“The Alliance for the Great Lakes is pleased to see Canada put in place new rules on ballast water tanks that will help keep aquatic invasive species out of the Great Lakes. The rules are an important step toward preventing irreversible damage to the lakes.

Reporting has found that “lakers” — ships that transit solely within Great Lakes waterways — contribute to the spread of destructive aquatic invasive species among the lakes. Aquatic invasive species can irreparably harm our ecosystem and cost the region billions. Under these new rules, which will require all vessels stopping at Candian ports to have ballast water treatment systems by 2030, it is estimated the spread of invasive species at Canadian Great Lakes ports will be reduced by 82 percent. Additionally, an estimated $980 million in benefits will result from the implementation of these rules. Given that costs to comply are about $280 million, that amounts to an impressive 3.5 to 1 benefit/cost ratio.

While we applaud Canada for taking action, these new rules serve as a reminder that the United States must also hold up its end of the bargain by implementing similarly strong ballast water standards on board all ships operating on the Great Lakes.The Alliance for the Great Lakes calls on the United States Environmental Protection Agency to regulate all vessels on the Great Lakes, including lakers. Ultimately, unwavering commitments from both countries are necessary to keep aquatic invasive species at bay and protect the health and vitality of the Great Lakes for future generations.”

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Media contact: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org

The post Alliance Applauds New Canadian Ballast Water Regulations appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Read on for a summary of the Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities. You can also download the full document to read about the priorities in detail.

Prevent Invasive Asian Carp from Reaching the Great Lakes

Invasive Asian Carp pose a clear threat to the Great Lakes. And the fish are only 50 miles from Chicago and Lake Michigan. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has proposed construction of additional invasive Asian Carp measures at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, located near Joliet, Illinois. This project has been identified as the best step in stopping the fish from entering the Great Lakes. 

We urge Congress to:

• Support full funding and authorization for the construction of the project at Brandon Road Lock and Dam;
• Support funding for ongoing monitoring and containment efforts, such as the electric barrier; and
• Improve operations on the waterways near Chicago to limit the risk of invasive Asian Carp entering the Great Lakes. 

Invest to Improve Outdated and Failing Drinking Water Infrastructure and Ensure Access to Safe, Affordable Drinking Water

Our nation’s drinking water infrastructure is woefully in need of repair. According to the American Water Works Association, an estimated $1 trillion is needed to repair, replace, and expand drinking water systems over the next two decades. The eight Great Lakes states represent about 24 percent of that need. Low-income households are especially burdened by these costs. 

We urge Congress to: 

• Increase funding for federal loan programs for state and local governments to repair and replace drinking water infrastructure; and 
• Set aside funding in loan and grant programs to support infrastructure needs in financially distressed communities.

Invest in Stronger, More Resilient Communities by Updating Outdated and Failing Wastewater Infrastructure

More than 70 percent of all combined sewers, which collect both sewage and stormwater runoff, in the United States are located in the Great Lakes region. Combined sewer overflows during heavy rains lead to raw or poorly treated sewage polluting our lakes. In cities with many paved surfaces and aging stormwater infrastructure, urban flooding and basement backups pose serious health risks and result in significant economic losses. And climate change will make these problems even worse. 

We urge Congress to:

• Increase funding for federal loan programs for state and local governments to repair and replace wastewater infrastructure; and 
• Support programs to assist financially distressed communities with these costs. 

Reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Provide at Least $350 Million in FY21

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has supported hundreds of on-the-ground restoration projects around the region. The GLRI supports efforts to clean up toxic pollution, restore fish and wildlife habitat, combat invasive species like invasive Asian Carp, and prevent polluted runoff from farms and cities.

We urge Congress to:

• Fund GLRI with at least $350 million in FY21; and
• Support the GLRI Act of 2019, which ensures this critical program can continue.

Uphold Existing Environmental Laws and Restore the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Enforcement Ability

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) plays the critical federal role in safeguarding the Great Lakes, protecting our public health, and keeping our water safe and clean. Rollbacks of key federal environmental regulations, together with staff cuts, have reduced U.S. EPA’s ability to protect the environment and people’s health, undermined scientific research in government decisions, and reduced U.S. EPA’s capacity to coordinate important regional projects like the GLRI and the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee.

We urge Congress to:

• Restore the U.S. EPA’s Region 5 office, which oversees Great Lakes programs, to the levels necessary to fulfill its duties to protect water for humans and wildlife.

