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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) today applauded the bipartisan passage of the Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Act of 2020. Introduced with Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and Representatives Dan Kildee (D-MI), Bill Huzienga (R-MI) and David Joyce (R-OH), the legislation will direct the Great Lakes Region ESI maps to be updated for the first time in over twenty years.

“We have no greater responsibility than ensuring our Great Lakes are beautiful, safe, and healthy for future generations,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “But we can’t prepare for the challenges of tomorrow, without charting the realities of today. With the passage of this bipartisan legislation, we will conduct a long overdue update of the environmental maps that will guide us in the years to come.”

ESI maps, which are coordinated through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), document the potential ecological impacts to natural and human-use resources from possible oil spills, natural disasters, and resource damage assessments. This information is used in planning to create cleanup strategies before an accident occurs so that authorities are better prepared to take action if needed. It is essential that ESI maps throughout the Great Lakes are regularly updated to provide an accurate representation of vulnerable locations and areas that need protection in the event of a disaster. Updates would also improve the accessibility of the ESI data and information by making the data available in multiple searchable formats.

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