The EPA was in Milwaukee, to discuss with the public the possible $400 million that could be spent to help clean up the Great Lakes. WTMJ-4 covered the story and interviewed Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Cheryl Nenn.

People gathered to hear about what could be improved in the Great Lakes if a proposed cleanup plan goes through.

The meeting Tuesday, July 21st, was held at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Milwaukee and was the first of eight meetings about the cleanup that the EPA will hold in each of the Great Lakes states.

At the center of the discussion is a huge funding package moving through Congress that could spend $400 million or more on Great Lakes cleanup projects. The money would likely go to reduce pollution and runoff that flow into the Great Lakes, projects to restore shoreline areas, and projects to cut down on invasive species.

The EPA says the money would be spread between the eight Great Lakes states and that Wisconsin would likely receive funding if the plan passes Congress.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper Interim Executive Director Cheryl Nenn was at the meeting to advocate for local cleanup projects. "We’re really excited to be here and to learn more about how we can get some money for badly needed projects here locally in Milwaukee," she said.

The man appointed by President Obama to serve as a senior adviser on Great Lakes issues to the EPA administrator visited Milwaukee for the meeting. Cameron Davis said, "It’s time that we quit nibbling around the problems facing the Great Lakes and it’s time we start to launch a full scale assault on the threats that face the Great Lakes."

The EPA will continue collecting feedback online on how the cleanup funding should be spent at: https://www.epa.gov/glnpo/glri/outreach.html.