< About this document > Title: ADVISOR... news and views Description: Great Lakes Commission's bimonthly newsletter; Vol. 8, No.2 Agency: Great Lakes Commission Date: March/April 1995 Subject: Great Lakes Commission, policy, regional news Contact: Christine Manninen Great Lakes Commission 400 Fourth St. ARGUS II Bldg. Ann Arbor, MI 48103-4816 E-mail: manninen@glc.org < 104th Congress:Implications--resource management Great Lakes > Guest Editorial by Gov. Tommy Thompson, Wisconsin Past Chair, Council of Great Lakes Governors This March, Wisconsin was privileged to host the 1995 Semi-Annual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission. As the Commission celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, I would like to applaud its strong and effective advocacy efforts and its work to protect the resources of the Great Lakes region. Of great interest to all of us in the region, and indeed most of the country, are the actions of the 104th Congress. Several pieces of legislation, such as the Endangered Species Act, the Sea Grant Program and the Coastal Zone Management Act, will have a profound impact on the future management of natural resources. The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) was established in 1978 under the Coastal Zone Management Act to preserve, protect, develop, restore or enhance the resources of Wisconsin's Great Lakes coastal zone. Wisconsin's coastal program addresses the following policy areas: wetlands protection; public access to shorelines; cumulative and secondary impacts; and natural hazards, with a strong education and technical assistance component inherent in each of these areas. A fifth policy area, federal consistency, allows states to regulate federal activities in the coastal zone. Wisconsin has been very effective in preserving the resources of the Great Lakes region while, at the same time, balancing the need for economic development. For example, by using its grant-making capability, the WCMP is helping to reverse the long-term trend of wetland loss through a combination of public education, wetland inventory and mapping, and assisting in the development of laws and programs to restore wetlands and prevent further loss. Numerous projects have been funded for the cleanup of rivers and streams to improve the quality of water entering the Great Lakes. Coastal hazards, such as flooding and shoreline erosion, are other areas which the WCMP has addressed by helping to develop zoning ordinances, and public information and education programs. The program also has had measurable success in promoting public access to the Great Lakes. As Wisconsin's longest serving governor, I am well aware of the fragile nature of our coastal waters and the need for their protection, and that our state's economic and environmental futures are inexorably linked. Though federal resources alone cannot provide the level of protection the Great Lakes demand, the actions of the 104th Congress will clearly have an impact on how states continue to restore or enhance the resources of the nation's coastal zone for this and succeeding generations. Given the Great Lakes Commission's 40-year history of dedication to protecting one of the nation's, and Wisconsin's, most precious resources, I look forward to continuing our partnership into the 21st century. < New Commissioners, Observers welcomed at Semi-Annual Meeting > Three Commissioners and two Observers have joined the Great Lakes Commission: E. Peter McCarthy, Commissioner from Indiana; Donald Anderson and Jeffrey Busch, Commissioners from Ohio; Christopher Goddard, Observer from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission; and Jeffrey Reutter, Observer from the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network. Indiana Peter McCarthy, director of Indiana's International Port at Burns Harbor in Portage, fills a vacancy created by James Hartung's departure to the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. McCarthy most recently was director of operations at Burns Harbor. Previously, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard and was director of marketing for the Illinois International Port at Chicago. He holds a bachelor's degree from San Diego State University. Ohio Donald Anderson became director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in January 1995. He had been assistant director of the department since 1991. Prior to joining ODNR, Anderson served as a communications officer in the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of captain.He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Ohio State University. Anderson replaces Commissioner Frances Buchholzer and takes over as Chair of the Ohio delegation. Jeff Busch, former Alternate Commissioner from Ohio, has assumed Donald Schregardus' role as Commissioner. Busch is director of the Ohio Lake Erie Office and chair of the Great Lakes Protection Fund. He previously served as projects manager for the Port of Toledo and director of the U.S. Senate Great Lakes Task Force in Washington, D.C. Busch holds a doctorate in oceanography from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, and master's degrees from Cleveland State University and the University of Toledo. Observers The Great Lakes Fishery Commission welcomed its new executive secretary, Christopher Goddard, on Jan. 17. Goddard replaces Bob Beecher who held the position for the past three years. Previously, Goddard was manager of Ontario's Provincial Remote Sensing Office, within the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Jeffrey Reutter replaces William Vorus (Michigan Sea Grant) as an Observer from the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network. The Observer function is performed by the chair of the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network, a one-year appointment that rotates among the Sea Grant programs in the Great Lakes states. Reutter is director of the Ohio Sea Grant College Program at Ohio State University. < Wisconsin welcomes the Commission > Wisconsin's Great Lakes Commission delegation, chaired by Nat Robinson, welcomed more than 75 Commissioners, Obervers and other attendees to the Commission's Semi-Annual Meeting, held March 22-24 in Milwaukee. Robinson pre-sented a proclamation to the Commission, on behalf of Gov. Tommy Thompson, designating