WGBA -House Passes Water Quality Investment Act

House Passes Water Quality Investment Act

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U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) successfully included an amendment in the Water Quality Investment Act to improve U.S.-Canadian cooperation in monitoring wastewater discharges into the Great Lakes.  The Water Quality Investment Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today.

"The Great Lakes are the source of drinking water for 45 million people, and the economic livelihood of Northern Michigan depends the health of our water," Stupak said.  "My amendment will help prevent harmful sewage discharges into our Great Lakes and promote cooperation between the U.S. and Canada in addressing wastewater issues."

Stupak's amendment, which was included in House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Oberstar's manager's amendment, would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in consultation with the U.S. State Department and the Canadian government, to study wastewater treatment facilities that discharge into the Great Lakes and provide recommendations to improve monitoring, information sharing and cooperation between the U.S. and Canada.

Stupak said incidents of pollution in the St. Mary's River and on Sugar Island demonstrated the need for enhanced cooperation between the United States and Canada on wastewater issues. 

"I have toured part of the St. Mary's River and Sugar Island and it is clear that human waste has been discharged into the river and washing up on local beaches," Stupak said.  "At my urging, U.S. and Canadian officials on both sides of the border are working more closely to address this environmental and health hazard, this problem illustrated the need for better U.S. and Canadian cooperation on water issues throughout the Great Lakes region.  Only when the U.S. and Canada are equally engaged can we prevent harmful sewage discharges and begin meaningful remediation of polluted areas."

Stupak also hailed passage of the underlying bill, which includes $13.8 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.  The measure also includes more than $3 billion for water pollution and sewage control and other EPA water projects, and a five-year reauthorization of the Great Lakes Legacy Act providing $750 million for sediment mitigation projects in the Great Lakes Areas of Concern.

"Since coming to Congress, I have made it my mission to protect and promote the nation's most precious resource: the Great Lakes," Stupak said.  "The Great Lakes Legacy Act has provided for the remediation of Tannery Bay in Sault Ste. Marie and with proper funding could be used to clean-up toxic contaminants in the other areas of concern identified."

The Great Lakes tributaries and harbors identified as having pollution problems are known as "areas of concern" (AOCs).  There are 43 AOCs on the Great Lakes - 26 in the United States, 12 in Canada and five shared between the two countries.  Six of the AOCs are located wholly or partially in Michigan's First Congressional District: Saginaw River and Bay AOC, Menominee River AOC, Manistique River AOC, Deer Lake AOC, Torch Lake AOC and St. Mary's River AOC.

"Michigan stands to benefit tremendously from this legislation and particularly the Great Lakes Legacy Act," Stupak said.  "While Congress has provided funding for the program since 2004, the Obama Administration has offered a renewed commitment to funding Great Lakes cleanup.  The President's budget includes a new $475 million initiative for the Great Lakes and I hope the administration is equally committed to funding the Legacy Act."

Michigan's First Congressional District, which Stupak represents, has more shoreline - 1,613 miles - than any other congressional district in the continental United States and is the nation's only congressional district to border three of the five Great Lakes.

The Water Quality Investment Act awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate.