May 15-16 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, followed by Aquatic Nuisance Species Symposium

Ann Arbor, Mich. – Policymakers and opinion leaders throughout the binational Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region will convene May 15-16 in Ann Arbor, Mich., to address and act on key public policy issues affecting the environment and economy of the world’s largest system of fresh surface water.

The Great Lakes Commission’s Semiannual Meeting will include special sessions focusing on regional initiatives of overriding interest. “Safeguarding our Water Resources” will address issues of water withdrawal, diversion and lake level management, and feature updates on several regional initiatives. “Oil and Gas Drilling in the Great Lakes” will offer multiple perspectives on directional drilling and related matters. Breakout sessions will allow all meeting attendees to participate as Commission priorities, resolutions, advocacy strategies and policy initiatives are presented and discussed. And, the Commission’s legislative and appropriations priorities for the 107th Congress, as embodied in itsGreat Lakes Program for Environmental and Economic Prosperity will be presented at the Semiannual Meeting. Social events include a reception, dinner and tours of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Great Lakes Science Center.

The overall meeting theme, “Ensuring Environmental and Economic Prosperity for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Region,” addresses a vision articulated by Commission Chair Nat Robinson (Wisconsin) and Vice Chair Sam Speck (Ohio), both of whom were elected to their leadership positions in October 2000. “Realizing this vision,” explains Robinson, “rests on three critical elements: a bold strategy, regionwide partnerships, and relentless and aggressive advocacy.”

The Semiannual Meeting is hosted by the Commission’s Michigan Delegation, whose members include Tracy Mehan (delegation chair), director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Office of the Great Lakes; Rep. William Callahan; Frank D’Itri, professor at Michigan State University’s Institute of Water Research; Attorney General, Jennifer Granholm; and Sen. Walter North.

State and provincial Commission delegates will be joined at the event by many other government officials and private sector and citizen interests with a leadership role in Great Lakes policy development. The meeting offers an excellent opportunity for all interested parties to discuss and formulate policies in the areas of resource management and environmental quality; transportation and sustainable development; and communications and information management.

A symposium immediately following the Commission meeting titled, “Looking Back, Looking Forward: Assessing Aquatic Nuisance Species Prevention and Control” (May 16-17) will examine progress under the U.S. National Invasive Species Act and assess the current state of, and prospects for, prevention and control programs. A special focus will be placed on research and policy development needs for ballast management in commercial vessels. The symposium is organized in cooperation with the Commission-staffed Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, which coordinates regional prevention and control efforts. The panel will hold its spring meeting immediately following the symposium on May 18.

The meetings will take place at the Holiday Inn – North Campus in Ann Arbor, and all events are open to the public. The registration fee is waived for members of the press, but everyone should pre-register.

For immediate release: April 25, 2001
Contact: Mike Donahue, [email protected]

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The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Nathaniel E. Robinson (Wisconsin), is a nonpartisan, binational compact agency created by state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of state legislators, agency officials and governors’ appointees from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a “Declaration of Partnership.” The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.