|
Great Lakes Trading
Network Summary of the October 11, 2000
Conference Call The call began at 11:00 am EST. Claire Schary, Mark Kieser, Mike Crimmins, Jim Klang, Ronda Sandquist, Bob Norwood, Linda Stoll and Jim Pinkham participated. The call was chaired by Dave Batchelor. The summary of the September 13 call has
been finalized and distributed to the GLTN. Program
Updates: Claire advised the group that the Lower
Boise TMDL Trading design document have been posted on EPA's website (www.epa.gov\r10earth). The TMDL is projected for completion by the end of 2001. GLTN Dedicated Website: Mike Crimmins (Kieser & Associates) has designed a website for the GLTN based on input from previous calls and feedback from the conference last May. The website can be accessed at http://www.kieser-associates.com/gltn/index.htm. Feedback from the group was very positive. A number of good suggestions were made, including:
adding a Conference Page, giving the GLTN website it's own domain, adding
visual imagery and graphics for program descriptions and links, direct
links to EPA's Summary of US Projects and adding a link to the Emission
Marketing Association. Mark and Mike reported that a dedicated
space and name for the GLTN has been secured.
Mike shared plans for using GIS applications to show the locations
of US watersheds in which projects are located with links to individual
program descriptions and websites. Kieser & Associates will incorporate suggestions made and additional information to the website over the next week. People may send updated information and corrections on the 'membership mailing list", the program descriptions, links to projects on the GLTN and other 'trading' sites. PLEASE TAKE TIME TO REVIEW THE WEBSITE AND PROVIDE UPDATED INFORMATION ON YOUR PROGRAMS TO MIKE BY THE FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. Discussion of the GLTN website lead to a
discussion on the direction, organization and goals of the GLTN.
Excellent ideas were identified and discussed on how markets can
be used to manage ecosystems on a larger scale, obtain greater support
for trading from environmental groups, leveraging funds and administered
projects that improve water quality and provide additional environmental
benefits. Several examples were noted, improve habitat
(wetlands and salmon spawning areas), reduce atmospheric emissions (carbon
credits) and endangered species. There was a general support for broadening
the scope of the GLTN to look at how markets can be used to manage ecosystems
beyond trading to improve water quality and implement TMDLs.
Please let us know how you feel about the following: 1. Should the GLTN become incorporated as a not-for-profit organization so that it could administer or pass-through grant funds to implement trading projects? 2. Should the GLTN remain focused solely on water quality trading or look at water quality trading in conjunction with other environmental initiatives? 3. What should the mission and goals of the GLTN be? 4. Who should be asked to serve on the board of directors? 5. How should the GLTN be organized? 6.
Would you or the agency or organization you represent be willing
to serve on the board of directors and policy or technical committees? Next
Steps The GLTN will be temporarily maintained
using GLPF grant funds from the Kalamazoo Project.
Sources of funding to establish the GLTN formally will be pursued. Currently we are working on a 'planning grant'
proposal in conjunction with seeking funds for administering or passing
grants through to trading projects and brokering trades. Next
Call The next call will be held on November 8, 2000 at 11:00 am EST. The call will last 1 hour. I will be providing an agenda in about 2 weeks. We will continue discussion of the website and the future of the GLTN. If you have a project or program update or other topic of interest, please let me know. |