The first of a half dozen hearings on the Bush Administration's draft cleanup plan took place in Gary, IN Thursday night. Turnout was impressive. "Fund it," was the cry.
Either Bush is an organizing genius, and when he signed an executive order about the Great Lakes in May 2004 realized it would take a year or two of coalition building to galvanize public interest in the $20 billion cleanup plan -- or he hoped to postpone action until after the 2004 election, and didn't realize his order would create a large community that would be very frustrated if he didn't fund it. And delighted if he did.
Either way, the Great Lakes may win.
GARY, Ind. -- Advocates on Thursday urged politicians to fund a proposal aimed at reviving and protecting the ailing Great Lakes by cleaning the water and stopping the invasion of exotic species.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--greatlakesrestora0728jul28,0,5351187.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork
GARY — A few years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency produced an ambitious plan to clean up and restore the Great Lakes. But buried in it was a warning: Don’t expect more funding.
This month, a collective effort by state officials, mayors, tribes and environmentalists produced the first draft of a Great Lakes improvement plan that, if fully carried out, could cost $20 billion.
It addresses eight subject areas, from coastal health to toxic pollutants.
But this time, a meeting room full of citizens and environmentalists urged Thursday night, legislators need to make sure the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration plan is funded.
http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/news/z1/07-29-05_z1_news_15.html
Posted by Dave at July 30, 2005 08:30 PM