[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 361 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 361

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
             restoration and protection of the Great Lakes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 6, 2002

Mr. Camp (for himself, Mr. Barcia, Mr. Rogers of Michigan, Mr. Ehlers, 
 Mr. Hoekstra, Mr. Smith of Michigan, Mr. Knollenberg, and Mr. Upton) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees 
on International Relations, Resources, and Science, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
             restoration and protection of the Great Lakes.

Whereas the Great Lakes is the largest freshwater system on Earth;
Whereas over 90 percent of the 29,000,000 United States residents of the Great 
        Lakes basin rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water;
Whereas scientists have detected more than 360 contaminants in the Great Lakes 
        ecosystem, many of which may have a negative impact on plant, animal, 
        and human life;
Whereas section 1109(b)(2) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (42 
        U.S.C. 1962d-20(b)(2)) encourages the Great Lakes States, in 
        consultation with the Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, to 
        develop and implement a mechanism that provides a common conservation 
        standard embodying the principles of water conservation and resource 
        improvement for making decisions concerning the withdrawal and use of 
        water from the Great Lakes Basin;
Whereas annual combined sewer overflow discharges are estimated at 1,260,000,000 
        gallons per year and a heavy concentration of combined sewer overflows 
        are found in the Great Lakes region;
Whereas $450,000,000 for combined sewer overflow control programs has been 
        requested by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in its 
        previous year's budget, but to date funds for such purposes have not 
        been appropriated; and
Whereas more than 130 invasive species have been introduced in the Great Lakes 
        and costs of controlling these invasive species are estimated to be as 
        high as $5,000,000,000 over a 10-year period: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. BALLAST WATER TREATMENT REGULATIONS REQUIRED.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary 
of Transportation should issue under the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 
Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.) regulations 
to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species 
within the Great Lakes.

SEC. 2. EXPORT OF WATER FROM GREAT LAKES.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) the Great Lakes States, in consultation with the 
        Canadian Provinces of Ontario and Quebec, should develop and 
        implement a mechanism that provides a common conservation 
        standard embodying the principles of water conservation and 
        resource improvement for making decisions concerning the 
        withdrawal and use of water from the Great Lakes Basin; and
            (2) the Secretary of State should work with the Canadian 
        Government to encourage and support the Provinces in the 
        development and implementation of a mechanism and standard 
        concerning the withdrawal and use of water from the Great Lakes 
        Basin consistent with those mechanisms and standards developed 
        by the Great Lakes States.

SEC. 3. POLICY REGARDING OFF-SHORE DRILLING IN THE GREAT LAKES.

    The House of Representatives encourages--
            (1) the States of Illinois, Michigan, New York, 
        Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to continue to prohibit off-shore 
        drilling in the Great Lakes for oil and gas;
            (2) the States of Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio and the 
        Canadian Province of Ontario to enact a prohibition of such 
        drilling; and
            (3) the Canadian Province of Ontario to require the 
        cessation of any such drilling and any production resulting 
        from such drilling.

SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR THE REMEDIATION OF SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION IN AREAS 
              OF CONCERN.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency should make grants 
to States, Indian tribes, regional agencies, and local governments to 
carry out projects in areas of concern located wholly or in part in the 
United States--
            (1) to monitor or evaluate contaminated sediment;
            (2) to remediate contaminated sediment; and
            (3) to prevent further or renewed contamination of 
        sediment.

SEC. 5. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency should conduct 
research on the development and use of innovative approaches, 
technologies, and techniques for the remediation of sediment 
contamination in areas of concern in the Great Lakes.

SEC. 6. SEWER OVERFLOW CONTROL GRANTS.

    It is the sense of the House of Representatives that appropriations 
for carrying out section 221 of Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
U.S.C. 1301) for fiscal year 2004 should be increased by $450,000,000 
from the amount appropriated to carry out such section for fiscal year 
2003.
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