these dates as Great Lakes Appreciation Days. A recurrent theme throughout the three-day event was the president's FY1996 budget, priorities of the 104th Congress, and implications for the Great Lakes region and federally funded programs. A special session focused on Wisconsin's Great Lakes activities, including remedial action plans, maritime transportation, water quality issues and coastal management initiatives. Also, in addition to presentations by several U.S. federal agency Observers, Commissioners were addressed by Mayor John Norquist of Milwaukee; Dick Munson, executive director of the Northeast-Midwest Institute; Cristena Bach, executive director of the Council of Great Lakes Governors; Ken Szallai, director of the Milwaukee Port Authority and president of the International Association of Great Lakes Ports; and numerous others. For further information on the meeting, including detailed meeting minutes and briefing materials, contact the Commission. < Selected highlights from the Semi-Annual Meeting > Strategic Planning Initiative: The Commission is undertaking a strategic planning initiative to guide its future operations. The initiative lays out vision and mission statements for the Commission, as well as goals, objectives and strategic actions for each program area. Commission staff presented draft goals and strategic actions for their respective program areas during breakout sessions with Commissioners and Observers. The strategic planning initiative is being developed in response to a recommendation by the executive committee. The initiative will be helpful in both characterizing the organization's current role and focusing efforts to effectively address future challenges. A final product, incorporating ideas shared at the Semi-Annual Meeting, will be released at the 1995 Annual Meeting, to be held Sept. 6-8 in Qu‚bec City, Qu‚bec. Great Lakes Guide: The Great Lakes Guide, a new annual publication outlining the Commis-sion's policies, programs and priorities, was presented to Commissioners and released for broad distribution. The guide is aimed primarily at state and federal legislators and policy-makers, to keep them informed of the views and positions of the Commission. At the meeting, several other new publications were released: an updated GLIN brochure, the Commission's 1994 Annual Report, and annual reports of the Great Lakes Basin Program and the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species. Farm Bill reauthorization: Agriculture/environmental issues and the 1995 Farm Bill were reviewed in detail, with a special focus on Great Lakes implications and opportunities. Featured speakers were Norm Berg of the Soil and Water Conservation Society and Bill Horvath, midwestern representative for the National Association of Conservation Districts. Also highlighted was the Commission's Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, with presentations by several organizations that have received grants under this program. Priorities of the region's governors: Cristena Bach, executive director of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, reported on the council's emerging agenda for 1995. Priorities include integrating the states' current clean air standards, promoting pollution prevention strategies, and a workforce quality initiative that would provide for the same training standards for workers in all Great Lakes states. Bach also shared her perspectives on the Great Lakes Initiative, recounting the governors' role in the development and review process. She noted that views among the governors did vary on how its provisions should be implemented and enforced. (See related article on page 10.) Additions to Commission's policy positions document: The Commission unanimously adopted a new policy position addressing communications technology, and, in particular, the Great Lakes Information Network. The policy position en-dorses efforts to use GLIN as a common framework for development of state and regional electronic communications infrastructure. Also up for adoption was a second statement regarding reauthorization of the federal Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act. The statement had been previously adopted by the Commission-staffed Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species. Member states requested additional time to review the detailed draft statement. < Federal appropriations a top priority > To guide advocacy efforts during the 104th Congress, the Commission agreed on a series of legislative, appropriations and policy priorities, and a strategy to pursue them in the coming months. The text of a draft letter to members of the Great Lakes Congressional Delegation was reviewed and discussed at length. A distinct advocacy strategy for each of the numerous components of this letter will be devised and implemented. The Commission approved inclusion of the following items in the letter: * Water quality improvements. Including continued and enhanced funding for the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, and Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. * Aquatic nuisance species prevention and control. Including funding for the following organizations, each of which has implementation responsibilities under the Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Biological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (NOAA), National Sea Grant Program (NOAA), Great Lakes Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard. The Commission also encourages Congress to enact the proposed Ballast Water Management Act, which seeks to curb the spread of aquatic nonindigenous species through the discharge of vessel ballast water by directing the Marine Board of the National Research Council to evaluate and identify promising ballast water management technologies and practices. Reauthorization of the Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Pre-vention and Control Act is another top priority. * Reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Act. To study, assess and respond to fish and wildlife needs in the Great Lakes Basin. * Sea lamprey control and related Great Lakes Fishery Commission activities. To coordinate/conduct fisheries research and management activities in the region. * Air quality improvements. In-cluding level funding for Clean Air Act