August 29, 2007

LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today sent a letter to the governors of the Great Lakes states as well as to the premiers of Ontario and Quebec, urging them to follow Michigan's lead in protecting the Great Lakes from aquatic invasive species by enacting legislation that regulates ballast water discharge from ocean-going ships.
 
Granholm's letter follows a recent federal court decision that upheld legislation she signed into law that regulates ballast water discharges in Michigan.
 
"We should seize the opportunity for coordinated state regulation to prevent the economic and environmental damage that could be caused by the next species to arrive in ballast water," Granholm said.  "I urge you to join Michigan in protecting the Great Lakes and closing an all-too-often used path taken by aquatic invasive species as they travel around the world and into our region."
 
Vessels often take in thousands of gallons of ballast water to stabilize the ship when traveling without cargo.  The ballast water is then released in port as new cargo is loaded, potentially releasing millions of live organisms into the Great Lakes.  Often these invasive species have no natural predators in their new environment and can crowd out native species, causing both economic harm and environmental damage. 

The 2005 legislation signed by Granholm requires all ocean-going vessels to seek permits from the state that either certify they will not discharge ballast water while in Michigan's ports or they have technology onboard that will treat the ballast water before it is released to prevent the introduction of invasive species to the Great Lakes.  A group of shipping and port interests sued the state this past spring to challenge Michigan's authority to enact those requirements; however, U.S. District Court Judge John Feikens recently dismissed that lawsuit.
 
"The court's decision is a tremendous victory for Michigan and the Great Lakes," Granholm wrote.  "The economic cost to our region from these invasive species measures in the billions of dollars each year, yet the cost to our environment may be far worse."
 
Michigan's ballast water program has proven successful in its first year of operation.  Seventy-three ships, representing 27 different companies, have obtained certificates of coverage under the state's general permit.

# # #