Nov 3: The International Joint Commission (IJC) is inviting comments on a series of reports it released in September on its 2007-09 Priorities under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States. The reports, developed by work groups of the IJC advisory boards, address critical issues of the nearshore, eutrophication, beaches and recreational water quality, chemicals of emerging concern, binational aquatic invasive species (AIS) rapid response, and the benefits and risks of Great Lakes fish consumption.
Commissioners of the IJC are encouraging persons to provide comment on the Work Group Reports during an open public comment period running now through November 30th. The Commission is developing its 15th Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality based on the reports and comments received from the public at its Biennial Meeting in Windsor last month and during this open comment period [See WIMS 10/6/09].
Access the reports and provide your comments online conveniently (click here).
Access links to the key documents for the review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) between Canada and the United States (click here).
Showing posts with label Documents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Documents. Show all posts
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Monday, July 21, 2008
NRC Recommends Adoption Of IMO Standards To Control Invasive
Jul 16: A new report -- TRB Special Report 291: Great Lakes Shipping, Trade, and Aquatic Invasive Species -- from the National Academies' National Research Council (NRC) says that the United States should follow Canada's lead and adopt standards identical to those proposed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to prevent invasive species from entering the Great Lakes. Both nations should ensure that only vessels adhering to these standards gain access to the lakes, and binational surveillance measures should be in place to monitor the presence of aquatic invasive species. These actions should be part of a suite of preventive measures designed to evolve over time in response to practical experience and technological advances. The committee that wrote the report also stated that many of its recommendations could be enacted within the next two to three years. Delaying beyond this time frame would leave the Great Lakes, which are already home to over 180 aquatic invasive species, in danger of future invasions.
Since the opening of the seaway, ballast water has been the source of 55 percent to 70 percent of the aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes, including the zebra mussel, one of the most successful invaders to date. In addition, invasive species can enter the lakes via recreational boating, bait fishing, disposal from home aquariums, and many other avenues. Because there are so many ways that an invasive species can enter the lakes, even closing the St. Lawrence Seaway altogether would not stop future invasions, and closure of the seaway would not enhance regional trade. Therefore, the NRC report says, "the best option is to require ballast water management by all international ships entering the seaway as well as ships coming from the coasts of the U.S. or Canada."
Because the Great Lakes are a freshwater ecosystem, one method ships use to kill potential invaders is to either fill or flush out their ballast tanks with saltwater, which kills freshwater species. Another option is to use water treatment, such as filtering the ballast water or adding chemicals to it. Although the effectiveness of these water treatment systems is believed to be greater than that of saltwater, most of these technologies are currently either unproven or technically challenging onboard ship, said the committee.
A number of ballast water management regulations are already in place within the Great Lakes region. However, Canada and the United States have different requirements, and the United States allows states to set their own standards. Michigan has adopted specific requirements for ships accessing its ports, and other states are considering following suit. These inconsistencies can create confusion within the shipping industry and make monitoring compliance difficult. According to the committee, the entire Great Lakes region should have a uniform set of standards for combating invasive species. The United States should also adopt ballast water management standards identical to those proposed by the IMO, which require specific saltwater exchange or flushing protocols and monitoring for organisms after treatment. Canada adopted regulations identical to the IMO rules in 2006, but the United States is still considering legislation options.
Although there have been calls for the United States to follow standards even stricter than the IMO's, the committee noted that cost-effective, accurate tools do not yet exist to monitor effectiveness or compliance with standards beyond those of the IMO. The uncertain and inconsistent nature of the Great Lakes current regulatory environment might even hinder technological development of water treatment and monitoring compliance, said the committee. Adopting uniform requirements would remove that uncertainty, and innovative technology may develop more quickly if a clear market exists. Uniform ballast water standards in the Great Lakes could be the first step in converting a system currently fragmented between two nations and multiple agencies into a comprehensive, cooperative, and coherent binational system of governance.
Access a release from the Academies (click here). Access links to a number of Commissioned Papers on ballast water management issues (click here). Access a 4-page summary of the report (click here). Access the complete 148-page report (click here).
Since the opening of the seaway, ballast water has been the source of 55 percent to 70 percent of the aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes, including the zebra mussel, one of the most successful invaders to date. In addition, invasive species can enter the lakes via recreational boating, bait fishing, disposal from home aquariums, and many other avenues. Because there are so many ways that an invasive species can enter the lakes, even closing the St. Lawrence Seaway altogether would not stop future invasions, and closure of the seaway would not enhance regional trade. Therefore, the NRC report says, "the best option is to require ballast water management by all international ships entering the seaway as well as ships coming from the coasts of the U.S. or Canada."
Because the Great Lakes are a freshwater ecosystem, one method ships use to kill potential invaders is to either fill or flush out their ballast tanks with saltwater, which kills freshwater species. Another option is to use water treatment, such as filtering the ballast water or adding chemicals to it. Although the effectiveness of these water treatment systems is believed to be greater than that of saltwater, most of these technologies are currently either unproven or technically challenging onboard ship, said the committee.
