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