Great Lakes Law

Presidential leadership for a hot, flat, and crowded world

Over the past few weeks, when I’ve wanted a break from water law and election politics, I’ve read Thomas Friedman’s newest book, “Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution – and How It Can Renew America.” My only disappointment with the book is that it didn’t give me a mental break from either water issues or presidential politics. On the contrary, the book offers a compelling thesis and lens through which I’ve... Read more →

Minnesota environmental group challenges the state’s new ballast water permit for failing to protect Lake Superior from aquatic invasive species

The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy has filed a petition in the state court of appeals challenging the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s ballast water discharge permit, arguing that the permit fails to protect Lake Superior from the continuing threat posed by aquatic invasive species. The MPCA permit allows ships to delay new treatment technologies to prevent biological pollution until 2016, leaving Lake Superior vulnerable to more invasive species for another seven years. The Minnesota Center... Read more →

Great Lakes Environmental Law Center files challenge in federal court to new EPA rule that would open the door to invasive species and pollution from water transfers

Working on behalf of the Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited, the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center is challenging the U.S. EPA’s new rule exempting water transfers from Clean Water Act regulation. The rule violates the plain language of the Clean Water Act and would open the door to more invasive species and water pollution. For these reasons, the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center has filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals seeking an... Read more →

Bottled water is not the solution to our pollution problems

A new study by the Environmental Working Group shows that some brands of bottled water (notably Walmart’s Sam’s Choice and Giant Supermarket's Acadia brands) have the same types and levels of chemical contaminants often found in tap water. The study generated quite a bit of media coverage (ABC News, New York Times), with the general theme that bottled water isn’t perfect and isn’t cheap compared to tap water – something to consider for the family... Read more →

Major reforms needed for EPA’s stormwater pollution program according to National Research Council report

Polluted stormwater is one of the toughest challenges facing freshwater quality. It’s basically the dirty runoff from streets, parking lots, and rooftops that contains garbage, asphalt sealants, motor fuels, and other chemicals after a heavy rain. The polluted stormwater often finds its way into rivers and lakes without any treatment. Over twenty years ago, Congress directed the EPA to address the problem through an amendment to the Clean Water Act. However, according to a new... Read more →

Freshwater and economic transformation in the Great Lakes region

Metropolitan Chambers of Commerce are often pragmatic advocates of environmental protection, as they see the local economic benefits of good environmental policy. The Business Agenda for Economic Transformation in the Great Lakes Region just released by a coalition of the major local Chambers of Commerce from the across the region (including the Detroit Regional Chamber) is an excellent example. The agenda identifies five Great Lakes regional economic public policy priorities for the next President and... Read more →

Coast Guard issues interim rule and request for public comments on dumping cargo residue in the Great Lakes

The Coast Guard last week issued an interim rule and request for public comments regarding the dumping of cargo residue by freighters overboard into the Great Lakes. Under the interim rule, the Coast Guard is allowing the pollution dumping to continue, but prohibiting dumping in protected areas and requiring shippers to record and report their dumping. Coast Guard policy has allowed ships to dump potentially harmful dry cargo residues into the Great Lakes and much... Read more →

Lessons from the Great Lakes compact for invasive species policy

With the election looming, it seems that Congress will not pass new legislation to stop the spread of invasive species from ballast water this year. The House had passed legislation this spring, which was welcomed by some environmental groups but criticized by others for being weaker than the status quo. In part due to the division within the environmental community, the legislation never moved forward. Now that the President has signed the Great Lakes compact,... Read more →

Congress reauthorizes Great Lakes Legacy Act to fund clean-up of contaminated sediments

Approval of the Great Lakes compact wasn’t the only Great Lakes news to come out of Congress last week. The Great Lakes Legacy Reauthorization Act (H.R. 6460), sponsored by Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI), continues support for a program to clean-up contaminated sediments in rivers and harbors around the Great Lakes. The U.S. House passed the legislation by a vote of 411 to 9. The U.S. Senate previously approved the legislation by unanimous consent. The Great... Read more →

President Bush signs Great Lakes compact

As expected, President Bush today signed the Great Lakes compact. With everything going on in Congress, the politics of the Presidential election, and the financial crisis, we should acknowledge the focus of Congressional leaders and Great Lakes advocates that saw this through to the finish and didn't let it get put on the back-burner for another day (or year). I don't say it often, but thank you Washington. Read more →