Great Waters Program activities. * Lake Michigan diversion. To direct the Corps to accelerate their schedule and efforts to rehabilitate the Chicago River Lock, and to establish permanent flow measurement capability to monitor diversion through their lakefront structures. * A second large lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. To ensure progress toward lock construction. * The icebreaker Mackinaw. To support the icebreaker's continued operation in FY1996, at least on a seasonal basis until an adequate replacement is assigned to the Great Lakes. * Proposed closures of U.S. Coast Guard stations on the Great Lakes. The Commission calls for a policy that permits closures only where human safety and property are not endangered. * Great Lakes Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) program. The Commission urges Congress to resolve the many environmental, financial and related policy issues associated with navigational dredging disposal needs and the Great Lakes CDF program. Specifically, revisions to Section 123 of P.L. 91-611 or appropriate replacement legislation should be enacted to provide for both maintenance of authorized navigation channel depths and preservation of water quality. * Support for federally funded, Great Lakes-related organizations. The Commission recognizes, in a spirit of partnership with the states, a critical role for federal agencies in basic and applied research; information, education and outreach programs; infrastructure development and maintenance; and regulatory activity. Specifically, the Commission supports continued operation of the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (NOAA), National Biological Service-Great Lakes Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Research Institutes, Great Lakes Sea Grant programs, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. EPA-Great Lakes National Program Office. The Commission's letter to Congress identifies specific program areas and recommended funding levels for each. Contact: Mike Donahue; mdonahue@glc.org < Trimming the Great Lakes budget > The president's FY1996 budget, the 104th Congress and implications for Great Lakes-related federal programs were featured topics at the Commission's Semi-Annual Meeting in Milwaukee. Dick Munson, executive director of the Northeast-Midwest Institute, offered his views on the new Congress' agenda and realistic funding expectations for the region. Munson observed that the Great Lakes Congressional Delegation is smaller and less powerful than it has been in previous years, noting that since 1979, the region's delegation has fallen from 36 percent of the House of Representatives to 30 percent. An added complication is that money is tight, and President Clinton's FY1996 budget proposal is not a particularly generous starting point for Great Lakes programs. For example, the proposed budget includes a 3 percent cut for U.S. EPA's Great Lakes National Program office; level funding of $100 million nationally for EPA's nonpoint source pollution programs (Section 319); and elimination of the $3.2 million Clean Lakes program. Also included in the proposed budget is level funding of $49 million for the National Sea Grant Program, but elimination of $2.8 million for Sea Grant research on aquatic nuisance species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also would receive less money for aquatic nuisance species research and control efforts than in past years. The Commission's Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, funded last year through the U.S. Department of Agriculture at $250,000, received no funding in the president's FY1996 budget and will require congressional action. Contact: Mike Donahue; mdonahue@glc.org < Commission honors Hoffman and Behm for outstanding service > Joe Hoffman, Pennsylvania Commissioner and former Commission chair, and Al Behm, longtime Observer, were recognized for their service to the Great Lakes Commission at the recent Semi-Annual Meeting in Milwaukee. Hoffman, assistant director of the Bureau of Water Supply and Community Health for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, served as Commission chair during 1993-94 and has been chair of Pennsylvania's delegation since 1987. Hoffman continues to be a dedicated supporter of Commission activities. Behm, who retired April 1 as planning division chief with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has been a Commission Observer since the inception of the Observer program in 1988. His retirement marks the end of a 33-year career with the corps, including 28 years at the North Central Division in Chicago. His responsibilities have reached beyond the Great Lakes to include the upper Mississippi River Basin and 1,900 miles of river drainage on the Canadian border. Behm plans to stay active in Great Lakes activities, primarily through an advisory capacity with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. < Strategy to combat soil erosion topic of joint meeting > Developing partnerships and a strategy for Great Lakes soil erosion, sedimentation and nonpoint source pollution control was the theme of a joint meeting of the Commission's Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Task Force and the National Association of Conservation District's (NACD) Great Lakes Committee, held March 24 in Milwaukee. More than 30 members of the two organizations participated in the meeting. Leading the various sessions were Dwain Otte, chair of the NACD Great Lakes Committee, and Commission Task Force Chair Jerry Wager, of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The meeting included a review of legislative, appropriations and program developments at the federal level, including U.S. Department of Agriculture restructuring and budget cutbacks. It also focused on regional networking and coalition building needs; the increasing importance of information and education programs to promote soil erosion and sedimentation issues; and the need to cultivate leadership at the agency level and in Congress. Collaborative opportunities for the Commission's task force and the NACD Great Lakes Committee also were discussed. Committee members agreed to support enhanced funding for the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control. Also, the Commission's task force agreed to pursue a new