Fund Federal Agencies and Programs That Are Critical to Protect and Restore the Great Lakes

Along with the U.S. EPA, the Clean Water Act, and the GLRI, there are many federal agencies and programs that are vital to successful protection and restoration of the Great Lakes. For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Society, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers administer important Great Lakes programs. 

We urge Congress to fully fund these agencies.

Ensure the Great Lakes Are Protected from Aquatic Invasive Species 

Aquatic invasive species wreak havoc on the Great Lakes and cost our communities millions of dollars every year. Since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, fifty-five percent of the invasive species, including zebra mussels and round gobies, found in the Great Lakes were brought here in the untreated ballast water of ocean going vessels. Once introduced, they can be spread throughout the lakes by vessels that only operate in the Great Lakes. 

We urge Congress to:

• Fund technology development and rapid response programs to combat new invasive species; and
• Support new regulations under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act that mandate ballast water treatment for all vessels that operate in the Great Lakes.

Nutrient Pollution: Unsafe Drinking Water, Closed Beaches, and Dead Zones

Nutrient pollution, which fuels massive toxic algae blooms, is a significant threat to the region’s drinking water, quality of life, and economic well-being. Nonpoint sources – specifically agricultural lands – are the largest contributor of the pollution causing these algal blooms. Harmful algal blooms cause annual problems, reducing recreation opportunities and impacting drinking water, in western Lake Erie and Green Bay on Lake Michigan. 

We urge Congress to:

• Support farm bill programs that help limit pollutants that cause harmful algal blooms, and link federal conservation funding with measurable water quality improvements; 
• Support the establishment of a total maximum daily load (TMDL), or pollution diet, for western Lake Erie;
• Fund monitoring and reporting programs to ensure pollution reduction targets are met in western Lake Erie and Green Bay; and
• Provide permanent and dedicated funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The post Alliance Releases 2020 Great Lakes Federal Policy Priorities appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Previous versions of VIDA, championed by the shipping industry, would have significantly weakened ballast water regulations. The version of the bill passed by the House and Senate includes several important improvements that protect the Great Lakes, including the continued regulation of ballast water and incidental discharges under the Clean Water Act. However, the bill preempts states from adopting standards that are stronger than federal law, which in the past has been an important tool for states in the Great Lakes region. Current regulations and state rules will remain in place until the new federal rules are implemented under this legislation.

The same legislation was passed by the U.S. Senate on November 14 and the bill now moves to the White House for the President’s signature.

In reaction to last night’s action by the U.S. House of Representatives, Alliance for the Great Lakes Vice President for Policy Molly Flanagan released the following statement:

“Last night’s vote by the U.S. House of Representatives on the U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, which included the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), was the culmination of years of discussion and debate on ballast water regulations. Ballast water discharged from ships is the primary pathway for new aquatic invasive species to enter the Great Lakes. These harmful critters have caused significant ecological damage to the lakes and cost Great Lakes communities more than $200 million each year.

The shipping industry’s proposals included in prior versions of VIDA would have significantly weakened ballast water regulations and put the Great Lakes at risk. Great Lakes champions in Congress worked tirelessly to substantially improve the bill and protect the lakes. We applaud their work to protect the Great Lakes.

After the President signs this bill, we will keep a close eye on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Coast Guard as they develop and implement new standards for ballast water under the provisions of this legislation. We will fight to ensure the new rules are fully enacted and that the Great Lakes are protected.”

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Media contact: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org, (312) 445-9760

The post House passes Coast Guard bill containing new ballast rules appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Ballast tanks of ocean-going ships and ships that operate solely within the Great Lakes system are a major pathway for the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species around the lakes. These harmful critters, like zebra mussels and round gobies, have caused irreparable harm to the Great Lakes ecosystem and cost the region billions of dollars since the late 1980s.

The issue has been closely watched in the Great Lakes region, with tens of thousands of letters and phone calls from residents to elected officials over the past few years urging protection of the lakes from aquatic invasive species. In 2008, after several lawsuits, action from Congress, and states passing their own rules, the federal government created requirements for placing ballast water treatment systems onboard ships. Yet for nearly a decade, the shipping industry pushed forward versions of VIDA that would have significantly weakened these rules and put the lakes at risk.

“We applaud the Great Lakes champions in the Senate who fought hard to protect the Great Lakes from the threat of aquatic invasive species,” said Alliance for the Great Lakes Vice President for Policy Molly Flanagan. “The version of VIDA passed by the Senate today is dramatically improved from a bad version of the bill that Senate Democrats blocked in April 2018. We greatly appreciate the Senators who have listened to the science on this issue and heard the concerns of Great Lakes region residents.”

