Economy, finance and labor

Executive Order 13340: Establishment of Great Lakes Interagency Task Force and Promotion of a Regional Collaboration of National Significance for the Great Lakes

President: George W. Bush

Created a Great Lakes interagency task force and called for regional collaboration on restoration with states, tribes and other partners.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13340 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 13340 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13340 do?

EPA recorded a regional collaboration convened after the order and development of a Great Lakes strategic plan under EO 13340.

Administration position: The plan and collaboration document a subsequent process; they do not show that all cleanup targets were achieved or that the order itself appropriated funds.
SignedMay 18, 2004
Original directionCreated a Great Lakes interagency task force and called for regional collaboration on restoration with states, tribes and other partners.
Later evidenceEPA recorded a regional collaboration convened after the order and development of a Great Lakes strategic plan under EO 13340.
Review dateSeptember 26, 2026

Before and after

Before the order

Numerous federal and regional programs addressed Great Lakes pollution and habitat, without one unified interagency strategy.

After the order

EPA recorded a regional collaboration convened after the order and development of a Great Lakes strategic plan under EO 13340.

The plan and collaboration document a subsequent process; they do not show that all cleanup targets were achieved or that the order itself appropriated funds.

Who had to do what

Source: Signed Federal Register text.
Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Great Lakes Interagency Task ForceBuild regional and Canadian/binational collaboration; coordinate federal restoration/protection policies, goals, projects, research and earth-observation work; exchange information and assist participating agencies; establish a Regional Working Group and report recommendations.Report by May 31, 2005 and thereafter as appropriate.
EPA AdministratorChair the Task Force.No separate deadline specified.
EPACoordinate principles for successful regional collaboration.No separate deadline specified.
Great Lakes Regional Working GroupCoordinate and recommend implementation of Task Force policies, strategies, projects and priorities.No separate deadline specified.
EPA Great Lakes National Program OfficeAssist the Task Force and Regional Working Group.No separate deadline specified.
Great Lakes National Program ManagerChair the Regional Working Group.No separate deadline specified.
Later actionEPA recorded a regional collaboration convened after the order and development of a Great Lakes strategic plan under EO 13340.2005

What happened next

EO 13340 signed.