Great Lakes Cleanup Costly, Doable, Environmental Group Says

Jul. 8–It will take billions of dollars to protect and restore the Great Lakes from sewage pollution, invasive species, contaminated harbors and habitat destruction, under a new federal plan.

The report by the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration, released on Thursday, could lead to the funneling of new federal funds to cities like Akron with sewer systems that overflow and pollute waterways.

The task force, led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was appointed in December by President Bush to develop a coordinated plan to restore the Great Lakes.

The task force’s 1,200-page report looks at eight specific problems and calls for $13.7 billion to eliminate overflowing sewer systems in Ohio and seven other states by 2020.

Of that total, 55 percent, or $7.5 billion, would come from the federal government and 45 percent, or $6.2 billion, would from the states.

Little federal money currently is available for such projects.

Akron officials are trying to find a way to pay for the $377 million in work needed to get rid of 38 sewers that dump raw sewage into the Cuyahoga and Little Cuyahoga rivers and the Ohio & Erie Canal after heavy rains.

The city is spending $15.3 million on the first combined sewer project: Rack 40 on the Little Cuyahoga River north of Memorial Parkway. Akron has hiked sewer bills and has received $1.4 million in federal grants for that project.

But Akron officials don’t know how the city will pay for the remaining sewer work.

“This is certainly a step in the right direction and toward funding a previously unfunded mandate,” said Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. “… State and federal funds are absolutely necessary if we are to fully solve this serious infrastructure problem.”

The federal action plan drew rave reviews from environmental groups, but several cautioned that Congress must still provide the needed money.

“It’s a heck of a plan… and an excellent start,” said Andy Buchsbaum of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Office in Ann Arbor, Mich. “… But the main concern is: Will it be funded? If it’s not funded, it’s just a plan.”

Also praising the plan were Ohio’s two Republican senators: George Voinovich and Mike DeWine, both Great Lakes supporters.

“I am pleased that so many different interests have come together to draft a plan for the future of the Great Lakes,” DeWine said. “More importantly, we’re starting to see how these problems are interrelated and why it’s important to take action now.”

The plan calls for cleaning up contaminated harbor sediments in 31 American cities, including Cleveland; restoring wetlands and developing river corridors with vegetation, and installing barriers to keep invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.

It won’t be known until next January how much initial money Congress might authorize for the Great Lakes. That’s when Bush will submit his 2007 budget to Congress.

The plan will be the subject of public hearings, and a 60-day public comment period is under way. The report is to be finalized by the end of the year.

The report is available at www.glrc.us.

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