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Obama proposes $5B trust fund for Great Lakes

By JOHN FLESHER , Associated Press

Last update: September 16, 2008 - 5:26 PM

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Sen. Barack Obama will propose a $5 billion trust fund for Great Lakes cleanup and restoration if elected president, his campaign said Tuesday.

The fund, to be phased in over 10 years, would be the centerpiece of a plan that also would appoint a coordinator to oversee Greats Lakes programs and step up the fight against invasive species.

Obama's campaign announced the plan in a telephone conference featuring Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, plus Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin, chairman of the Council of Great Lakes Governors.

They said the Democratic nominee, an Illinois senator, had sponsored legislation supporting Great Lakes cleanup and was more familiar with the issues than his Republican opponent, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

"What we have seen from Sen. McCain is what we have seen from President Bush — a few nice comments during the presidential election ... and nothing to back it up," Doyle said.

McCain spokeswoman Sarah Lenti said: "The Obama solution like always, throws taxpayers' money at the problem — sometimes money that has not even been requested — but he has no record or experience at solving problems by going across party lines. Obama might talk about the Great Lakes, but John McCain has the experience to get the job done."

Obama's trust fund would be paid for by rolling back tax breaks for oil companies, his campaign said. It would support projects such as sewage system repairs, cleanup of sediments contaminated by toxic chemicals, and restoration of wetlands and wildlife habitat.

The Great Lakes coordinator, based in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, would help develop a priority list from a host of federal, state and local initiatives.

Obama also pledged to reduce toxic pollution in the lakes, which make up nearly one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water. Another priority would be strengthening federal standards against mercury, a leading Great Lakes contaminant.

The plan promises a more aggressive effort to prevent additional exotic species from reaching the lakes, particularly the Asian carp, which has infested the Mississippi River and is moving toward Lake Michigan.

It calls for stronger action to prevent oceangoing ships from bringing exotic species to the region. Scientists believe many of the 180 invaders now in the lakes arrived in ship ballast tanks. Obama supports requiring shippers to develop onboard technology to sterilize the tanks, a spokeswoman said.

Foreign creatures such as the zebra mussel and round goby compete with native species for food and habitat and cost the regional economy billions.

President Bush established a Great Lakes restoration task force while running for re-election in 2004. The panel recommended a wide-ranging, $20 billion plan, but the president's budgets have included little of that money.

Bush recommended a 16 percent cut for Great Lakes water quality programs this year. Obama's supporters said McCain would continue the Bush approach.

McCain "has made his commitment to supporting the Great Lakes restoration abundantly clear," Lenti responded.

Obama also called for ratification of a regional compact that would prohibit most water diversions from the Great Lakes while requiring the eight adjacent states to regulate large-scale water withdrawals. McCain has endorsed the pact, which has cleared the Senate and may reach the House floor this month.

A coalition of more than 100 groups supporting the comprehensive Great Lakes restoration praised Obama for developing his blueprint.

"We look forward to the candidates trying to outdo each other on who is going to stand up for the millions of people, businesses and communities who rely on the Great Lakes 365 days a year," the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition said in a statement.

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