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Great Lakes Restoration Initiative awaits reauthorization

Great Lakes, other bodies of water in New York are at risk from airborne mercury pollution.
WXXI photo
Great Lakes, other bodies of water in New York are at risk from airborne mercury pollution.

A Great Lakes restoration program has been reauthorized by the House of Representatives, but awaits final approval in the Senate.

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter says, fighting for money to clean up the Great Lakes is more important now than ever.

"Twenty percent of all fresh water on this planet is in the Great Lakes, and we have an obligation to that to make sure that we keep it clean and keep it drinkable."

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was put in place in 2010, and this act would re-up it for another five years. It provides $300 million a year for what are called "shovel-ready" restoration projects.

According to Joe Makarewics, environmental science professor emeritus at SUNY Brockport, "Shovel-ready means that, basically, we know what the problem is, we know how to solve that problem, and that basically means we're ready to go. We just need money."

Makarewics says Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is good, it spurs action and it shows the region is a priority, but if the money only goes to restoration projects, that's not a hollistic approach to improving the health of the lakes.

"Research funds need to be maintained, because there are a lot of emerging problems in the Great Lakes."

In order to get to the shovel-ready phase, Makarewics says, projects need good science behind them.

Veronica Volk is a senior editor and producer for WXXI News.
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