Comments on: Column: Tell me what sucks about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/08/07/column-tell-me-what-sucks-about-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:59:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: » Poulson’s GLRI Echo is Heard and Returned - Healthy Lakes - Healthy Lives http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/08/07/column-tell-me-what-sucks-about-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/comment-page-1/#comment-1187 » Poulson’s GLRI Echo is Heard and Returned - Healthy Lakes - Healthy Lives Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:58:05 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=9073#comment-1187 [...] Great Lakes Echo’s David Poulson wrote a very provocative blog last week arguing that the public meetings being held by the EPA on the Great Lakes Restoration [...] [...] Great Lakes Echo’s David Poulson wrote a very provocative blog last week arguing that the public meetings being held by the EPA on the Great Lakes Restoration [...]

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]]> By: Tom Hamilton http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/08/07/column-tell-me-what-sucks-about-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/comment-page-1/#comment-1147 Tom Hamilton Sat, 15 Aug 2009 02:51:05 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=9073#comment-1147 In Muskegon County we are very fortunate to have our core group of dedicated individuals still around after 3-4 decades. We have seen our Muskegon Lake and White Lake AOC PACs hang in there through many slow progress periods that would break the morale of weaker communities. The hard times are when we make most of limited funding picking away at priority projects and making sure the RAPs, management plans, and research projects are always in focus. The point is this. Conditions can change quickly as has happened in the last few months, and being "planning and shovel ready" can lead to pleasant surprises. When $475M pops up we'll take as many large or small grants feasible. I came away from the Lansing meeting feeling very good for a change. But, I'm looking beyond the present $475M period to one more good round of funding following and then back to slow mode political reality 3-4 years from now. Enjoy your funding and complete as many projects now while you can. While you're at it recruit some young dedicated blood into your organizations to carry on through the next slow funding period. In Muskegon County we are very fortunate to have our core group of dedicated individuals still around after 3-4 decades. We have seen our Muskegon Lake and White Lake AOC PACs hang in there through many slow progress periods that would break the morale of weaker communities. The hard times are when we make most of limited funding picking away at priority projects and making sure the RAPs, management plans, and research projects are always in focus. The point is this. Conditions can change quickly as has happened in the last few months, and being “planning and shovel ready” can lead to pleasant surprises. When $475M pops up we’ll take as many large or small grants feasible. I came away from the Lansing meeting feeling very good for a change. But, I’m looking beyond the present $475M period to one more good round of funding following and then back to slow mode political reality 3-4 years from now. Enjoy your funding and complete as many projects now while you can. While you’re at it recruit some young dedicated blood into your organizations to carry on through the next slow funding period.

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]]> By: Gary Wilson http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/08/07/column-tell-me-what-sucks-about-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/comment-page-1/#comment-1077 Gary Wilson Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:14:54 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=9073#comment-1077 I agree Tim that it is important for people to make their thoughts known directly to the EPA, and would encourage all to do so. The Great Lakes Town Hall, The Echo, and many other sites, as well as the media have done a good job at publicizing the EPA events you are hosting. And I give you, Cam Davis, and Gary Gulezian high marks for your outreach efforts. But a plan of this magnitude is hard to understand and intelligently comment on by the average concerned citizen. I probably pay more attention to Great Lakes Restoration than most citizens and I was reluctant to comment publicly in Chicago for fear of looking stupid. And to your point about no plan being perfect, we all get that. As I understand it, any chance for future funding rests with the success of how well we spend this $475 million. I remain concerned that the plan as presented and likely implemented, is so unfocused that results will be only at the margins. Thanks Tim for the Great Lakes Commission's role in communicating the GLRI. And yes, I'll be submitting my thoughts to the EPA. gw I agree Tim that it is important for people to make their thoughts known directly to the EPA, and would encourage all to do so.

The Great Lakes Town Hall, The Echo, and many other sites, as well as the media have done a good job at publicizing the EPA events you are hosting.

And I give you, Cam Davis, and Gary Gulezian high marks for your outreach efforts.