The improved version of VIDA that passed the Senate today includes several provisions that are important to the Great Lakes. It maintains the regulation of ballast water and incidental discharges under the Clean Water Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will continue to set standards for these discharges while the U.S. Coast Guard will ensure technologies function safely for vessels and handle monitoring and enforcement. The bill uniquely allows Great Lakes states to work together to go beyond the requirements of federal law to protect the Lakes if enough states agree. Additionally, the bill authorizes $50 million to improve monitoring and rapid response to new aquatic invasive species found in the Great Lakes and to support the development of technologies to better protect the lakes from polluted ballast water.

States will be consulted as new standards are developed and have the ability to enforce the new standards in their waters. Unfortunately, the bill preempts states from adopting standards that are stronger than federal law. States throughout the country, including in the Great Lakes region, have used this important authority to protect their waters from ballast water discharges. However, existing federal regulations and state rules will remain in place until the new federal standards are implemented under this Act.

The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017 still requires action by the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Media contact: Jennifer Caddick, (312) 445-9760, jcaddick@greatlakes.org

The post Great Lakers Applaud Senate Action to Improve Bill on Aquatic Invasive Species appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Ocean-going cargo vessels have introduced numerous destructive aquatic invasive species, such as zebra mussels and round gobies, into the Great Lakes. Aquatic invasive species have irreparably harmed the Great Lakes ecosystem and cost the region billions of dollars since the late 1980s. Although lakers don’t play a role in bringing aquatic invasive species into the Great Lakes, advocates have long questioned their impact on the spread of these harmful critters. In February, researchers announced the discovery of bloody red shrimp in the Duluth-Superior harbor on Lake Superior. Bloody red shrimp were brought into the Great Lakes via the ballast tanks of ocean-going vessels and first discovered in 2006 in Lakes Michigan and Ontario but had not yet been detected in Lake Superior.

The study documented five non-native species not yet established in western Lake Superior, including “bloody red shrimp” (Hemimysis anomala), in laker ballast water discharged there. It also detected, in uptake water, a species of zooplankton (Paraleptastacus wilsoni) that had not previously been recorded in the Great Lakes. Some of the species found live in harbor sediment and may have escaped routine surveillance. The study did not examine whether or not the collected non-native species might be able to survive or become established in western Lake Superior.

In response to the study’s release, Alliance for the Great Lakes President and CEO Joel Brammeier made the following statement:

“Today’s report confirms a common sense assumption: lakers contribute to the spread of aquatic invasive species around the Great Lakes. As such, all ships operating on the Great Lakes – oceangoing and lakers – must be accountable and stop introducing and spreading the biological pollution that is invasive species.

Unfortunately, the shipping industry is united in its lobbying efforts to convince Congress to remove U.S. EPA’s authority to strengthen protections for the Great Lakes from invasive species. While the shipping industry plays a role in the region’s economy by creating jobs and moving goods, it also has a collective responsibility to operate in a way that protects the Great Lakes for all who share them.

We are grateful that the Great Waters Research Collaborative has brought the academic, business, and conservation community together to conduct this scientific study. We also appreciate that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency required this research as part of its existing ballast water permitting authority under the U.S. Clean Water Act. Sound science is the basis for strong policy to protect our region’s greatest asset: the Great Lakes.

Elected and agency officials must pay attention to this research and ensure that rules are in place requiring the cleanup of ballast water tanks on ocean-going ships and lakers. Without them, the Great Lakes environment and regional economy will continue to be harmed by aquatic invasive species.”

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Media Contact: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org, (312) 445-9760

The post Great Lakes Need Protection from Ocean and Freshwater Ships appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

“Today’s vote by the Senate brought a sigh of relief for the Great Lakes region. The U.S. Senate stood up to protect the Great Lakes by blocking the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, which contains a provision that would rollback rules protecting the lakes. This means Clean Water Act protections will continue to apply to ballast water discharges, which are the main pathway for aquatic invasive species introductions into the Great Lakes.

The people of the Great Lakes region have spoken out repeatedly against this legislation and today they have won. Aquatic invasive species have caused irreparable harm to the Great Lakes ecosystem and cost the region billions of dollars since the late 1980s.

