Congress OKs 5-year extension of Great Lakes cleanup program
By John Flesher - AP Environmental Writer
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) A program that has pumped $2.7 billion into healing long-term injuries to the Great Lakes environment has received authorization from Congress to continue another five years.
The U.S. Senate voted unanimously Sunday to extend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, as the House did earlier this year. The bill, which requires President Donald Trump’s signature to take effect, calls for gradually boosting the program’s annual funding from $300 million to $475 million by 2026.
The measure doesn’t guarantee the money, which lawmakers will need to provide in annual spending bills. But authorizing the program for multiple years is an important step.
Congress approves 5-year extension of Great Lakes restoration program
AP Graphic
Congress has approved a five-year extension of a program designed to deal with long-term environmental injuries to the Great Lakes.
Posted: Dec 21, 2020 2:20 PM
Posted By: Associated Press
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - Congress has approved a five-year extension of a program designed to deal with long-term environmental injuries to the Great Lakes.
The U.S. Senate voted unanimously Sunday to continue the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, as the House did earlier this year. The bill requires President Donald Trump’s signature to take effect.
It calls for gradually boosting the program’s annual funding from $300 million to $475 million by 2026.
The dairy is owned and operated by Duane and Derek Ducat, and Dale Bogart.
“My dad bought the farm in 1984 and we were milking 70 cows back then,” explained Derek.
The family worked to expand the farm in small steps, working up to milking 120 cows in a stanchion barn. The family also grows crops and does custom work on the side. They wanted to grow and expand their dairy by making conservation-minded decisions along the way.
Through the custom work the family was completing on neighboring farms, they met Dale Bogart.
“In talking with Dale, who lived nearby, we both wanted to expand and do similar things on our farms,” added Derek.
Howard’s Bay dredging moves forward December 14, 2020, by Eldin Ganic
Utilizing Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding under the EPA’s Great Lakes Legacy Act Authority, USACE continues remediation of contaminated sediment from Howard’s Bay in the Duluth-Superior Harbor at Superior, Wisconsin.
“Construction started this fall and, once complete next calendar year, we will dredge approximately 132,000 cubic yards of material, 52,000 cy of non-contaminated navigation dredging and 80,000 cy of contaminated sediment,” USACE said in their latest announcement.
The total cost of the project is estimated to be just over $13.5 million.
USACE photo
This site has been the location of multiple shipyards, commercial shipping activity, and other industry since the early 1800s and continues to be an important workhorse for the City of Superior.