But a plan of this magnitude is hard to understand and intelligently comment on by the average concerned citizen. I probably pay more attention to Great Lakes Restoration than most citizens and I was reluctant to comment publicly in Chicago for fear of looking stupid.

And to your point about no plan being perfect, we all get that.

As I understand it, any chance for future funding rests with the success of how well we spend this $475 million.

I remain concerned that the plan as presented and likely implemented, is so unfocused that results will be only at the margins.

Thanks Tim for the Great Lakes Commission’s role in communicating the GLRI. And yes, I’ll be submitting my thoughts to the EPA.

gw

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]]> By: Tim Eder http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/08/07/column-tell-me-what-sucks-about-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/comment-page-1/#comment-1071 Tim Eder Mon, 10 Aug 2009 16:13:00 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=9073#comment-1071 Dave: Your comments on the Great Lakes Restoration Initaitive and the dialogue in response are interesting and provocative. The Great Lakes Commission, which represents the Great Lakes states, organized and facilitated the public meetings on contract to EPA. We are also tasked with writing a report summarizing all of the comments. It's great that people are sharing their views with you, but if they really want to have their views reflected in the feedback that is presented to EPA and the other federal agenices, they should submit their comments, suggestions, complaints and recommendations, BEFORE August 19, to http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glri/outreach.html No plan of this magnitude is perfect. Nor will $475M solve all of the ills facing the Great Lakes. Maybe some of your ideas and those of your readers can make the plan better. - Tim Eder Dave:

Your comments on the Great Lakes Restoration Initaitive and the dialogue in response are interesting and provocative. The Great Lakes Commission, which represents the Great Lakes states, organized and facilitated the public meetings on contract to EPA. We are also tasked with writing a report summarizing all of the comments.

It’s great that people are sharing their views with you, but if they really want to have their views reflected in the feedback that is presented to EPA and the other federal agenices, they should submit their comments, suggestions, complaints and recommendations, BEFORE August 19, to http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glri/outreach.html

No plan of this magnitude is perfect. Nor will $475M solve all of the ills facing the Great Lakes. Maybe some of your ideas and those of your readers can make the plan better.

- Tim Eder

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]]> By: Gary Wilson http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/08/07/column-tell-me-what-sucks-about-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/comment-page-1/#comment-1070 Gary Wilson Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:10:29 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=9073#comment-1070 I agree Dave, not enough of a sampling to draw hard conclusions. But if you were to assume that each vote represents a significant number of those who don't vote, I think it has validity as an indicator of public sentiment, properly contectualized. Thanks for yiur work on this. gw I agree Dave, not enough of a sampling to draw hard conclusions.

But if you were to assume that each vote represents a significant number of those who don’t vote, I think it has validity as an indicator of public sentiment, properly contectualized.

Thanks for yiur work on this.

gw

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]]> By: dpoulson http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/08/07/column-tell-me-what-sucks-about-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/comment-page-1/#comment-1069 dpoulson Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:13:44 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=9073#comment-1069 Gary, If you have voted, you can track the poll results here: http://www.greatlakesecho.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4 At this point (9:15 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10) we only have had 25 voters. Of those, 60 percent (15) favor 10 projects or fewer, 24 Percent (6) favor less than 50 projects, 12 percent (3), like the proposal as is and 4 percent (1). But with that kind of voter turnout I don't think you can draw any significant conclusions. We'll keep it up for a bit to see if it attracts more voters. Gary,

If you have voted, you can track the poll results here: http://www.greatlakesecho.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4
At this point (9:15 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10) we only have had 25 voters.
Of those, 60 percent (15) favor 10 projects or fewer, 24 Percent (6) favor less than 50 projects, 12 percent (3), like the proposal as is and 4 percent (1).
But with that kind of voter turnout I don’t think you can draw any significant conclusions. We’ll keep it up for a bit to see if it attracts more voters.

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]]> By: Gary Wilson http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/08/07/column-tell-me-what-sucks-about-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/comment-page-1/#comment-1068 Gary Wilson Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:47:40 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=9073#comment-1068 Hey Dave.... I hope you'll share the poll results with the EPA execs. (Cam Davis and Gary Gulezian) who conducted the Lansing meeting. And if you give me a heads up when you close the poll, I'll post the results on the Great Lakes Town Hall. gw Hey Dave….

