Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
Volume 11, Number 1 • Early Spring 2003
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat NewsThe Newsletter of the Great Lakes
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By: Jennifer Nalbone
On March 15th, 2003, New York aquatic habitat advocates converged in Syracuse for the first annual GLAHNF New York Network meeting, entitled “Protecting New York Aquatic Habitats: Emerging Issues.” The meeting objective was to inform New York organizations about efforts to address critical aquatic habitat issues through work with state leaders.
The New York Network convened immediately after the annual student-faculty conference of the Great Lakes Research Consortium (GLRC) at the State University of New York, college of Environmental Science and Forestry. GLRC, our host, provided wonderful meeting space, and free access to scientific presentations ranging from botulism in Lake Erie to the impact of invasive species on native food webs. Thanks to the GLRC for its hospitality. You can learn more about the Great Lakes Research Consortium by going to their website: http://www.esf.edu/glrc/
Three critical aquatic habitat issues were discussed at the Network meeting: directional drilling and pipeline construction in the Great Lakes; addressing the SWANCC Supreme Court ruling, and; efforts by the New York delegation to stop the Great Lakes Navigation System review.
Speaking on efforts to ban directional drilling and pipeline construction in the Great Lakes were Bryan Clark, legislative advocate for the Ohio Public Interest Research Group and Stephanie Grace Carter, special Assistant to the Assembly for Assemblyperson Sam Hoyt. Bryan presented on the environmental risks of directional drilling on drinking water, shoreline habitat, human health and the economy. Bryan also reported on the status of directional drilling in the Great Lakes: Michigan has already banned the practice, Ohio is close to issuing a ban, and New York is stepping up to the plate to address the threat. More on this issue can be found at: www.ohiopirg.org. Stephanie spoke about Assemblyperson Hoyt’s efforts to introduce state legislation to close the door on directional drilling in Lake Erie (currently New York already prohibits directional drilling in Lake Ontario), and the threat to Great Lakes aquatic habitat posed by trenching or laying pipelines under the Great Lakes.
Speaking on the need to protect New York’s aquatic habitats through federal and state protections were Julie Sibbing, wetland policy specialist for the National Wildlife Federation and John Stouffer, legislative director for the Sierra Club-Atlantic Chapter. Julie presented on recent federal efforts to eliminate Clean Water Act protection for many streams and wetlands, and how reducing federal protections would impact New York’s aquatic habitats. Julie also provided background on the 2001 SWANCC Supreme Court ruling, which removed from federal regulation “isolated” wetlands. More on this issue can be found at: www.nwf.org. John presented on efforts of the Sierra Club- Atlantic Chapter to protect New York’s wetlands by filling the gaps created by the SWANCC ruling.
Speaking on recent efforts by the New York federal delegation to stop funding for the Great Lakes Navigation System Review was Jennifer Nalbone, habitat and biodiversity coordinator for Great Lakes United. Jennifer presented an overview of the Navigation System review, efforts by Representatives John McHugh,Louise Slaughter, James Walsh, and Maurice Hinchey to strike federal funding for the study, additional opposition by Governor George Pataki and Senators Hilary Clinton and Charles Shumer, and where the Navigation Study stands now. More on this issue can be found at: www.glu.org, or please read the article below.
If you would like to become involved in any of these important efforts to protect aquatic habitat, or to contact any of the presenters mentioned above, please contact Jennifer Nalbone at 716-886-0142, or email jen@glu.org and she can help you find more information.
After almost a year of public outcry, the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers approved the Great Lakes Navigation System Review Reconnaissance Report on February 13th, but did not recommend immediate movement to the full feasibility stage. (See past issues of the GLAHNews New York Update for more information on concerns with the Great Lakes Navigation System Review).
Instead, the Corps articulated that the next step would be to prepare a “supplement” to the reconnaissance report.
Normally, Corps studies go through the following phases: Congressional Authorization, Reconnaissance Report, Feasibility Study, and then finally Project implementation. This “supplement” report is an unprecedented added step that will allow the Corps to continue work. Congress approved 1.5 million dollars for fiscal year ’03 spending on the Great Lakes Navigation System review. The Corps cannot move to the full feasibility stage without commitment from a non-federal co-sponsor. Canada has not committed to being a non-federal cosponsor for a full feasibility study.
The Corps recommends the following limitations in the scope of work on the Great Lakes Navigation System Review for the next 2-3 years:
While Great Lakes advocates have asked Corps representatives about opportunities for public input and partnerships with Canada, the process in which the Corps will engage in this “supplemental reconnaissance study” has not yet been articulated. Because of the unprecedented nature of this supplemental study, all parties are scrambling to determine what the study parameters will be. Despite confusion, Great Lakes advocates should acknowledge this as a partial victory. Many thanks to everyone who have written letters, made phone calls, passed resolutions and spoken out on this issue. Special thanks to Canada and the New York delegation!
If you would like to receive regular updates on the Great Lakes Navigation System Review, please email: jen@glu.org
Maria Maybee |