initiative involving the promotion of soil erosion and sediment control through a series of workshops jointly sponsored with state soil and water conservation districts. Contact: Tom Crane; tcrane@glc.org < Basin Program awards record number of grants > Twenty-two proposals, the largest number since inception of the Great Lakes Basin Program for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, were selected to receive funding when the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Task Force met March 23-24 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The funding, totaling $212,129, was made available to the Commission via cooperative agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture). Contact: Tom Crane; tcrane@glc.org Illinois The Benefits of Stormwater Detention in Reducing Downstream Erosion in an Urbanized Ravine. $10,000. City of Highland Park, Ronald Kroop; 708-926-1144. Indiana Streambank Stabilization Erosion/Runoff Control Project. $3,300. LaGrange County Soil and Water Conservation Dist., Sue Schlemmer; 219-463-3471. Michigan Silver Creek Bank Stabilization and Habitat Rehabilitation Project. $5,500. Kalamazoo Valley Chapter Trout Unlimited, Ed Hoover; 616-456-1521. Streambank Stabilization and Interpretative Signage - Rifle River Recreation Area. $10,000. Michigan DNR, Ray Fahlsing; 517-335-4823. Mud Busters: A Soil Inventory of the Mill Creek Valley. $10,000. Huron River Watershed Council, Paul Rentschler; 313-769-5123. Soil Erosion and Sediment Control on White River Tributaries in Newaygo County. $9,970. Newaygo Soil and Water Conservation Dist., Laurie Gracik; 616-924-2430. Thunder Bay River Streambank Restoration. $10,000. Thunder Bay River Watershed Council, Thomas Williams; 517-356-6038. Lower Millecoquin River Stabilization Demonstration. $16,687. Luce/West Mackinac Soil and Water Conservation Dist., William Peters; 905-341-8215. Empowering Environmental Youth Clubs through the Great Lakes Basin Program. $10,000. Wexford Soil and Water Conservation Dist., Efrain Rosalex; 616-775-5458. Wetlands, Wildlife and You Too. $9,900. Branch County Soil Conservation Dist., Gordon Porter; 517-278-8008. Minnesota Shoreline Best Management Workshops in the Minnesota Lake Superior Drainage Basin. $9,450. Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, Gene Clark; 218-723-4752. Sustainable Development Initiative for Cook County. $9,600. Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, Mark Nelson; 218-723-4752. Dune Stabilization on Minnesota Point. $9,284. South St. Louis Co. Soil and Water Conservation Dist., Scott Smith; 218-722-6109. New York Lake Ontario/Oswego County Shoreline Survey. $5,750. Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation Dist., John DeHollander; 315-343-0040. Single Family Dwelling Construction: Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Education. $5,850. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County, Edith Davey; 716-394-4110. Water Quality Erosion Control Workshops. $3,000. Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation Dist., David Reckahn; 716-589-5959. Vegetation Establishment. $11,458. Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation Dist., Douglas Stone; 716-394-1341. Lake Ontario Public Participation/Agricultural Stewardship Program. $10,000. Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation Dist., William Danehy; 315-469-5034. Ohio Multi-Disciplinary Assistance for Streambank Stabilization and Habitat Restoration Projects in Ohio AOCs. $11,000. Ohio DNR, Margo Fulmer; 614-265-6757. Blue Creek Stabilization Demonstration Area. $10,000. Paulding Soil and Water Conservation Dist., James Pendergrast; 419-399-4771. Pennsylvania Stream Crossings for Logging Oper- ations: A Video. $10,000. Pennsylvania State University, William Sharpe; 814-865-1372. Wisconsin Clean Bay Backer Erosion Awareness Project. $21,380. Wisconsin DNR, Marianna DeMyer; 414-468-3177. < Great Lakes Day in Washington > The Great lakes received special attention in Washington, D.C., March 8, when more than 100 leaders from congressional offices; state, regional and federal Great Lakes agencies; academic institutions; maritime groups; and environmental organizations participated in Great Lakes Day. Events included the annual Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast, "Declaration of Indiana" consultative session and a briefing on Great Lakes issues. < Congressional Breakfast draws large crowd > More than 30 congressional offices were represented at this year's Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast, with six members of Congress attending: Reps. Steven LaTourette and Michael Oxley (Ohio), Reps. Bart Stupak, Lynn Rivers and Nick Smith (Michigan), and Rep. John LaFalce (New York). The breakfast was co-hosted by the Great Lakes Commission and the Northeast- Midwest Institute. Commission Chair Patrick Ralston and Dick Munson, executive director of the Northeast-Midwest Institute, welcomed the more than 100 attendees and presented the priorities of their organizations. LaTourette spoke of intergovernmental partnerships in water quality programs, highlighting efforts of the Ashtabula Remedial Action Planning Committee, a unique public/private partnership formed in 1994 to avoid a Super-fund designation for Ohio's Ashtabula River. Stupak voiced his concern about U.S. Coast Guard budget cuts that will force the closure of several Coast Guard stations on the Great Lakes. He also restated his support for the icebreaker Mackinaw and construction of a new lock at Sault Ste. Marie. Contact: Steve Thorp; sthorp@glc.org < Declaration of Indiana's 1995 Action Agenda released > The "Declaration of Indiana," a landmark maritime agreement signed by 19 organizations in 1991, continues to guide regional maritime policy development through a consensus-building process. Declaration signatories, who convened their fourth annual consultative session March 8 with representatives of the U.S. government, released the 1995 Action Agenda. The consulative session, coordinated by the Commission, provides a forum for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence maritime sector and appropriate federal officials to exchange information on policy issues. Each year, the Declaration's signatories, representing maritime organizations from Canada and the United States, formally revise the Declaration's Action Agenda to ensure its responsiveness to current policy developments. One policy position calls on the two federal governments to maintain a consultative process with regional ports, maritime labor and shipping interests. Federal officials present at this year's session included John Lieber, deputy assistant secretary for transportation policy (U.S. Department of Transportation); Ginger Vuich, director, Congressional Relations (Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation); Eric Reeves, chief, Marine, Port and Environmental Safety Branch (U.S. Coast Guard-Ninth District); Paul Ackerman, chief, Division of Domestic Shipping (Maritime Administration); Jimmy Bates, deputy director for civil works; and Col. Randolph Buck, commander, Detroit District (Army Corps of Engineers). The Commission helps coordinate advocacy efforts for signatories. Contact: Steve Thorp; sthorp@glc.org < Great Lakes Issues Briefing > The Great Lakes Issues Briefing, attended by 80 representatives from congressional offices and state and federal agencies, featured eight speakers who presented a variety of priorities for congressional action. * Maritime priorities. Ken Szallai, president of the International Association of Great Lakes Ports, spoke of the need for new legislation to ensure meeting future Great Lakes confined disposal facility needs. George Ryan, president of the Lake Carriers' Association, called for federal funding for a second large lock at the Soo, and a continuing federal role in maritime policy. Eric Reeves, U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District, addressed the issue of icebreaking policy, and the proposed closure of multiple Great Lakes stations. * Environmental priorities. Chris Grundler, director of U.S. EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office, spoke of the role of research in policymaking and the importance of emerging partnerships between state and federal agencies. Jeff Reutter, director of the Ohio Sea Grant Program, explained Sea Grant's research role and the need for a continued federal presence in the region. In addition, Al Beeton, director of NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, made the connection between human/ecosystem health and a strong base of federally-funded research. * Resource management priorities. Jerry Wager, Ohio DNR official and chair of the Commission's Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Task Force, called for continued appropriations for the Great Lakes Basin Program, and the importance of federal/state partnerships in nonpoint source pollution control efforts. Jay Rendall, Minnesota DNR official and chair of the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, called for reauthorization of the federal Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990. Contact: Mike Donahue; mdonahue@glc.org < Commission staff update > The Commission welcomes two new specialists to its staff and announces several promotions. Matthew Doss joins the Resource Management and Environmental Quality Program. He supports the Statewide Public Advisory Council for Michigan's Areas of Concern (AOC) Program and coordinates project elements to strengthen public participation at AOCs throughout the basin. Doss previously worked for an environmental planning consulting firm in San Francisco and for a member of Congress in Washington, D.C. He has a bachelor's degree in political science and history from Kalamazoo College. Christine Manninen joins the Communications Program, taking over as editor of the ADVISOR. Her experience includes work in corporate communications at Consumers Power Company in Jackson, Michigan. Manninen has a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Michigan Technological University and will earn a master's in journalism from Michigan State in 1995. Paula McIntyre, former editor of the ADVISOR, has been promoted to project manager and will oversee development of the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN). Communications Program Manager Carol Ratza has the added title of GLIN Director. Lori Reynolds has been promoted from program specialist to project manager in the Resource Management and Environmental Quality Program area. Victoria Pebbles, regional coordination specialist, has expanded her duties to include a variety of congressional and federal liaison activities and services to member states. She also continues to support the Ecosystem Charter project. Rita Straith, former administrative assistant, is now manager of support services, and Marilyn Ratliff's title has changed from secretary to database administrator. < GLIN introduces new home page, brochure > The Great Lakes Information Network unveiled a new World Wide Web home page in March. The familiar links to Environment and Economy are still there, but the new page includes more links to other related topics of interest to the Great Lakes community, such as Communication and Regional News. Under the Communication link, you'll find newsgroups and e-mail lists, agency directories and more. The Regional News link points to news media outlets in the Great Lakes region. One new venture, the Great Lakes Environmental Wire, is a weekly compilation of environmental stories from Michigan's Booth Newspapers, which includes eight papers from around the state. The home page will feature more links in the weeks to come; users are advised to check in regularly. Plans also are underway to incorporate contents of the GLIN gopher into the GLIN web. Keep track of these changes and additions to the GLIN web by checking the What's New link. In other news, the GLIN Advisory Board will be meeting April 20 in Ann Arbor. A new GLIN brochure is now available; contact Bonnie Bouman for free copies. Also, if you have information online that you think GLIN should point to, contact Paula McIntyre, mcintyre@glc.org < GLACIER and spill protection top agenda > The Great Lakes Spill Protection Partnership and the Great Lakes Area Computerized Inventory for Emergency Response (GLACIER) topped the agenda at an Emergency Preparedness Task Force meeting held February 21 in Chicago. Chair Ken Schultz, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, led a discussion on the task force's prospective role in expanding the Great Lakes Spills Protection Partnership, a Great