I hope you’ll share the poll results with the EPA execs. (Cam Davis and Gary Gulezian) who conducted the Lansing meeting.

And if you give me a heads up when you close the poll, I’ll post the results on the Great Lakes Town Hall.

gw

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]]> By: Wayne Groesbeck http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/08/07/column-tell-me-what-sucks-about-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/comment-page-1/#comment-1053 Wayne Groesbeck Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:18:19 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=9073#comment-1053 Individuals near every body of water in the Great Lakes watershed that has problems have been meeting, discussing, and studying those problems for about 35 years. The main reason most of those problems haven't been resolved has been lack of money. If I could use this new money to end international non-point source pollution, eliminate invasive species, or stop global warming, I would. 35 years of experience, however, has taught me to let everybody who cares take a shot at the possible. They've all earned it. Individuals near every body of water in the Great Lakes watershed that has problems have been meeting, discussing, and studying those problems for about 35 years. The main reason most of those problems haven’t been resolved has been lack of money. If I could use this new money to end international non-point source pollution, eliminate invasive species, or stop global warming, I would. 35 years of experience, however, has taught me to let everybody who cares take a shot at the possible. They’ve all earned it.

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]]> By: dpoulson http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/08/07/column-tell-me-what-sucks-about-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/comment-page-1/#comment-1045 dpoulson Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:58:13 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=9073#comment-1045 Mel, That is a fascinating perspective. Thanks for the excellent comment. A couple months ago Echo ran a story about these concerns here: http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/04/23/toxaphene-a-stubborn-pollutant-persists/ Thanks also for the link to the excellent video. We encourage you and others to forward to us similar links as they so often can better inform our stories. Dave Mel,
That is a fascinating perspective. Thanks for the excellent comment. A couple months ago Echo ran a story about these concerns here: http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/04/23/toxaphene-a-stubborn-pollutant-persists/
Thanks also for the link to the excellent video. We encourage you and others to forward to us similar links as they so often can better inform our stories.

Dave

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]]> By: Mel Visser http://greatlakesecho.org/2009/08/07/column-tell-me-what-sucks-about-the-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/comment-page-1/#comment-1044 Mel Visser Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:25:41 +0000 http://greatlakesecho.org/?p=9073#comment-1044 I attended the last function in Duluth and commented concerning the fact that Lake Superior Lake Trout are the most toxic fish in the Great lakes. The "edible flesh" of a trophy sized one will contain 5 ppm of toxaphene, 10X the amount of toxaphene that would cause dirt to be classified as hazardous waste. What sucks? + This was news to the 150 or so people in attendance: + The plan to reduce toxics does not mention toxaphene: +Dredging AOCs will not solve the problem: +Dredging AOCs will not improve water quality or reduce fish consumption warnings in any of the lakes: + Ontario and the States surrounding Lake Superior have kept us from worrying about toxaphene by no longer measuring and reporting it: Two things need to be done .... + Globally ban PCBs and the long banned legacy persistent pesticides. * Honestly communicate their presence in our food. The USEPA cannot do either of these functions. Please view the video testimony I left at this meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2FT9vgTIAY I attended the last function in Duluth and commented concerning the fact that Lake Superior Lake Trout are the most toxic fish in the Great lakes. The “edible flesh” of a trophy sized one will contain 5 ppm of toxaphene, 10X the amount of toxaphene that would cause dirt to be classified as hazardous waste. What sucks?
+ This was news to the 150 or so people in attendance:
+ The plan to reduce toxics does not mention toxaphene:
+Dredging AOCs will not solve the problem:
+Dredging AOCs will not improve water quality or reduce fish consumption warnings in any of the lakes:
+ Ontario and the States surrounding Lake Superior have kept us from worrying about toxaphene by no longer measuring and reporting it:
Two things need to be done ….
+ Globally ban PCBs and the long banned legacy persistent pesticides.
* Honestly communicate their presence in our food.
The USEPA cannot do either of these functions.
Please view the video testimony I left at this meeting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2FT9vgTIAY

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