Sep 18: Environment Canada and the U.S. EPA released the Nearshore Areas of the Great Lakes 2009 report. The report describes the current state of nearshore area environmental conditions and changes in nearshore areas of the Great Lakes since 1996, and suggests management implications related to nearshore issues. Nearshore areas of the Great Lakes are important because this is where land-based activities can impact water quality and where humans generally interact with the Great Lakes.
The report includes information on the issues of botulism, harmful algae blooms, viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), and shoreline development, among other stressors. Experts in the United States and Canada contributed the chapters for the report, which was prepared for the State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) 2008.
Access the complete report (click here, Note we experienced problems with this website). Access the State of the Great Lakes 2009 Highlights report (click here). Access EPA's SOLEC website for additional information (click here).
Showing posts with label Binational Committee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Binational Committee. Show all posts
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Latest U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy Report
Jul 17: Environment Canada and U.S. EPA announced the release of the 2007 edition of the U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy (GLBTS) Progress Report. Over the past ten years, the governments of Canada and the U.S., along with stakeholders from industry, academia, state/provincial and local governments, Tribes, First Nations, and environmental and community groups have worked together toward the achievement of the Strategy’s challenge goals. Of the Strategy’s 17 challenge goals that were established in 1997, 13 have been achieved and significant progress has been made toward the remaining four challenge goals.
According to an announcement, compared to 1988 levels, Canada achieved over 98 percent reduction in sources, uses and releases for alkyl-lead; eliminated the use, generation or release of octachlorostyrene and five Level 1 pesticides; met its 90 percent reduction goal for mercury and dioxins and furans; and reduced emissions of hexachlorobenzene and benzo(a)pyrene by 73 percent and 52 percent, respectively. Furthermore, Canada destroyed 90 per cent of high-level PCBs in storage, compared to 1993 levels; and achieved a reduction of nearly 70 percent of high-level PCBs in service since 1989.
Similarly, the U.S. eliminated the use of alkyl-lead in automotive gasoline; eliminated the use, generation or release of octachlorostyrene and five Level 1 pesticides; achieved its 50 percent reduction goal for mercury and 75 percent goal for dioxins and furans, and reduced its benzo(a)pyrene emissions by 77 percent, in addition to significantly reducing its hexachlorobenzene releases and PCB equipment in service.
Looking ahead beyond the reduction of legacy contaminants, Canada and the U.S. have also created two new Groups under the Strategy to focus on substances of emerging concerns and sectors of importance in the Great Lakes Basin. These new efforts will enable the identification of management options for addressing the current and future releases of persistent toxic substances into the Great Lakes Basin.
Access the complete 120-page 2007 Report (click here). Access a detailed 22-page overview of the GLBTS (click here). Access links to previous reports and related information (click here). Access additional information about the GLBTS, the innovative public-private binational partnership aimed at reducing toxic chemicals in the Great Lakes (click here).
According to an announcement, compared to 1988 levels, Canada achieved over 98 percent reduction in sources, uses and releases for alkyl-lead; eliminated the use, generation or release of octachlorostyrene and five Level 1 pesticides; met its 90 percent reduction goal for mercury and dioxins and furans; and reduced emissions of hexachlorobenzene and benzo(a)pyrene by 73 percent and 52 percent, respectively. Furthermore, Canada destroyed 90 per cent of high-level PCBs in storage, compared to 1993 levels; and achieved a reduction of nearly 70 percent of high-level PCBs in service since 1989.
Similarly, the U.S. eliminated the use of alkyl-lead in automotive gasoline; eliminated the use, generation or release of octachlorostyrene and five Level 1 pesticides; achieved its 50 percent reduction goal for mercury and 75 percent goal for dioxins and furans, and reduced its benzo(a)pyrene emissions by 77 percent, in addition to significantly reducing its hexachlorobenzene releases and PCB equipment in service.
