Some Great Lakes mayors want more federal money to help pay for improvements to troubled sewage systems. But EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt says he first wants to see how current funds are being spent. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Chuck Quirmbach reports:
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Some Great Lakes mayors want more federal money, to help pay for improvements to troubled sewage systems, but EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt says he first wants to see how current funds are being spent.
The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Chuck Quirmbach reports:
Heavy rains in the Midwest have caused several cities to dump large amounts of sewage into the Great Lakes. The dumping has prompted some mayors to ask for federal help. They say local taxpayers can’t afford to pay for sewage system changes on their own. The mayors say 40 million people count on the Great Lakes for drinking water.
But U-S Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Mike Leavitt says more federal money for sewage treatment will have to wait until he sees what happens to all current dollars for Great Lakes clean up.
“We have 140 different programs right now and I’m interested to make certain we know how those dollars are being spent and using to them to the maximum efficiency, then we’ll have a plan I hope regionally as to how to move forward.”
President Bush recently told Leavitt to coordinate all the federal spending on the Great Lakes, and improve collaboration with the region’s state, local and tribal governments. Leavitt’s plan isn’t due until next year. For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Chuck Quirmbach.