Lakes state/industry initiative of the Council of Great Lakes Governors. Also discussed was a Great Lakes Spill Protection Initiative report that addressed the need for uniform spill data collection, streamlined spill reporting requirements and industry/state coordinated spill response exercises. Task force members received an update from Commission staff members Laura Beer and Lisa Rives on the Great Lakes Area Computerized Inventory for Emergency Response (GLACIER). Their analysis compared GLACIER with other oil spill response resources available in the Great Lakes region and identified the project's future objectives. Stephen Duca, vice president for readiness and external affairs with the Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC), outlined MSRC services, responder immunity laws and regulations in the Great Lakes region. One of MSRC's goals for 1995 is to work with Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin to enact responder immunity legislation that would provide limited immunity and reasonable protection from liability to responders in the event of a spill. Contact: Tom Crane; tcrane@glc.org < Local RAP efforts supported by grants program > Grants totaling $20,406 have been awarded to six organizations working on public participation in Michigan's Areas of Concern (AOC). The awards were made by the Statewide Public Advisory Council (SPAC), comprised of representatives from citizen advisory committees in each of Michigan's 14 AOCs. The Great Lakes Commission provides staff support to the SPAC under a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant, and also pursues projects that advance public participation efforts at AOCs throughout the entire Great Lakes Basin. Five AOCs in Michigan will receive funding: Torch Lake, Muskegon Lake, Manistique River, River Raisin, and Saginaw Bay. Funded projects will enhance public awareness and understanding of the RAP process, as well as increase public involvement. In other news, the SPAC prepared a response to an inquiry from Sen. Carl Levin requesting the group's perspective on the current status of the RAPs, and on the successes and problems encountered by Michigan's RAP program since 1990. In addition, newly elected officers of the council are Nancy Douglas, Menominee River AOC, chair; and Keith Krinn, Rouge River, vice chair. Copies of a new SPAC handbook and strategy document are also available. Contact: Lori Reynolds; lreynold@glc.org < Strategic planning initiative featured at executive committee meeting > Executive committee members convened in Indianapolis Feb. 9 to lay the framework for a strategic plan to guide the Great Lakes Commission in its future endeavors. Hosted by Chair Patrick Ralston, and facilitated by Indiana Department of Natural Resources staff Mike Massone and Jim Ray, the meeting featured a brainstorming session to identify organizational strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This process yielded draft vision, mission and goal statements, setting the stage for subsequent staff efforts to develop draft objectives and strategic actions for each goal. Refinement of the Strategic Plan will take place in mid-1995, with a final, Commission-approved plan set for release at the Annual Meeting, September 6-8 in Qu‚bec City. In other actions, the executive committee received reports on financial and administrative matters, plans for Great Lakes Day in Washington, D.C., new publications and program development initiatives. Executive Director Mike Donahue spoke of the organization's excellent financial condition, aggressive program development efforts, and stepped-up advocacy in light of congressional action on federally funded Great Lakes programs. Members also addressed plans for a 40th anniversary celebration to take place at the Annual Meeting in Qu‚bec City. Contact: Mike Donahue; mdonahue@glc.org < Ecosystem Charter gains signatories, goes online > The Ecosystem Charter for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin has received more than 50 new endorsements since its public release in October. To date, this landmark agreement for ecosystem-based management enjoys the support of more than 130 signatories that reflect a broad array of Great Lakes interests. These include federal, state, local and tribal jurisdictions; environmental and other non-profit groups; business and industry interests; and universities and research institutions. Organizations that have recently endorsed the charter include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, Fathom Five National Marine Park of Canada, League of Women Voters of Illinois and Michigan, and dozens of local soil and water conservation districts throughout the Great Lakes Basin. New signatories to the Ecosystem Charter are being accepted by the Commission on an ongoing basis. To review a copy and related information, look online via the Great Lakes Information Network gopher under Government/agreements, laws and policies. In addition to the charter, you'll find a list of signatories and a form that you can complete online to become a charter signatory. Hard copies also are available upon request from the Commission. Contact: Mike Donahue; mdonahue@glc.org; or Victoria Pebbles; pebbles@glc.org < EPA approves Great Lakes initiative > The Great Lakes Initiative was officially signed by U.S. EPA Administrator Carol Browner on March 13, six years after the start of negotiations to create uniform pollution limits in all eight Great Lakes states. The states now have two years to implement the terms of the agreement, which include tough standards for waste disposal and strict limits on what can be discharged into the Great Lakes. Browner strongly endorsed the plan saying, "The GLI embodies the principles that are at the heart of the Clinton administration's approach to environmental protection: common sense, cost-effectiveness and a firm commitment to strong environmental goals." The GLI is the result of a collaborative effort between the EPA, state and federal environmental agencies, tribal groups, and industry and community leaders. Reaction to the release of the initiative has been mixed, and Browner fears that proposed federal cuts to Great Lakes programs and lack of state support will make compliance with the GLI's uniform pollution standards optional, rather than mandatory. Seven of the eight