Save The River Upper St. Lawrence RiverkeeperⓇ was one of 160 cosigners on this letter to President Biden asking him to direct the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement discharge standards for ship’s ballast water that comply with the Clean Water Act. Save The River has long advocated for stricter treatment of ballast water to stop the import of aquatic invasive species (AIS) into the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Some of the most infamous AIS that have come into the watershed since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway include zebra and quagga mussels, round goby, and rusty crayfish. To date, at least 190 invasive species have been introduced to the watershed.
Other signatories include environmental organizations, public health organizations, Native American tribes, commercial and sport fishing organizations, water agencies, wildlife conservation organizations, lake management societies, environmental law foundations, local government agencies, and others; including local, state and regional organizations in 38 states.