§1258 Pollution Control in the Great Lakes

Summary

The Administrator may work with other federal agencies and with States, local governments, interstate groups, or public agencies to run demonstration projects in the Great Lakes watersheds. These projects must test new ways to remove pollution and stop new pollution from entering the lakes, and must show that the methods are technically and economically practical. The federal government will join only if the state or local partners pay at least 25% of the actual project cost. That 25% can be cash, land, equipment, or services the Administrator values. Congress has authorized $20,000,000 for these projects, and that money is available until spent. The Secretary of the Army, through the Chief of Engineers, must design a demonstration wastewater management program to help restore Lake Erie and submit the plan and financing recommendations to Congress before detailed design starts. This Lake Erie program will be done with the EPA and other federal, state, and local partners. It must offer regional wastewater options (including advanced treatment and land-disposal methods like aerated spray irrigation), cover solid-waste and sludge handling, and address pollution from point sources, area sources (for example acid-mine drainage and runoff), and in-place sources (such as bottom sediments and polluted dredgings). Congress has authorized $5,000,000 for this Lake Erie program, available until spent.