U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-Bainbridge Township) today announced that the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior and Environment spending bill contains $475 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, eases fuel emission rules that could have crippled Great Lakes shipping, and contains $4.5 million for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP).

 In addition, LaTourette was able to include $500,000 in the same bill for the city of Stow for a sanitary sewer project on Seasons Road, near the site of the proposed $100 million Summa Health System hospital complex.  The bill, H.R. 2996, funds the Department of Interior, EPA and other agencies.

 “I know this is a critical project for the city of Stow, and I’m pleased this federal funding will help defray the costs and ease the local burden,” LaTourette said.

 LaTourette said he was pleased that the bill fully funds the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The Great Lakes plan will clean up toxic hot spots, tackle the problem of invasive species and work to improve wildlife habitat.  The House had fully funded the initiative at $475 million but faced reduced funding in the Senate.

 LaTourette also thanked Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and Chairman Dave Obey (D-WI) for their advocacy of Great Lakes shippers.  The EPA wanted to impose new clean emission rules on ocean and Great Lakes shippers, but lawmakers were able to exempt 13 Great Lakes steamships from the proposed EPA rule and another 13 shippers will be able to apply for a waiver from the EPA.

 “Great Lakes shippers faced a grim future if this regulation had gone forward.  The Great Lakes states depend on this industry, and couldn’t shoulder the financial burden of this regulation,” LaTourette said. 
 
 In addition, LaTourette said CVNP will receive $4 million in federal funds to acquire more than 600 acres near Blossom Music Center.  The land is within the park boundary and is owned by the non-profit arm of the Cleveland Orchestra.  LaTourette, a member of the Appropriation’s Interior Subcommittee, said Sens. Brown and Voinovich and his House colleagues Reps. Betty Sutton and Tim Ryan helped to secure the funding.  In addition, LaTourette and Sutton secured an additional $500,000 for the park for its ongoing rehabilitation program for historic structures.

 “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to safeguard the sensitive streams, forests, wildlife habitat, and open spaces surrounding the Blossom Center,” said Bill Carroll, Ohio State Director of the nonprofit Trust for Public Land, which is assisting in the protection effort.  “Thanks to the Ohio delegation and specifically to Congressman LaTourette -- who, as a respected member of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, worked tirelessly and effectively to secure these critical funds throughout his work on that bill -- conservation of this truly vital landscape has taken a giant step forward.”

 LaTourette, a House appropriator, was chosen as a conferee to iron out differences between the House- and Senate-passed versions of the Interior appropriations or spending bill, H.R. 2996.  The conference report to H.R. 2996 was approved today in the House, and is expected to pass the Senate later today.  The bill will then go to the White House for the President’s signature.