Cleanup still needs a plan

 Friday, February 10, 2006 ERIN ALBERTY THE SAGINAW NEWS

While state environmental policymakers embark on a quest for funds to clean the Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay, they aren't sure yet what that cleanup would entail.

"It takes effort to identify what the best source to remedy those areas of concern is," said Bob McCann, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality.

The Saginaw River and Saginaw Bay are two of 14 waterways the state has listed as cleanup priorities. State environmental officials last week said new federal environmental support for Michigan waterways gives them hope extra funds soon will become available. The department's Office of Great Lakes lists 14 Michigan sites among 41 "areas of concern" around the Great Lakes.

"The (Office of Great Lakes') focus is partnering with communities to determine what the source of the problem is and what the best remedy would be," McCann said.

That means meeting with local government leaders and citizens' groups is the first step in a cleanup, McCann said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Web site indicates the Saginaw River and Bay appear on the list because of "contaminated sediments, fish consumption advisories, degraded fisheries and loss of significant recreational values."v
 

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