Great Lakes cleanup bill launched

WASHINGTON – Legislation introduced Wednesday in Congress to rid the Great Lakes of zebra mussels and raw sewage represents a symbolic victory in a long battle, but backers will have a tough time prying $23 billion from a tight-fisted Congress.

Both chambers introduced versions of the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act, co-sponsored by Democrat Carl Levin of Detroit in the Senate and Republican Vern Ehlers of Grand Rapids, Mich., in the House.

The biggest commitment sought in the bills would be a $20 billion revolving low-interest loan fund over five years to allow communities that need to upgrade their sewer systems to prevent dumping of raw sewage, especially during major storms.

The bills also would provide $3.5 billion in federal funds over the next five years to clean up toxic waste, restore wildlife habitats and stop invasive species. The lakes provide drinking water for an estimated 35 million to 40 million people, and recreation, jobs and tourism dollars for the surrounding states.

Michigan is at the epicenter of the Great Lakes and manages them with Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New York and the federal government.

“If Congress does not act to keep pace with the needs of the lakes, the current problems – such as invasive species and contaminated sediments – will continue to build, and we may start to undo some of the work that has been done,” said Levin, who said the bill may have to be passed “in pieces” over time.

Sen. Mike DeWine, an Ohio Republican, co-sponsored the bill with Levin. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, an Illinois Democrat, co-sponsored Ehlers’ bill.

Ehlers said in a statement that he is “greatly encouraged” by the bipartisan support for the bill.

Getting new funding for anything in Congress is difficult with the size of the federal deficit – projected to top $400 billion this year – under daily pressure from the war in Iraq and efforts to rebuild hurricane-ravaged gulf communities.

A small portion of what is sought in the bill already is funded. In 2004, President Bush commissioned the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, led by the Environmental Protection Agency, to create a plan to restore the lakes.

Ehlers was part of the 1,500-member group. But when the plan was released late last year, it did not call for new funding.

The push announced Wednesday is the first attempt to take the task force’s recommendation and translate it into legislation.