A partnership consisting of federal, state and local officials proposed a 15-year, $20 billion plan in mid-December to clean up the Great Lakes. The freshwater bodies supply drinking water for nearly 30 million people and are a major link in the North American shipping network.

Recommendations included projects such as remediating environmental toxic hot spots, tainted wetlands and tributaries, and the control of invasive species. The proposal also called for restoring wetlands and critical natural habitats, and upgrading municipal sewerage systems to eliminate overflowing raw sewage into the lakes.

“We think it's an excellent blueprint or guide for directing our collaborative efforts,” said EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson.

The recommendations grew out of an order to the EPA last year to assemble a partnership to coordinate the cleanup of the Great Lakes. The Lakes are bordered by eight states and two Canadian provinces. They also contain nearly 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water.

“I am well aware that there are competing priorities and tight budgets,” said Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. “However, investments we make now will prevent the need for far larger expenditures in the future.”

“If we hesitate to spend money, we will lose time, and we do not have time to lose,” said Ohio Gov. Bob Taft.