LANSING – A regional compact regulating how invasive species are handled in the Great Lakes is the goal of legislation under initial review Thursday by the Senate Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Committee.
Similar to the Great Lakes Water Compact, which governs water withdrawal out of the basin and lakes, SB 508 , SB 509 and SB 510 set up a council that would advise the governor and Legislature how to deal with invasive species like Asian carp. Those recommendations would then become a model for other states.
So far Michigan and other states have battled with Illinois over how to control the spread of Asian carp through the waterways in Chicago.
“Invasive species are threatening our way of life. We cannot continue to deal with threats as they are presented to us, like the Asian carp. We need to be proactive, not reactive,” said Sen. Goeff Hansen (R-Hart), committee chair.
There are over 180 invasive aquatic species in the lakes now, mostly due to ballast water discharges, Hansen said. Office of the Great Lakes Director Patty Birkholz said while Michigan’s ballast regulations were challenged in court, now the federal government is drafting a permit for ballast water that would protect the entire country and the state is in the midst of implementing a settlement agreement.
While her office supports the bills, she cautioned that the settlement might hamper the council’s ability to be involved in those efforts.
The legislation calls for the council, within 180 days after the bill becomes law or within 60 days after a draft update to the state’s invasive species management plan is issued, to provide recommendations to the Department of Environmental Quality that would become part of the final update to the management plan.
The plan is already under review and will be submitted to the federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force by early winter, so Birkholz said it’s important for the council to be able to act quickly. Once the plan is approved, Michigan has more opportunities to collaborate with the federal government, including access to federal funding, she noted.
But she also said the complex nature of the organisms means the council should provide a comprehensive report.
The legislation provides 240 days for the council to submit recommendations for legislation and rules that would prevent introduction and spread of invasive species through trade over the lakes. Birkholz recommended that timeline be extended to one year.
Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R-Lowell) questioned whether the council would be duplicating the efforts of Birkholz’s office and other groups already involved with the invasive species issues.
But Birkholz said the council would likely complement activities already underway and more importantly would provide a foundation for bills the Legislature would eventually pass.
“State efforts to solve the problem of invasive species in trade will need actions on a broad front, with engagement of many stakeholders on regulations, education and monitoring,” she said.
The legislation requires council membership from the directors of the DEQ, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Department of Transportation. The attorney general would also join the council along with representatives of the National Park Service, an association of Great Lakes shipping companies, the horticulture industry, a statewide private conservation organization, the Great Lakes Commission, a statewide association of businesses, an association of Indian tribes, a regional or national private conservation organization, an association of industries in the Great Lakes region, a public utility and a statewide association of local units of government.
Appointments would be made by the governor, Senate majority leader and House speaker.
With most of the focus on the spread of Asian carp, Sen. John Gleason (D-Flushing) asked if the state was making any headway. Birkholz acknowledged those efforts are proceeding slowly, but research is being done that will help in the long run.
“They are not fully contained below the barrier, but it’s also taking a lot of work. They’re sending fishermen in there to net and haul and get them out of there and that’s helped,” she said. “There’s a lot of new technology being developed for the Asian carp.”
The National Wildlife Federation, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Great Lakes Commission, Nature Conservancy and Michigan Lodging and Tourism Association also support the bills.
Hansen said the bill package will likely come up for a vote the week of September 19.
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