Bill Overview
Title: St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes Waterways Protection Act
Description: This bill includes specified rivers that serve as connecting channels between Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior as part of the Great Lakes for purposes of the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes Oil Spill Center of Expertise. (This is a collaborative research program administered by the Coast Guard that examines the impacts of, and responses to, oil spills in freshwater environments.)
Sponsors: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Target Audience
Population: People relying on the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways
Estimated Size: 30000000
- The Great Lakes are a vital freshwater source providing drinking water to approximately 40 million people in both the United States and Canada.
- The waterways are crucial for biodiversity and sustain various ecosystems, affecting millions of people relying on fishing and recreational activities.
- Commercial shipping and industry in the region depend heavily on these waterways, meaning the bill impacts many economic activities.
- Oil spills in the Great Lakes would directly affect local populations by contaminating water supplies and harming ecosystems.
Reasoning
- Given the target population is large - approximately 30 million people in the U.S. who rely on the Great Lakes - the policy must efficiently focus on preventing and managing oil spills to protect water quality, biodiversity, and economic activities.
- While the policy directly addresses environmental protection, the impact will vary across different demographics, such as fishermen, city residents, and commercial interests all affected in various degree.
- The economic cost-benefit ratio of implementing such policy needs to be considered by weighing it against potential long-term damages prevented by avoiding oil spill disasters, which could devastate drinking water supply and ecosystem health.
- Policy implementation could increase research and create jobs related to environmental protection, positively impacting local well-being.
Simulated Interviews
Fisherman (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act seems crucial to protecting my livelihood.
- Oil spills threaten the fish populations we depend on, so any prevention is good.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 2 |
Environmental Scientist (Cleveland, OH)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Happy to see advancements in freshwater protection research.
- Our projects rely on funding and this policy secures job growth and research.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Young Professional in Shipping Industry (Ann Arbor, MI)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Long-term environmental health is important.
- I worry about how regulations might handle shipping logistics but understand it's for a good cause.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Retired Auto Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Preserving the beauty of our lakes is essential for future generations.
- Policies like this maintain our clean water and recreational activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Water Quality Activist (Buffalo, NY)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy strengthens our advocacy efforts.
- Keeping industries accountable is key and this gives us more power.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Commercial Diver (Milwaukee, WI)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More work in spill prevention means more job security for us.
- Hope this policy leads to more effective cleanup methods.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Urban Planner (Toledo, OH)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Protecting our waterways helps enhance community planning.
- Policies that secure environmental quality indirectly boost property value.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
University Student (Madison, WI)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's inspiring to see policies align with what I am studying.
- The future of freshwater ecosystems directly benefits my field of work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Lakefront Property Owner (Erie, PA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's reassuring to know that my property is protected from oil spills.
- Safeguarding the lakes keeps our community thriving.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Small Business Owner - Canoe Rental (Buffalo, NY)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act could help maintain tourist interest and business stability.
- Environmental policies are crucial for our survival in eco-tourism.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Year 2: $26000000 (Low: $21000000, High: $31000000)
Year 3: $27000000 (Low: $21500000, High: $32500000)
Year 5: $29000000 (Low: $23000000, High: $35000000)
Year 10: $32000000 (Low: $25000000, High: $38000000)
Year 100: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Key Considerations
- The collaboration between the U.S. and Canada is crucial as the Great Lakes span both countries, efforts must be synchronized for maximum effectiveness.
- There is considerable public interest in protecting the Great Lakes due to their ecological and economic significance.
- The highly dynamic nature of oil spills requires adaptive and advanced training for the personnel involved, necessitating continuous updates to operational plans and technologies.