A number of ballast water management regulations are already in place within the Great Lakes region. However, Canada and the United States have different requirements, and the United States allows states to set their own standards. Michigan has adopted specific requirements for ships accessing its ports, and other states are considering following suit. These inconsistencies can create confusion within the shipping industry and make monitoring compliance difficult. According to the committee, the entire Great Lakes region should have a uniform set of standards for combating invasive species. The United States should also adopt ballast water management standards identical to those proposed by the IMO, which require specific saltwater exchange or flushing protocols and monitoring for organisms after treatment. Canada adopted regulations identical to the IMO rules in 2006, but the United States is still considering legislation options.
Although there have been calls for the United States to follow standards even stricter than the IMO's, the committee noted that cost-effective, accurate tools do not yet exist to monitor effectiveness or compliance with standards beyond those of the IMO. The uncertain and inconsistent nature of the Great Lakes current regulatory environment might even hinder technological development of water treatment and monitoring compliance, said the committee. Adopting uniform requirements would remove that uncertainty, and innovative technology may develop more quickly if a clear market exists. Uniform ballast water standards in the Great Lakes could be the first step in converting a system currently fragmented between two nations and multiple agencies into a comprehensive, cooperative, and coherent binational system of governance.
Access a release from the Academies (click here). Access links to a number of Commissioned Papers on ballast water management issues (click here). Access a 4-page summary of the report (click here). Access the complete 148-page report (click here).
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Register Now For SOLEC 2008
Jul 10: SOLEC 2008 will be held October 22–23, 2008, in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. This year, emphasis will be on “The Nearshore.” In 1996, SOLEC focused on the nearshore lands and waters of the Great Lakes where biological productivity is greatest and where humans have maximum impact. In 2008, the conference will concentrate on what has changed with respect to the nearshore environments since 1996. Additional conditions and issues not evaluated in 1996 will also be addressed.
Presentations during day 1 of SOLEC will focus on the state of the Great Lakes based on indicator assessments and other information about nearshore areas. On day 2, the presentations will highlight information about each Great Lake, the connecting channels (including the Niagara River), and the St. Lawrence River with a focus on the nearshore areas and related issues, such as habitat loss, viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), nutrients and water levels. Breakout sessions will follow the plenary presentations on both days. These afternoon sessions are an opportunity for participants to discuss the information that was presented in the morning as well as to debate more specific issues.
Draft State of the Great Lakes 2009 indicator reports and category assessments will be available in advance of the conference. These reports and assessments are being prepared by various authors from many agencies and organizations in order to assist with assessing the overall state of the Great Lakes. A draft background paper -- The Nearshore Areas of the Great Lakes 2008 -- will also be available in advance of the conference. Links to the State of the Great Lakes 2007 products are available on the registration website.
Access the SOLEC 2008 website for registration information and extensive background materials (click here). Access more information related to State of the Great Lakes Reporting and SOLEC (click here).
Presentations during day 1 of SOLEC will focus on the state of the Great Lakes based on indicator assessments and other information about nearshore areas. On day 2, the presentations will highlight information about each Great Lake, the connecting channels (including the Niagara River), and the St. Lawrence River with a focus on the nearshore areas and related issues, such as habitat loss, viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), nutrients and water levels. Breakout sessions will follow the plenary presentations on both days. These afternoon sessions are an opportunity for participants to discuss the information that was presented in the morning as well as to debate more specific issues.
Draft State of the Great Lakes 2009 indicator reports and category assessments will be available in advance of the conference. These reports and assessments are being prepared by various authors from many agencies and organizations in order to assist with assessing the overall state of the Great Lakes. A draft background paper -- The Nearshore Areas of the Great Lakes 2008 -- will also be available in advance of the conference. Links to the State of the Great Lakes 2007 products are available on the registration website.
Access the SOLEC 2008 website for registration information and extensive background materials (click here). Access more information related to State of the Great Lakes Reporting and SOLEC (click here).
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Sierra Club Citizen’s Guide to Protecting The Great Lakes
Jul 8: The Sierra Club Great Lakes Program released its Citizen’s Guide to Protecting the Great Lakes. The guide identifies Great Lakes problems and solutions that individuals can implement to protect the Lakes. It also highlights the major policy changes that state and Federal governments need to make to ensure that future generations.
According to an announcement, the Guide was inspired by the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy (GLRCS) -- the comprehensive regional plan to protect our drinking water, economic future and way of life. The Great Lakes hold one fifth of the world’s fresh surface water and currently provide drinking water to over 42 million people. Each day, "the Lakes are damaged economically and ecologically by untreated sewage, industrial pollutants and invasive species." The Guide offers actions to reduce the threats and contains specific strategies that can be used to protect the Lakes. The release kicks off a series of Sierra Club Great Lakes Program meetings and activities that will be held in the region throughout the year to highlight actions needed to protect and restore the Great Lakes.
Access a release from Sierra Club (click here). Access the Guide (click here). Access the Great Lakes Program website for related information (click here).
