$250 Million Great Lakes Restoration Grant Deadline Approaching

A joint hearing of the House and Senate environmental committees met last week to hear a presentation from Cameron Davis, Senior Advisor to the US EPA Administrator, on the progress being made following Congresses appropriation of $475 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.  This federal program is focusing on 5 areas; toxic substance clean-up, invasive species prevention, near-shore/beach health and non-point source pollution, habitat and wildlife protection and restoration, and accountability, education, monitoring and evaluation.  The first phase of the proposed five-year program, involves $250 million in grants that will be awarded throughout the Great Lakes states.  These grants are available to state and local governments and non-governmental agencies as part of a competitive application process.  The RFP for this first round of applications has a deadline of January 29, 2010.  Applications must be submitted online at : www.greatlakesrestoration.us.  For technical assistance on applications or general questions on the program, please visit the Michigan DEQ's Office of the Great Lakes at http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1677,7-135-3313_3677---,00.html or contact Ms. Emily Finnell at 517-335-4056.  Chris Hackbarth works for the Michigan Municipal League handling environmental issues.  He can be reached at 517-908-0303 or email at chackbarth@mml.org.