SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

ROCHESTER
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
10:00 a.m.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies (CIMS),
Louise M. Slaughter Building #78,
Room 2240, Rochester, NY

The Great Lakes are one of New York's many important natural resources. Approximately 80 percent of New York's fresh surface water, over 700 miles of shoreline and 40 percent of New York's land are contained within the drainage basin of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River. While some gains have been made in curbing the inflow of pollutants into the basin, the Great Lakes ecosystem continues to face numerous challenges including the rapidly growing demand for fresh water, the spread of invasive species and the toxic legacy left by decades of industrial pollution.

The Great Lakes hold approximately 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water supply. In order to manage the waters of the Great Lakes effectively, the eight Great Lakes States and the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec adopted the Great Lakes Charter in 1985. On June 18, 2001, the Great Lakes Governors and Premiers of Ontario and Quebec signed the Great Lakes Charter Annex 2001, an amendment to the 1985 Charter, developed to update the Great Lakes regional water management system and ensure the Great Lakes are protected, conserved, restored, and improved for future generations. Annex 2001 is expected to be finalized and implemented in the summer of 2004. It is, in part, a response to growing demand for water both in and outside the basin, including expected pressure to divert water from the Lakes in the coming decade. This was highlighted in the spring of 1998 when the Province of Ontario approved a permit, which was later rescinded, that would have allowed the removal of 60 million gallons of water per year from Lake Superior to be sold in Asia.

The aquatic systems of the Great Lakes basin continue to show the effects of decades of toxic pollution. Persistent pollutants such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury, which have accumulated for decades in the basin, have worked their way up the food chain and now pose a significant threat to people who eat contaminated fish and wildlife. New York is home to six of the 42 Areas of Concern identified by the U.S. - Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. These contaminated areas continue to pose an unacceptable risk to public health and environmental quality in the Great Lakes basin.

The aquatic systems of the basin are also under assault from the spread of invasive species. Scientists have now potentially linked the "dead zone" of de-oxygenated water covering much of Lake Erie to zebra mussels, one the basin's most notorious invasive species.

The purpose of this hearing is to examine major water management and water quality issues in the Great Lakes basin including concerns regarding bulk withdrawal of water, the continuing effects of toxic pollution and the threat posed by invasive species. The Committee will also seek to obtain information from experts and affected parties regarding Annex 2001, in advance of its expected implementation in the summer of 2004.

Oral testimony will be accepted by invitation only and limited to 5 minutes duration. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

Persons invited to present oral testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to attend the public hearing on Great Lakes Water Management and Water Quality Issues are requested to complete and return this reply form by May 21, 2004 to:

Alex Roth, Legislative Analyst
Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation
Room 520 - Capitol, Albany, New York 12248
Email: rotha@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4363, Fax: (518) 455-5182