Looking ahead beyond the reduction of legacy contaminants, Canada and the U.S. have also created two new Groups under the Strategy to focus on substances of emerging concerns and sectors of importance in the Great Lakes Basin. These new efforts will enable the identification of management options for addressing the current and future releases of persistent toxic substances into the Great Lakes Basin.
Access the complete 120-page 2007 Report (click here). Access a detailed 22-page overview of the GLBTS (click here). Access links to previous reports and related information (click here). Access additional information about the GLBTS, the innovative public-private binational partnership aimed at reducing toxic chemicals in the Great Lakes (click here).
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
GLU Report On Great Lakes Decision-Making and Accountability
Jan 15: Great Lakes United (GLU) released a report describing how governance structures have stalled progress on protecting and restoring the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River ecosystem. The report outlines a series of recommendations that GLU says will improve leadership and accountability across the basin and enhance leadership from key institutions. The report, A Way Forward: Strengthening Decision-Making and Accountability under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, focuses on the role and actions of the federal governments (with a particular emphasis on the Canadian government), the Binational Executive Committee, and the International Joint Commission.
The report is viewed principally through the lens of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the historic pollution prevention document signed by Canada and the United States. The report calls for the two governments to reinvigorate leadership on clean-up and protection through the present review and possible renegotiation of the Agreement, and to fully involve the public throughout this process. The report was co-authored by John Jackson, Clean Production Coordinator for Great Lakes United, and Karen Kraft Sloan, a former Member of Parliament and previously Canada’s Ambassador for the Environment.
Key recommendations in the report include: (1) That Canada and the United States empower the Binational Executive Committee to create a comprehensive binational, basin-wide workplan to achieve the goals of the GLWQA and fully include the public in this process. (2) That the Prime Minister identifies or creates a Ministerial position with direct and specific responsibility for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin and give a Parliamentary Standing Committee special responsibility for commenting on Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin matters. (3) That the responsible minister in Canada and the director of the U.S. EPA regularly undertake a government-wide review of basin-related programs and funding trends to ensure alignment with the basin-wide plans’ objectives. (4) That an All-Party Great Lakes Caucus be formed by members of Canada’s House of Commons and Senate. (5) That there be a more open appointment process for IJC commissioners. (6) That the public be more fully included in IJC board activities, including the appointment of a wider array of the Great Lakes community members to the IJC’s boards. (7) That legislative hearings in Parliament and Congress be held after the release of the IJC’s biennial reports to lead to more public accountability by the federal governments.
Access a release from GLU (click here). Access the complete 66-page report (click here).
The report is viewed principally through the lens of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the historic pollution prevention document signed by Canada and the United States. The report calls for the two governments to reinvigorate leadership on clean-up and protection through the present review and possible renegotiation of the Agreement, and to fully involve the public throughout this process. The report was co-authored by John Jackson, Clean Production Coordinator for Great Lakes United, and Karen Kraft Sloan, a former Member of Parliament and previously Canada’s Ambassador for the Environment.
Key recommendations in the report include: (1) That Canada and the United States empower the Binational Executive Committee to create a comprehensive binational, basin-wide workplan to achieve the goals of the GLWQA and fully include the public in this process. (2) That the Prime Minister identifies or creates a Ministerial position with direct and specific responsibility for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin and give a Parliamentary Standing Committee special responsibility for commenting on Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin matters. (3) That the responsible minister in Canada and the director of the U.S. EPA regularly undertake a government-wide review of basin-related programs and funding trends to ensure alignment with the basin-wide plans’ objectives. (4) That an All-Party Great Lakes Caucus be formed by members of Canada’s House of Commons and Senate. (5) That there be a more open appointment process for IJC commissioners. (6) That the public be more fully included in IJC board activities, including the appointment of a wider array of the Great Lakes community members to the IJC’s boards. (7) That legislative hearings in Parliament and Congress be held after the release of the IJC’s biennial reports to lead to more public accountability by the federal governments.
Access a release from GLU (click here). Access the complete 66-page report (click here).
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