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PR BROWNER RELEASES LANDMARK PLAN FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN

Release Date: 07/02/96
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PR BROWNER RELEASES LANDMARK PLAN FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN

FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, JULY 1, 1996

BROWNER RELEASES LANDMARK PLAN FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol M.

Browner today joined U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy and James Jeffords,

Governor Howard Dean, and other officials of Vermont, plus officials

from New York, to release a landmark plan to clean up Lake Champlain.

"Today's plan will ensure that the health, environment and economy of the Lake Champlain region are protected," said Browner. "To protect our health, our communities and our economy, we must protect our water. Lake Champlain is one our nation's most beautiful and valued resources, and we look forward to continued efforts with the people of this region to safeguard this marvelous natural resource."

EPA's Regional Administrator, John P. DeVillars, added, "A healthy Lake Champlain not only makes environmental sense, it also helps foster a strong regional economy so that both residents and vacationers can enjoy one of our country's true national treasures."

The plan addresses three main areas of pollution in the Lake Champlain basin: it calls for reducing phosphorus, controlling sources of toxic contaminants and developing a management program for nuisance non-native aquatic plants and animals.

The plan, "Opportunities for Action -- A Pollution Prevention, Control and Restoration Plan for Lake Champlain," culminates five years of intensive planning by the Lake Champlain Management Conference, a 31-member group from Vermont and New York that represents a wide-range of environmental, business, agricultural and

academic interests around the lake.

Over the past five years, EPA has provided more than $10 million in funding for this project while at the same time serving as conference chair. New York and Vermont, and several other federal agencies, including the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, have also helped fund the project.

The plan stresses a comprehensive approach to the entire watershed. It incorporates a number of polluton prevention practices while balancing environmental and economic goals.

Lake Champlain runs north for 120 miles along the western edge of Vermont and the northeast corner of New York. Its water basin, including scores of tributaries, is approximately the size of Massachusetts. Much of the economy in the region depends on water quality: sports fishers spend an estimated $32 million annually, year- 

round tourism accounts for over 2-billion dollars and agriculture, which depends greatly on the quality of water, generates $415 million a year. People travel there from many parts of the U.S. and Canada for boating, for sports fishing year-round, and in the winter, ice fishing and skiing, which increasingly depends on snow making machines.

High levels of phosphorus in Lake Champlain, causing excessive algae blooms, have been the greatest concern for many years. Vermont and New York have agreed to a reduction strategy that distributes the responsibility for phosphorus reductions among 19 lake segment watersheds. It further commits the states to a 25 percent reduction of existing phosphorus loads within the next five years.

Under the plan, areas polluted by toxic contaminants will be restored and pollution prevention measures implemented to prevent further contamination.

A management program to be developed will help stop the spread of non-native species such as zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loose strife and sea lamprey.

The plan is subject to a public comment period.

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