Leavitt takes on Great Lakes

WASHINGTON — President Bush is asking EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt to test his "enlibra" philosophy a new way: Use it to develop ways to better use and protect the 20 percent of the Earth's fresh water now stored in the Great Lakes.

Bush appointed Leavitt to chair a new Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, which will include nine other Cabinet secretaries and heads of other agencies.

"It will harness the collective efforts of the federal government, governors, mayors, members of Congress, tribes and citizen stewards to ensure that the greatness of the lakes endures for generations," Bush said.

He also assigned the panel to work closely with the Canadian government to develop "the most effective way forward on addressing past and current environmental impacts to the Great Lakes ecology."

Bush signed an executive order calling for the task force to develop outcome-based goals for cleaner water, sustainable fisheries and system biodiversity — and called on it to ensure that federal efforts target measurable results.

Leavitt responded by saying he will use principles — which he has often outlined as part of his "enlibra" philosophy to move "toward balance" by involving all stakeholders — to meet the challenge. (However, he rarely refers to it as "enlibra" anymore, and usually calls it "a better way.")

Leavitt said, "Collaboration and coordination — building on the broad collection of the existing efforts while ensuring leadership and accountability at the national and international level — is clearly a better way."

He added, "It is only through the transparent consideration of the rich diversity of perspectives surrounding this international treasure that we can truly accelerate remediation, restoration, protection and conservation."

Leavitt said he plans to meet with each of the eight Great Lake states governors — and many of its mayors and stakeholders — over the next 30 days.

"The hallmark of our collaboration will be central coordination of priorities, policies and plans — and local control of programs, projects and people," he said.

As a former governor of Utah, Leavitt already knows well many of the governors and other key players. He also has experience in leading such interstate environmental efforts. He once helped lead an interstate group that worked out steps to help clean air pollution over the Grand Canyon.

Leavitt added, "I'll also meet with Canadian government officials within 30 days to begin the task force's discussion of how our two countries can better work together to address environmental impacts to the Great Lakes ecology."

The Great Lakes are the largest surface freshwater system on Earth. More than 30 million people in Canada and the United States depend on them as a source of drinking water.

Bush said, "The Great Lakes region is an economic engine and a recreational haven, and we are making great progress in protecting and restoring this vital natural resource."

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E-mail: leed@dgsys.com