Before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment U.S. House of Representatives

May 21, 2008

Madame Chairwoman Johnson and members of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, I appreciate this opportunity to share the perspectives of the State of Michigan and the Great Lakes Commission on the Great Lakes Legacy Act.

I am honored to serve both as Michigan's Lt. Governor and chair of the Great Lakes Commission. The Commission is a public agency established by the Great Lakes Basin Compact in 1955 to help the eight Great Lakes states speak with a unified voice and collectively fulfill a common vision.

Let me begin by recognizing the Committee members from the State of Michigan, Representatives Vern Ehlers and Candice Miller.  I want to thank you and the other members from the Great Lakes region, for your support for priorities for the Great Lakes.

In particular, Congressman Ehlers, you have been a key champion for the Great Lakes.  It is because of your leadership in sponsoring the Great Lakes Legacy Act in 2002 that we are here today reflecting on the success of this important program.

The Committee's support for reauthorizing and strengthening the Great Lakes Legacy Act is a necessary step toward advancing a strong agenda for the Great Lakes.

I have submitted written testimony that I ask be made part of the record for today's hearing.  The testimony includes the Great Lakes Commission's complete recommendations for reauthorizing and strengthening the Great Lakes Legacy Act, which I will summarize this morning.

The Great Lakes: A Vital Resource for Our Region

The Great Lakes are a unique and extraordinary natural resource for our region, and for the nation as a whole. More than 32 million Americans receive the benefits of the Great Lakes, including drinking water, food, recreation, commercial navigation, and water resources for industries and utilities.

Public interest in restoring and protecting the Great Lakes is greater today than at perhaps any time in the past.  The Great Lakes region has united behind the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes.

Implementing this strategy will yield real benefits for our region. Thus, as you consider reauthorizing the Great Lakes Legacy Act and advancing other Great Lakes programs, I urge you to recognize the very real environmental and economic benefits these actions will have for our region and our nation as a whole.

The Great Lakes Legacy Act: The Key to Cleaning Up Great Lakes "Toxic Hot Spots"

As you know, Areas of Concern are the most heavily degraded areas of the Great Lakes. There are 31 U.S. and binational Areas of Concern, including 14 in my home state of Michigan.  Cleaning up these Areas is a long-standing priority for the Great Lakes states, as represented by the Great Lakes Commission and the Council of Great Lakes Governors.

Thus far, the Legacy Act has proven highly successful in these efforts and has become a cornerstone of restoration efforts for the Areas of Concern.  In Michigan alone, the Legacy Act has facilitated the cleanup of approximately 250,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments, using $20 million in Legacy Act funds and leveraging nearly $13 million from state and local sources.

Priorities for Reauthorizing and Improving the Great Lakes Legacy Act

The Great Lakes Commission has prepared detailed recommendations for reauthorizing the Legacy Act and improving its effectiveness. The Commission's complete statement on reauthorizing the Legacy Act is attached as part of my testimony. I will mention three important highlights:

1.   Increase the authorized funding level to $150 Million Annually: This funding will better match the long-term costs of completely remediating contaminated sediments in the Areas of Concern, which is projected to be between $1.5 billion and $4.5 billion . 

 2.  Allow the Use of Legacy Act Funds to Restore Habitat at Cleanup Sites:   This is an appropriate use of Legacy Act funds that will facilitate the complete restoration and redevelopment of the sites.

3.    Extend the Life of Appropriated Legacy Act Funds Beyond Two Years:   Given the lengthy and complex nature of sediment cleanups, and the possibility of unanticipated delays, the two-year limit is inappropriate for the Legacy Act program.

If incorporated into the reauthorization legislation, the Commission's recommendations will improve the Act's efficiency and expedite the pace by which contaminated sediments are remediated in the Areas of Concern.

Advancing the Federal Commitment to Restoring the Great Lakes  

Reauthorizing and strengthening the Legacy Act would represent a major "win" for the Great Lakes as a whole. It would demonstrate continued Congressional commitment to elevating the federal role in Great Lakes restoration and implementing the Regional Collaboration restoration strategy. 

As many of you know, Great Lakes states are united in their approach to a comprehensive restoration strategy.  A recent study found that local governments alone are spending an estimated $15 billion each year on Great Lakes restoration activities. 

Collectively, the Great Lakes states look to the federal government to be a critical partner in restoring the Great Lakes. Reauthorizing, strengthening and - most importantly - fully funding the Legacy Act would be a significant step in this direction.

Conclusion: Addressing a Legacy of Abuse to the Great Lakes

Let me conclude by reminding the Committee that the Areas of Concern include communities - and the rivers that run through them - that helped win our nation's wars and fueled our economic prosperity in the 20^th century - from the Buffalo River in New York, to the Rouge River in Michigan, to the Grand Cal River in Indiana.  These and other rivers suffered as our region - and our nation - prospered.

The Areas of Concern are the clearest legacy of our use and abuse of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes will not be fully restored until these areas are restored. The Great Lakes Legacy Act is a key component of our strategy for restoring the Great Lakes. It is imperative that Congress reauthorize and strengthen this successful Act and sustain progress it is making.  I urge the Committee to act swiftly in forwarding legislation for passage by the full House.  Companion legislation is already introduced in the Senate, and we are hopeful that Congress will reauthorize the Legacy Act without delay.

Thank you for your work on this important legislation.  I welcome any questions you may have.