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WORD COUNT
675
SEPTEMBER 29, 2004
FOR THE TROUBLED GREAT
LAKES – KERRY LOOKS BETTER – Joyce Braithwaite-Brickley
The
Great Lakes
are a magnificent resource. They constitute the largest body of fresh water
on our planet, provide drinking water for over 30 million people, transport
over 110 million short tons of goods every year, and provide food and
recreational opportunities, including for over 250 million visitors. The
Lakes are vital to the region's $3 trillion economy.
Today the Lakes are under
unprecedented stress:
·
Mercury
emissions and other toxics from smokestacks of coal-burning power plants and
other industrial sources are poisoning the Lakes, contaminating fish, and
threatening water supplies.
·
Toxic “hot
spots” in sediments -- a legacy of industrial pollution -- continue to leach
chemicals into the Lakes, harming fish and water supplies.
·
These
pollutants have caused hundreds of fish advisories for the Lakes. This
includes advisories for toxics in many sport fish and fish consumption
advisories due to mercury contamination in each Lakes state.
·
Contaminated water is routinely deposited into the Lakes through stormwater
and sewer overflows, causing serious health risks and beach closures. In
2002, nearly 900 beaches were closed due to bacterial contamination.
·
Sensitive
areas around the Lakes are subject to unprecedented development pressures.
·
Over 160
invasive species threaten the ecological balance of the Lakes. They deprive
fish of food, cause blooms of toxic algae, and overtake boats, spawning
areas, and drinking water intakes. Damage caused by the zebra mussel alone
is estimated at $5 billion.
Rather than taking action
to reverse these trends, President George W. Bush's administration has
accelerated the deterioration of the Lakes. The administration has:
·
-Weakened
mercury standards proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s own
scientists, which would have reduced mercury contamination by as much as 90
percent. Instead, the Bush plan allows coal-fired power plants to emit more
mercury over a longer period than permitted by existing law.
·
-Cut
funding for stormwater and sewage treatment when municipalities need more
federal assistance than ever. For example, earlier this year, more than 4.5
billion gallons of untreated sewage was dumped into Lake Michigan. But
President Bush's 2005 budget cuts the program that addresses municipal
sewage systems by $170 million in the Lakes region.
·
-Starved
the Superfund program and eliminated critical funding for the cleanup of
legacy pollution problems in the Lakes. The administration has refused to
reinstate the tax on oil and chemical companies to support the cleanup of
toxic waste sites.
·
-Turned a
blind eye to the continued destruction of wetlands. Despite making an Earth
Day pledge to restore 3 million acres of wetlands, the Bush administration
proposed a rule that would allow the destruction of up to 20 million acres
of wetlands nationally. After intense pressure from sportsmen, the
administration withdrew the rule but left in place a "guidance" policy that
results in the same amount of losses.
·
-Refused to
use the Clean Water Act to protect the Lakes from discharges of invasive
species from their leading source, ships’ ballast water. Seven Lakes states
are pursuing litigation that challenges the Bush administration on this
negligence. In addition, the Bush administration has sat on the legislative
sidelines by allowing a comprehensive bill that would protect the Lakes --
the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act -- to languish in Congress.
·
-Expressed
support for the transport of bulk water supplies from the Lakes to the
southwestern
United States.
It's significant that the
Kerry campaign, speaking through Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm,
released a six-point
Great Lakes protection
plan on September 13. The plan is a credible strategy for cleaning up toxic
hotspots, reducing mercury pollution, and broadening public participation in
Lakes policymaking. The Bush campaign has not yet released anything
comparable, and the president continues only to highlight his pledge at
public appearances across the region not to export Lakes water
--
Joyce
Braithwaite-Brickley was assistant to the Michigan Republican Party chairman
and political advisor and campaign manager for former Gov. William G.
Milliken. Her essays have appeared widely in the state.
priorities@charter.net --
A photo of Joyce Braithwaite-Brickley is available
CLICK HERE
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