Roughly 200 people showed up last night for a public hearing on the future of the Great Lakes. The hearing is a result of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC) report that was released on July 7. This was the first of 6 regional hearings seeking support for the recommendations and plan to clean up and restore the Great Lakes. Clean Water Action played a key role in promoting and organizing citizens to take part in the hearing.

Despite it’s billing as a public hearing, people were subjected to 1 hour of commentary from EPA officials, Rep. Ehlers, a representative from Gov. Granholm’s office and Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell. Even people who have been part of the planning process for the GLRC were asked to stand and tell everyone their names. Heartwell had some useful things to say, such as the fact that Grand Rapids has been a leader in investing in sewage and storm water run-off separation. Ehlers on the other hand just told everyone that he has been a champion for the Great Lakes without providing any concrete examples of his voting record or efforts to secure more funding.

Once the suits stopped talking dozens of people came to the podium to offer up testimony on supporting the plan to perspectives that added to what the GLRC calls the areas of concern. People addressed issues such as nuclear waste, chemical contamination, corporate responsibility, water diversion, energy conservation and wetland preservation. Fox 17 was the only TV station present and they left before the public hearing portions, which is why they only quote organizers and politicians in their coverage. The public has until September 9 to submit their comments. There is customizable online letter that people can use as a model or you can mail comments to:

Great Lakes Regional Collaboration
c/o U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office
77 W. Jackson Boulevard (G-17J)
Chicago, Illinois 60604-3511