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Friend ––
As Michiganders, the Great Lakes are in our DNA. They are central to our way of life, and one of my top priorities is keeping them clean and healthy for future generations.
We’ve all seen how devastating oil spills can be to aquatic ecosystems. So, when I learned that we weren’t equipped to handle a potential spill in the Great Lakes, I knew I had to act.
That’s why I created the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Center of Expertise in 2018, after hearing from the then-Commandant of the Coast Guard that we simply lack the scientific research and technologies to quickly address an oil spill in freshwater.
An oil spill in the Great Lakes would be catastrophic. Particularly a spill in the Straits of Mackinac where strong winds and fluctuating tides would cause a substance like oil to spread far and wide — very quickly.
Not only would a spill harm the wildlife and ecosystems the Great Lakes nurture, but it would cause serious health risks for the millions of Michiganders and Americans who rely on the Great Lakes for fresh drinking water. It would also jeopardize thousands of jobs and businesses they support around our state.
Recently, Detroit PBS and Great Lakes Now teamed up to produce a TV segment highlighting the work of the Great Lakes Center of Expertise and those who support its critical mission:
Click HERE or on the image above to watch more.
The Great Lakes Center of Expertise brings together national and international experts to devise techniques and solutions that will help ensure we are prepared to respond quickly and effectively in the event of a spill.
And I’m proud that the Center of Expertise is dual headquartered right here in Michigan at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor to maximize its research and capabilities.
The Great Lakes are a precious gift that we all have a responsibility to protect. I won’t stop fighting to keep them strong.
Thanks for reading,
Gary Peters
United States Senator for Michigan |