We thank Great Lakes region Senators Schumer (NY), Durbin (IL), Stabenow (MI),  Baldwin (WI), Peters (MI), Klobuchar (MN), Gillibrand (NY), Brown (OH), and Smith (MN) who voted today to block this bad bill from going forward.”

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Media contact: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org, (312) 445-9760

The post Statement: U.S. Senate votes to block bill rolling back Great Lakes protections appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Chicago (April 12, 2018) – Today, Senator John Thune (R-SD) announced that the U.S. Senate’s Republican leadership is bringing S. 1129, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2017, to the floor for a vote next week. Unfortunately, the legislation contains an amendment — the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA) — that would weaken rules that protect the Great Lakes from invasive species, putting the lakes at risk.

Environmental and conservation groups made the following statement today, urging Senators to oppose this harmful legislation:

“It took two acts of Congress, a lawsuit, and states passing their own rules to get federal requirements for actual ballast water treatment systems onboard ships in place in 2008. Yet the shipping industry continues to fight these regulations, pushing for the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act year after year in Congress.

Aquatic invasive species, brought in primarily via the ballast tanks of ocean-going ships, have caused irreparable harm to the Great Lakes ecosystem and cost the region billions of dollars since the late 1980s. To improve balance and stability, ships take in or discharge water in their ballast tanks when cargo is loaded or unloaded. In doing so, they also take in all kinds of live critters that, when discharged somewhere else, can pose a serious threat to native species and ecosystems. Invasive species are costing the Great Lakes states more than $200 million each year already.

The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act would eliminate Clean Water Act authority over ship discharges including ballast water and remove the U.S. EPA from its scientific role in deciding what standards are needed to protect waterways across the country, including the Great Lakes. It would exempt ships that operate solely on the lakes. And it would preempt states’ rights to protect their waters.

Legislation to support our nation’s critical maritime and security needs should not be a place to weaken basic protections of our country’s greatest freshwater resource, the Great Lakes.

Putting the Great Lakes — drinking water for 40 million Americans and Canadians — at risk is non-negotiable. If this harmful amendment is not removed from the U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act, we urge Senators to vote ‘no’ on this bill.”
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Media Contacts:

Alliance for the Great Lakes: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org, (312) 445-9760

The post Senate Scheduled to Vote Next Week on Legislation to Weaken Rules Protecting the Great Lakes from Aquatic Invasive Species Introductions appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Ocean-going cargo vessels have introduced a number of destructive aquatic invasive species, such as zebra mussels and round gobies, that have cost the Great Lakes region billions of dollars since the late 1980s. The shipping industry continues to pose a threat of introducing new aquatic invasive species into the Great Lakes and spreading them to other parts of the lakes. In recent years, two non-native zooplankton, Thermocyclops crassus and Brachionus leydigii, were found in Lake Erie. And, in February, researchers announced the discovery of bloody red shrimp in the Duluth-Superior harbor on Lake Superior. Bloody red shrimp were brought into the Great Lakes via the ballast tanks of ocean-going vessels and first discovered in 2006 in Lakes Michigan and Ontario but had not yet been detected in Lake Superior.

To improve balance and stability, ships take in or discharge water in their ballast tanks when cargo is loaded or unloaded. In doing so, they also take in all kinds of live critters that, when discharged somewhere else, can pose a serious threat to native species and ecosystems. Court ordered regulations are in place to require ocean-going ships to treat their ballast water before discharging it.

Yet the shipping industry continues to fight these regulations, pushing for the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act year after year in Congress. This bill would eliminate Clean Water Act authority over ship discharges including ballast water and remove the U.S. EPA from its scientific role in deciding what standards are needed to protect waterways across the country, including the Great Lakes. It would exempt ships that operate solely on the lakes. And it would preempt states’ rights to protect their waters.

“The shipping industry marks the Seaway opening with fanfare and celebration each year. But behind the scenes, industry lobbyists are fighting to weaken regulations intended to protect the Great Lakes from the biological pollution that is invasive species,” said Alliance for the Great Lakes Vice President for Policy Molly Flanagan. “Aquatic invasive species cause more than $200 million in economic damage annually to the region and have caused irreparable harm to the Great Lakes.”

Flanagan continued, “The shipping industry plays a role in the economy by creating jobs and moving goods, but they don’t own the waterways. There are many industries and interests that keep our Great Lakes economy afloat, and it’s a collective responsibility to operate in a way that protects the water for all who share it. No free passes. This Seaway season shippers should show they are advocates for all who use the Great Lakes and stop pushing damaging legislation like the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act.”

