The GLRI federal agencies will encourage fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all Americans in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment. Every American should have access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which to live, play, work, learn, grow, worship, and engage in cultural and subsistence practices.
"Meaningful involvement" means providing timely opportunities for members of the public to share information or concerns and participate in decision-making processes; fully considering public input provided as part of decision-making processes; seeking out and encouraging the involvement of persons and communities potentially affected by activities; and providing technical assistance, tools, and resources to assist in facilitating meaningful and informed public participation, whenever practicable and appropriate.
GLRI agencies will ensure that all communities can benefit from the GLRI. Remediating contaminated sediment benefits nearby communities by reducing potential exposures to contamination. Benefits of restoration activities can also include improved access to restored areas for recreation and cultural uses. Further, benefits can also include a reduction in flooding using green infrastructure or wetland restoration.
It is equally important that the communities that may benefit from the GLRI are able to provide input on restoration activities. For example, within AOCs, GLRI agencies and local Public Advisory Committees are committed to having meaningful involvement with communities by supporting opportunities that promote engagement. GLRI agencies and partners will support engagement opportunities with communities to provide a general understanding of the GLRI and identify where their needs and priorities intersect with GLRI objectives. GLRI agencies will initiate job training activities that could give residents the opportunity to work on the restoration activities in their community.
In 2024, EPA created several Great Lakes Community Project Grant Programs. Each Program will develop and oversee their own subgrant competition that will fund environmental restoration projects that advance the goals of the GLRI in communities throughout the Great Lakes Basin. Many communities lack the resources needed to apply for, obtain and oversee the implementation of federal grant projects. These new programs will ease these administrative barriers and help communities more effectively access federal funding for important local projects. This investment will encourage even greater environmental, economic, health and recreational benefits for communities in the Great Lakes.
Continue reading about the Action Plan IV:
Resilient and Sustainable Projects