Feb 14: U.S. EPA announced that Presque Isle Bay, on the Pennsylvania shore of Lake Erie, has been removed from the list of heavily contaminated Great Lakes sites targeted for cleanup by the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Environmental conditions in Presque Isle Bay have significantly improved due to actions taken by Federal, state and local government. Studies have shown that revitalized waterways, like Presque Isle Bay, can benefit the local economy and better protect people's health. Presque Isle Bay is now the second site in the nation to be taken off the list of Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs). Presque Isle Bay's delisting reduces the number of AOCs to 29 contaminated sites wholly in the U.S. or shared with Canada.
On her last day as EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson said, "I'm proud to announce that Presque Isle Bay is no longer considered an Area of Concern. We still have a great deal of work to do in the Great Lakes, but this is a positive step that will help protect people's health and the environment in the community. President Obama has made cleaning up the Great Lakes a priority for his Administration, and delisting Presque Isle Bay is a big step toward fulfilling that commitment."
In a release EPA indicated that the historic discharge of industrial and domestic wastewater contaminated Presque Isle Bay with excessive nutrients, organic compounds, toxic metals and other pollutants. Improvements at Erie's wastewater treatment plant, along with the waterfront's conversion from heavy industrial to commercial use, reduced pollution and helped restore the bay.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will continue to monitor ecological conditions in Presque Isle Bay, with support from EPA.
On her last day as EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson said, "I'm proud to announce that Presque Isle Bay is no longer considered an Area of Concern. We still have a great deal of work to do in the Great Lakes, but this is a positive step that will help protect people's health and the environment in the community. President Obama has made cleaning up the Great Lakes a priority for his Administration, and delisting Presque Isle Bay is a big step toward fulfilling that commitment."
In a release EPA indicated that the historic discharge of industrial and domestic wastewater contaminated Presque Isle Bay with excessive nutrients, organic compounds, toxic metals and other pollutants. Improvements at Erie's wastewater treatment plant, along with the waterfront's conversion from heavy industrial to commercial use, reduced pollution and helped restore the bay.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will continue to monitor ecological conditions in Presque Isle Bay, with support from EPA.
Access a release from EPA (click here). Access more information on Presque Isle Bay (click here). Access more information on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (click here). [#GLakes/AOC]
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