. In particular, the bill:

  • Reauthorizes EPA’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, increasing program authorizations up to $8 billion and $5.5 billion annually (respectively), expanding subsidization for our most disadvantaged communities, workforce development, and prioritizing investments in resilient and natural wastewater and stormwater infrastructure solutions.
  • Reauthorizes EPA’s Sec. 221 Sewer Overflow and Storm Reuse Municipal Grants at $400 million annually, enhancing assistance to financially distressed cities.
  • Establishes a Household Wastewater Grant Program, providing $100 million annually for EPA to address the threat of wastewater pollution from failing or overwhelmed systems.
  • Authorizes $45 billion over 10 years to for full lead service line replacements.
  • Establishes water rate assistance programs for low-income households and promotes near-term debt relief for households that have borne the economic brunt of the pandemic.
  • Reauthorizes and increases funding for additional programs that further support the operation of public drinking water systems, state implementation of clean water protections, address the threat of toxic contaminants including PFAS, and enhances water system resilience.

The Coalition applauds the efforts of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee for getting these robust investments to the floor. With the passage of the House bill, Congressional and Administration leadership must now move ahead with negotiations on a final package. News of an agreement between the Senate and Administration last week provides hope for ongoing efforts to reach a final agreement in the coming months.

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 HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.

Contact for media: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113

Contact for policy: Alexis J. Lopez-Cepero, Senior Legislative Analyst, lopez-cepero@npca.org

The post House Passes Comprehensive Infrastructure Legislation appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/house-passes-comprehensive-infrastructure-legislation/

Lindsey Bacigal

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (June 24, 2021) – The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and groups in the eight-state Great Lakes region are calling on the U.S. Congress to invest more than $1.5 billion to clean up toxic hot-spots as part of a national infrastructure package and to boost Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding. The Coalition made its requests in two letters to Congress that were signed by more than 90 Coalition partners.

“Our region’s water continues to be threatened by toxic contamination that poisons drinking water, closes beaches, and leaves fish unsafe to eat,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Cleaning up these toxic hot-spots is essential to upgrade our water infrastructure. Federal investments will reduce the cost of delivering clean drinking water, spur local job creation, and protect our public health. This funding is urgently needed to accelerate restoration progress and support communities that have borne the brunt of water pollution and environmental injustice.”

The first letter calls on Congress to include $1.5 billion to restore the Great Lakes through the EPA’s Areas of Concern (AOC) program. AOCs are the harmful legacy of decades of industrial pollution to the waters millions in the region rely on. These toxic sites threaten the safety of communities by way of cancer-causing contaminants and other pollutants that have led to drinking water restrictions, fish consumption advisories and limits on recreational activities like swimming. The clean-up of these sites is necessary for the health of our communities and for our fish and wildlife – and can be a key driver of local economic revitalization.

The Coalition’s second letter advocates for full funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) at $375 million in fiscal year 2022. To date, the GLRI has been an incredibly successful program, with work underway or completed on more than 5,400 restoration projects throughout the region. In addition to health and environmental benefits, the GLRI is a huge economic boon to the region, with every $1 invested through 2016 estimated to produce more than $3 in additional economic activity regionwide through 2036.

“State-Federal partnership efforts like the GLRI and AOC programs are crucial drivers of progress in the Great Lakes region,” stated Erika Jensen, interim executive director for the Great Lakes Commission. “We know that cleaning up contaminated areas has an outsized impact in our collective efforts to make progress on environmental justice and support our local communities. The GLC looks forward to working with all of our partners to help secure these critical investments.”

“The City of Gary and our partners have worked hard to restore and protect the Grand Cal River to provide benefits for our community,” said Jerome Prince, Mayor of Gary, Indiana, and member of the board of directors, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. “We’ve come a long way, but much cleanup work remains. We need the resources to get the job done so our residents can fully enjoy our local waterways.”

Additional information: EPA Great Lakes Area of Concern website

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 HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes

 

Joint Great Lakes Letter_Infrastructure Plan_final_6.24.2021

The post Coalition, Groups Push Congress for Over $1.5 Billion for Toxic Clean-Up, Great Lakes Restoration appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-groups-push-congress-for-over-1-5-billion-for-toxic-clean-up-great-lakes-restoration/

Lindsey Bacigal

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (June 24, 2021) – The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, along with six partners, sent a letter to Congress advocating for federal investment in the infrastructure of the Great Lakes basin. The letter asked for support of the following provisions: accelerate the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; invest in drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure; ensure the Great Lakes economy, environment, and communities are resilient to the impacts of a changing climate; and strengthen Great Lakes ports and the maritime transportation system.

HOW_2021 06 21_AOC supplemental - Signed letter (002)
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The post Coalition and Partners Advocate for Federal Infrastructure Investment appeared first on Healing Our Waters Coalition.

Original Article

Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

https://healthylakes.org/coalition-and-partners-advocate-for-federal-infrastructure-investment/

Lindsey Bacigal

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

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

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

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

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.

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Healing Our Waters Coalition

Healing Our Waters Coalition

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

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