This financial infusion stands out as the most substantial non-federal input to any Great Lakes Legacy Act cleanup
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared on October 12, 2023, that the most extensive cleanup endeavor as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will be granted a remarkable $450 million. The objective in the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern is to extract approximately two million cubic yards of polluted sediments.
The EPA, in collaboration with five non-federal partners including the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, will collectively contribute an amount over $170 million, as indicated in a news release pertaining to President Biden's Investing in America Agenda. The remaining portion of the cash is anticipated to be sourced from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.
The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Michael S. Regan, stressed how important the project is when speaking about its significance. His statement was as follows: "Today, we’re building on this progress to restore this economic engine with our partners in Wisconsin as we work to clean up the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern for good. Together, these investments will support cleanup of 610 Olympic-sized swimming pools of contaminated sediments from Milwaukee Harbor and the three rivers in the urban Milwaukee area.”
The news announcement highlights that apart from the evident environmental advantages, the regeneration of the Milwaukee area's business and culture is also expected to gain from this endeavor. The objective is to achieve a significant target: the removal of the Milwaukee Estuary from the roster of 25 U.S. Areas of Concern. These areas are distinct places within the Great Lakes basin that are now undergoing substantial environmental degradation.