Great Lakes governors, all except Gov. Bayh of Indiana, signed a Council of Great Lakes Governors' letter dated March 10 that expressed concern over aspects of the agreement. The governors suggested the GLI be considered "guidance" for the region rather than a "rule" and withheld an endorsement decision, pending a thorough review of the document and evaluation of its impact on the region. Consultants hired by the Council of Great Lakes Governors noted the costly implications of earlier drafts of the proposal. A similar analysis of the most recent draft still noted some problems but concluded that the majority of the governors' concerns have been addressed. Other groups, including the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), have applauded the signing of the GLI. "The GLI is a major victory for the public," says Mark Van Putten, director of NWF's Great Lakes Natural Resource Center. "The Initiative will mean fairer interstate competition for jobs, cleaner drinking water, fish that are safe for people to eat and healthier wildlife." A new limit for mercury in waste streams is one of the costliest measures proposed. The GLI requires that levels of mercury in discharges to the Great Lakes not exceed 1.3 parts per trillion, well below both the recognized level of detection of 200 parts per trillion and the levels that occur naturally in rainwater. The EPA has relaxed the mercury limits in its final draft of the regulations, but some industry officials still insist implementation of the controls will cost billions of dollars. Backing that claim is the Great Lakes Water Quality Coalition (GLWQC), saying the GLI imposes costly mandates on area businesses and municipalities that could threaten growth and economic development in the region. "We still have many concerns about the overall focus of the GLI on point source discharges," says GLWQC President Suzanne Kelley. "The agreement remains an unfunded mandate with an enormous price tag that must be paid for by municipal taxpayers and industry." The new terms of the agreement do allow for flexibility to tailor solutions to local conditions to make the drive more cost-effective. The final guidance document is expected to be published in the Federal Register in early April. A copy currently is available online via the Great Lakes Information Network web on the environment page. Contact: U.S. EPA, Water Resource Center; 202-260-7786. < Pollution Prevention: A binational effort > Pollution prevention got a boost on both sides of the border with the signing of a new partnership agreement between Erie County, N.Y., and the regional municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth, Ontario. The agreement, signed March 29 by representatives from the two governments, promotes pollution prevention as a key environmental strategy for local governments. According to the agreement, local governments are in an "ideal position to adopt policies and initiate assistance efforts to encourage local businesses and communities to institute pollution prevention strategies." The partnership has four objectives: to promote pollution prevention as a primary environmental strategy for local governments; to facilitate the sharing of information, training resources and experiences; to assist other local governments within the Great Lakes Basin in implementing pollution prevention strategies; and to demonstrate the effectiveness of bilateral partnerships in helping the Great Lakes community achieve the goals set forth by the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Highlighting the signing ceremony were presentations by Commissioner Richard Tobe, Erie County's Department of Environment and Planning; Jim Halliday, senior director of Hamilton-Wentworth's Environmental Service Department; Anthony Hazzan, secretary to the general manager of the Buffalo Sewer Authority; and other invited guests. Also on hand were representatives from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, International Joint Commission, Environment Canada and U.S. EPA. Great Lakes Commission Executive Director Mike Donahue was present, and spoke of the importance of partnership agreements that transcend jurisdictional boundaries. Contact: Mike Donahue; mdonahue@glc.org < Zebra mussels take center stage at conference > More than 500 people attended the Fifth International Zebra Mussel Conference, held February 21-24 in Toronto, Ontario, demonstrating the continued interest in zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species and their effects on the ecosystem. Conference sessions highlighted the latest non-chemical control methods, including in-line fine mesh filtration, robotic removal, broad-band ultraviolet radiation and low frequency sound. Among the featured speakers was Tom Nalepa, of NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL) and member of the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, who provided a chronological summary of the early years of the zebra mussel invasion in North America. Since their discovery in Lake St. Clair in 1988, zebra mussels have spread rapidly to all of the Great Lakes and waterways in 18 states, as well as Ontario and Qu‚bec. Nalepa also described the role of the Great Lakes Panel. Al Beeton, director of GLERL and an alternate on the Great Lakes Panel, spoke about the effects the zebra mussel has had on the ecosystem's community structure, food webs, nutrients and pelagic-benthic coupling. Next year's conference will be March 3-7 in Dearborn, Michigan. Contact: Lori Reynolds; lreynold@glc.org < A new direction for RAPs > Incorporating human health concerns in remedial action plans (RAPs) was the focus of a Great Lakes Research Consortium workshop, held February 23-24 in Detroit. The consortium, comprised of U.S. and Canadian universities and based at the State University of New York in Syracuse, coordinates research on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and the Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers. The two-day event brought together health experts and federal, state and local agency personnel to discuss concerns about the link between environmental contaminants and illness in RAP areas. Currently, there are no specific guidelines to assist RAP committees in addressing general human health issues in remedial strategies. The workshop was