Is it any coincidence that the EPA Administrator has established temporary residence in the Great Lakes region recently? Election years can do wonders for a politician's apparent environmental commitment. It's what happens in the off-years that hurts.
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You are invited to attend a meeting with EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt on Tuesday morning, September 28, 9:00 AM at the mouth of the Platte River in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Administrator Leavitt has visited a number of Great Lakes states over the past few months, and his extensive outreach continues, per the Great Lakes Executive Order signed by President Bush on May 18, 2004. This Executive Order created a Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, led by EPA, and which includes ten Federal Agency and Cabinet offices to provide strategic direction on federal Great Lakes policy, priorities and programs. The Administrator is encouraging maximum state and local participation and input in the formulation and development of a complimentary process of regional collaboration, and other activities aimed at addressing challenges in the Great Lakes, as directed by the Executive Order.
Administrator Leavitt's outreach meetings provide an opportunity for him to brief State and local elected officials about the implementation of the Executive Order, and particularly the need for their nvolvement. It is also a great chance for the Administrator to hear from the officials about priorities in their areas as they relate to the Great Lakes. Information on the Executive Order and other relevant background materials are attached.
Draft Agenda for Sleep Bear Dunes Event:
URL for the park map, so you can see the roads and locations noted below: http://data2.itc.nps.gov/parks/slbe/ppMaps/SLBEmap1%2Epdf
9:00 a.m. Informal discussion of Great Lakes issues with EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt. Meet at mouth of the Platte River (as it enters Lake Michigan). This is at the end of Lake Michigan Road on the map. (The south side of the road is Lake Township Park. The north side is in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The park side is where we will meet). Fisherman are there fishing for the salmon which are running up the river from the lake at this time of year.
9:30 a.m. Drive north up Hwy 22 to Esch Road. Left on Esch about 5 minutes to the air monitor. Short talk by EPA on the air monitoring plans and air deposition issues.
9:45 a.m. Continue north up Hwy 22 to Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive (15 minutes). Take the shortcut out to the scenic overlook. (5 minutes). Continued discussion about Great Lakes issues.
10:30 a.m. Event ends, Leavitt departs for Traverse City.