W E E K L Y  U P D A T E  October 20th, 2020 In this Week's Issue: NEMWI Hosts Asian Carp Webinar EPA Proposes Ballast Water Regulation Follow the Northeast-Midwest Institute on Facebook Quicklinks  Northeast-Midwest Institute NEMWI Hosts Asian Carp Webinar  The Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMWI) hosted a webinar last week on the importance of keeping Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. A recording of the webinar can be viewed here. Included in the presentation was a short segment of a video produced by the National Wildlife Federation about the various impacts that invasive Asian carp pose to tribal, business, fishing, and economic interests in the Great Lakes. The segment is part of the longer film, Against the Current, which can be viewed here. Additionally, topics that were discussed included provisions in the 2020 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), the Brandon Road Lock and Dam project, an update of activities going on at the state level, and necessary next steps to move forward with public policies that prevent the spread of invasive carp.   Presenters at the webinar included Mr. Matt McKenna, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at NEMWI, Mr. Marc Smith, Director of Great Lakes Policy at the National Wildlife Federation, and Ms. Molly Flanagan, Vice President of Programs at the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Additionally, both the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus helped provide expert resources in the development of the program.    NEMWI will continue to develop future policy education programming for federal and local decision-makers on aquatic invasive species issues and other critical matters that impact the health of the Great Lakes.   EPA Proposes Ballast Water Regulations   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a pre-publication version of the proposed rule "Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance," which can be viewed here. This proposed rule, under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act, would establish national standards of performance for marine pollution control devices for discharges incidental to the normal operation of primarily commercial vessels. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed the proposed rule on October 5, 2020.    The rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on October 26. EPA will be hosting a series of virtual public meetings in late October/early November on the proposed national standards of performance. Information on those meetings will be posted soon on EPA's VIDA webpages.  Follow the Northeast-Midwest Institute on Facebook   LIKE us on Facebook! The Northeast-Midwest Institute is on Facebook with new updates and information on its regional research and policy education program and with announcements for upcoming briefings and events. NEMWI is posting our research reports on current regional issues and ongoing policy education on the page to make keeping up with our policy work easier than ever. The Institute also is updating the page with announcements of upcoming policy briefings and webinars. NEMWI is excited for the opportunity to connect with as many people as possible on our Facebook page.   Please check out our Facebook page here. And be sure to LIKE us to begin following NEMWI on Facebook! This Week in Washington No relevant House or Senate hearings or meetings this week. NEMWI: Strengthening the Region that Sustains the Nation