By Allison Bush, bushalli@msu.edu
Great Lakes Echo
Aug. 3, 2009

Environmental Protection Agency officials are coming to Michigan tonight to discuss how the Obama Administration’s proposed $475 million to clean up the Great Lakes should be spent.

The two-hour public meeting starts at 5 p.m. at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Center, 55 S. Harrison Ave. in East Lansing.

This is the seventh hearing in a series of eight — one was designated in each of the Great Lakes states.

The EPA will present its plan to restore the Great Lakes and then allow time for questions and comments from the public. Can’t come? Follow the hearing on Twitter at #GLRI and watch for a story on Echo later tonight.

For fiscal year 2010, the plan sets aside $147 million to toxic substances and Areas of Concern, $105 million to habitat and wildlife restoration, $97 million to near-shore health and nonpoint pollution, and $60 million to fight invasive species.

A workshop will take place Tuesday on MSU’s campus to help identify restoration projects for Michigan’s Areas of Concern that could be funded under the restoration initiative.

Michigan has 14 Great Lakes Areas of Concern – toxic hotspots – and representatives from each area will be present to discuss their restoration needs.

The EPA and other federal agencies also will discuss funding opportunities from the initiative. The workshop will focus on developing partnerships to prepare proposals to seek potential funding.

Watch Echo and #GLRI for updates about that workshop. Reporters from Great Lakes Echo will attend both events.

For past Great Lakes Restoration Initiative stories from Echo and others, check here.