Members of the Great Lakes Congressional delegation prevented inclusion of the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act in the federal omnibus spending bill passed on March 23. However, industry lobbyists continue to seek opportunities to pass this bad legislation.

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Media Contact: Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org, (312) 445-9760

The post Seaway Opens for 2018 Shipping Season, Risk of Aquatic Invasive Species Introductions Continues appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

“The discovery of bloody red shrimp – hemimysis anomala – in Lake Superior for the first time last week is yet another warning of the ongoing invasive species threat to the Great Lakes. And, it is a stark reminder of the critical importance of regulating ballast water discharges from ships entering the Great Lakes and from ships that move cargo from port to port within the Great Lakes.

Bloody red shrimp were brought into the Great Lakes via the ballast tanks of ocean-going vessels and first discovered in 2006 in Lakes Michigan and Ontario. More than 180 aquatic invasive species have been found in the Great Lakes. Aquatic invasive species cause more than $200 million in economic damage annually to the region. They degrade habitat, out-compete native species for food and can pose threats to human health.

It is nearly impossible to eliminate an aquatic invasive species once it is established, which is why preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes is so important.

For these reasons, the Alliance for the Great Lakes opposes efforts in Congress to weaken ballast water standards. The Vessel Incidental Discharge Act – S. 168 and H.R. 1154 – would weaken aquatic invasive species protections for the Great Lakes. These bills are being pushed by the shipping industry that is responsible for many aquatic invasive species introductions in the Great Lakes. We applaud Great Lakes Senators who have played a critical role in blocking a vote on this bill.

Our region is united in efforts to fight off threats by the Trump Administration to drastically reduce funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. We must also unite in defending critical protections that keep aquatic invasive species from further damaging the Great Lakes.”
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Media contact: Jennifer Caddick, (312) 445-9760, jcaddick@greatlakes.org

The post Statement on Discovery of Bloody Red Shrimp in Lake Superior appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.

“Ballast water pollution has carried invasive species, bacteria and viruses from around the world and released them into our Great Lakes,” said Charlotte Jameson, government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “The impact of these species in Michigan has been enormous—in terms of damage to Great Lakes ecosystems as well as national economic costs to control tenacious invaders like the zebra mussel that exceed $9 billion annually. Now is not the time to throw in towel on protecting our Great Lakes from invasive species and we urge the Michigan Senate to reject this dangerous plan.”

“Michigan has long been a leader in efforts to protect the Great Lakes from aquatic invasive species, passing statewide legislation in 2005 requiring oceangoing ships to install technology to clean up their ballast tanks. Rolling back the state’s rules, especially while federal ballast cleanup standards are under attack in Congress, is the wrong move at the worst time,” said Alliance for the Great Lakes President and CEO Joel Brammeier.

“This bill creates a loophole around Michigan’s current law which requires vessels to add ‘active treatment’ technologies that protect the Great Lakes from invasive species,” said James Clift, policy director at the Michigan Environmental Council. “By weakening these standards, the likely consequence is new invasive species entering the ecosystem which put our recreation and commercial fisheries at-risk.”

“HB 5905 will delegate the protection of our Great Lakes to the federal government at a time when federal protections for natural resources across the board are being rolled back or eliminated,” Clift added.

Invasive species, like zebra mussels and round gobies, have wreaked havoc on the Great Lakes. Brought in via ballast water tanks on ocean-going ships, invasive species out-compete native species and destroy habitat. They also cost Great Lakes communities hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Installing technology on board ships to clean up ballast tanks is the most effective way to prevent new invasive species introductions into the Great Lakes. Sixty-five percent of invasive species were released in the Great Lakes when ships dumped their ballast water. Ships need ballast water tanks to stabilize them on long ocean journeys and when loading and unloading cargo.

HB 5095 was passed last week by the Michigan House with bipartisan support and opposition on a vote of 66-42. The bill to lower Michigan’s standards to match those used by the US Guard was then referred to the Senate Natural Resources Committee. The committee passed the bill on Wednesday afternoon in a vote of 4-1 and is now expected to be brought up for a full Senate vote as soon as Thursday.

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Contact: Jennifer Caddick, Alliance for the Great Lakes, (312) 445-9760, jcaddick@greatlakes.org

The post Great Lakes advocates slam Michigan plan to weaken ballast water standards appeared first on Alliance for the Great Lakes.