formatted around a background paper prepared by consortium staff with contributions from the following Areas of Concern (AOCs): Cuyahoga River (Ohio), and White Lake, Rouge River and Kalamazoo River (Michigan). The goal was to explore various approaches to incorporate human health considerations in RAPs, and to develop implementation strategies that are relevant to experiences in the AOCs. Five approaches were discussed: identifying use impairments with relevance to human health; conducting community health assessments; developing and measuring indicators of health in an AOC; conducting exposure assessments; and conducting community education and awareness campaigns. A draft report of the workshop proceedings will be available for comment in May. Contact: Sheila Myers at 315-470-6720; smmyers@mailbox.syr.edu < Brownfield redevelopment: A regional priority > Valdas Adamkus, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 administrator, addressed the brownfield redevelopment issue during an Environmental Response Planning Conference held March 8 in Detroit. More than 250 people attended the event, sponsored by the Engineering Society of Detroit. Adamkus provided an overview of EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Plan, which focuses on creating partnerships with state and city governments, lenders, investors, developers and regulators to bring contaminated abandoned urban sites to productive use and ensure future sustainable development. In the Great Lakes region, EPA pilot brownfield redevelopment projects are underway in Cleveland, Chicago, Northwest Indiana, East St. Louis and Detroit. Funds are still available, and states, local and tribal governments are eligible to apply for these EPA grants. Part of EPA's brownfield program involves reviewing and revising all EPA programs to ensure they are consistent with the goal of brownfield redevelopment. For example, EPA is working with states to encourage the development of new cleanup programs and enhance existing ones to minimize further EPA involvement. With effective state cleanup programs, Adamkus believes there will be no need for EPA to get involved at most brownfield sites. "If the state says it's clean, then it's clean. What's good for the state should be good enough for the EPA too," Adamkus said. Brownfield redevelopment was identified as a priority issue at the Great Lakes Commission's 1994 Annual Meeting. The Commission plans to work with EPA, the Great Lakes states and other interested parties to assist with information sharing and coordination on brownfield redevelopment. Project proposals have been developed toward this end. Contact: EPA Region 5, Office of Public Affairs; 312-353-2072 or Steve Thorp; sthorp@glc.org < Great Lakes Calendar > April 20 GLIN Advisory Board meeting. Ann Arbor, MI. Contact: Carol Ratza, 313-665-9135; cratza@glc.org. 20 Statewide Public Advisory Council quarterly meeting. Kellogg Center; East Lansing, MI. Contact: Lori Reynolds, 313-665-9135; lreynold@glc.org. 24-25 Regional Air Toxic Emissions Inventory Steering Committee meeting. Chicago, IL. Contact: Carol Ratza, 313-665-9135; cratza@glc.org. May 2 Aquatic Nuisance Species Panel meeting. Ann Arbor, MI. Contact: Lori Reynolds, 313-665-9135; lreynold@glc.org. 2-3 Aquatic Nuisance Species and Coastal Management Program: Toward a Regional Strategy. Ann Arbor, MI. Contact: Kathe Glassner-Shwayder, 313-665-9135; shwayder@glc.org. September 6-8 Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting. Qu‚bec City, Qu‚bec. Contact: Rita Straith, 313-665-9135; rstraith@glc.org. Basin Events May 10-12 International Environmental Symposium for Lake Superior Youth. Northland College; Ashland, WI. Contact: Clayton Russell, Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute, 715-682-1491. 14-18 International Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trends Symposium. St. Paul, MN. Contact: Jerrilyn LaVarre Thompson, 612-624-3699. 17 Fifth Annual Michigan Citizens' Conference on Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Kellogg Center; East Lansing, MI. Contact: Matt Doss or Lori Reynolds, 313-665-9135; lreynold@glc.org. 22-24 Third Annual Conference on Rural Datification. Hyatt Regency; Indianapolis, IN. Contact: U-M Conferences and Seminars, 541 Thompson, Rm. 112, Ann Arbor, MI 48109; 313-764-4276. 28-June 1 38th Conference on Great Lakes Research. Kellogg Center; East Lansing, MI. Contact: International Association for Great Lakes Research, 2200 Bonisteel Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI. 48109; 313-747-1673. 31-June 3 Sea Grant Week 1995, "Sea Grant in the 21st Century: Realizing the Vision." University of Puerto Rico; Palmas del Mar, Humacao, Puerto Rico. Contact: Anders Andren, president, Sea Grant Association, 608-262-0905; awandren@seagrant.-wisc.edu. June 6-7 Great Lakes Student Summit. Buffalo, NY. Contact: John Newton, Erie County Environmental Education Institute, 716-858-8846; djnewt@aol.com. 7-9 Keys to the Watershed: Turning Decision Into Results. Buffalo Convention Center; Buffalo, NY. Contact: Erie County Environmental Institute, 716-858-6370. 16-17 Council of Great Lakes Governors Annual Meeting. Mackinaw Island, MI. Contact: Jeff Edstrom, Council of Great Lakes Governors, 35 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 1850; Chicago, IL 60601; 312-407-0177. 20-23 Lake Superior Environmental Education Workshop. For teachers grades K-8. Duluth, MN. Contact: Lake Superior Center, 218-720-3033; lakesuperior@igc.apc.org. 25-29 Great Lakes Environmental Data Workshop. Ohio State University. Contact: Rosanne Fortner; rfortner@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu or Heidi Miller, Ohio Sea Grant Office, 059 Ramseyer Hall, 29 West Woodruff Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43210; 614-292-3750. 28-30 International Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Mayors' Conference. Hamilton Convention Centre; Hamilton, Ontario. Contact: City of Hamilton Mayor's Office, 905-546-2751 or Steve Thorp, 313-665-9135; sthorp@glc.org. September 18-20 19th Annual Inland Spills Conference. Akron Hilton Inn West; Akron, Ohio. Contact: Spill Control Association of America, 400 Renaissance Center, 19th floor, Detroit, MI 48243; 313-259-1144. 23-26 International Joint Commission biennial meeting. Duluth, MN. Contact: IJC, 519-256-7821.