Here Come the Zebra Mussels

The 2008 Great Lakes shipping season is under way on Lake Superior. Andy Buchsbaum is with the National Wildlife Federation's Great Lakes office and said this is also a milestone; the 20th anniversary of the introduction of zebra mussels into United States waters. Buchsbaum said the invasive species does about $1-Billion of damage to parks, beaches, water supply systems and people every year. One Oberstar bill pending in Congress would require the US Coast Guard to check ships before they enter United States waterways. Other potential laws would require ocean-going ships to empty and clean their ballast tanks before entering the St. Lawrence Seaway.