According to an announcement, the Guide was inspired by the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy (GLRCS) -- the comprehensive regional plan to protect our drinking water, economic future and way of life. The Great Lakes hold one fifth of the world’s fresh surface water and currently provide drinking water to over 42 million people. Each day, "the Lakes are damaged economically and ecologically by untreated sewage, industrial pollutants and invasive species." The Guide offers actions to reduce the threats and contains specific strategies that can be used to protect the Lakes. The release kicks off a series of Sierra Club Great Lakes Program meetings and activities that will be held in the region throughout the year to highlight actions needed to protect and restore the Great Lakes.
Access a release from Sierra Club (click here). Access the Guide (click here). Access the Great Lakes Program website for related information (click here).
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Brookings Institution Report On Great Lakes Economic Leadership
Mar 28: The Brookings Institution has issued a new report entitled, The Vital Connection: Reclaiming Great Lakes Economic Leadership in the Bi-National U.S.-Canadian Region.
The report recommends the following: establishing a bi-national innovation fund that targets investment and research in next-generation energy technologies, the science of the Great Lakes, and areas such as advanced manufacturing and medical health; enhancing and marketing the "Freshwater Coast" with a deeper investment in Great Lakes restoration and the establishment of a new Great Lakes Coastal Development Authority; improving the movement of goods along the U.S.-Canada border; creating a common market in the Great Lakes region for human capital and commerce; and setting and meeting renewable energy standards and carbon-reduction goals.
According to the report, "The bi-national Great Lakes region can continue to model what economic regions will look like in the global economy -- and also how they can thrive. To realize this vision will require leadership and purposeful actions that acknowledge the unique opportunities provided by the Great Lakes economy. Only the U.S. president and Congress, along with the Canadian prime minister and Parliament, can promote understanding of the economic opportunities to be realized. Working together, and working with federal leadership, the opportunity is real for the Great Lakes region to forge a new economic leadership position, and serve anew as a model for world economic and social innovation."
Access the complete 28-page report (click here). Access a presentation to Canadian officials (click here). Access the Brookings the Great Lakes Economic Initiative website (click here).
The report recommends the following: establishing a bi-national innovation fund that targets investment and research in next-generation energy technologies, the science of the Great Lakes, and areas such as advanced manufacturing and medical health; enhancing and marketing the "Freshwater Coast" with a deeper investment in Great Lakes restoration and the establishment of a new Great Lakes Coastal Development Authority; improving the movement of goods along the U.S.-Canada border; creating a common market in the Great Lakes region for human capital and commerce; and setting and meeting renewable energy standards and carbon-reduction goals.
According to the report, "The bi-national Great Lakes region can continue to model what economic regions will look like in the global economy -- and also how they can thrive. To realize this vision will require leadership and purposeful actions that acknowledge the unique opportunities provided by the Great Lakes economy. Only the U.S. president and Congress, along with the Canadian prime minister and Parliament, can promote understanding of the economic opportunities to be realized. Working together, and working with federal leadership, the opportunity is real for the Great Lakes region to forge a new economic leadership position, and serve anew as a model for world economic and social innovation."
Access the complete 28-page report (click here). Access a presentation to Canadian officials (click here). Access the Brookings the Great Lakes Economic Initiative website (click here).
Monday, February 25, 2008
MSU & WJR Launch Greening of the Great Lakes Website
Feb 22: Michigan State University (MSU) and News/Talk 760 WJR radio have launched a website called "Greening of the Great Lakes." The goal of the website is to provide information and insight into the organizations committed to making the Great Lakes region a leader in environmental practices. It's designed to be an online resource for anyone interested in learning about the Great Lakes region, related environmental issues and ways that they can protect the environment.
MSU President Lou Anna Simon said, "'Greening of the Great Lakes' is an exciting extension of MSU's partnership with WJR. The stewardship of the environment in which we live is vitally important to all of us, especially when it concerns our treasured Great Lakes. We want 'Greening of the Great Lakes' to become the online resource for all the important information people need to incorporate sound environmental practices into their daily lives." WJR President and General Manager Mike Fezzey said, "The outstanding partnership between WJR and MSU to create Greening of the Great Lakes has not only created a place where listeners can go to find extensive resources for those dedicated to living an environmentally friendly lifestyle, but this site will stay on the cutting edge of environmental related news and information."
Almost all of the information and resources on the site are and will continue to be provided by MSU and a dozen current company sponsor. The website is divided into several categories and sub-categories related to our environment.Primary categories include: Agriculture, Biobased Technologies, Companies Contributing, ECO/AGRI Tourism, Energy, Green Building, Green Careers, Green Facts, Green Products, Public Policy, Recycling, Transportation, Green Events and Water and Land. One of the primary features of the Web site is Green in the News and Regional Green in the News. This news feed is produced by MSU's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism through a news service called Michigan's Echo.
Access a release with further information (click here).
MSU President Lou Anna Simon said, "'Greening of the Great Lakes' is an exciting extension of MSU's partnership with WJR. The stewardship of the environment in which we live is vitally important to all of us, especially when it concerns our treasured Great Lakes. We want 'Greening of the Great Lakes' to become the online resource for all the important information people need to incorporate sound environmental practices into their daily lives." WJR President and General Manager Mike Fezzey said, "The outstanding partnership between WJR and MSU to create Greening of the Great Lakes has not only created a place where listeners can go to find extensive resources for those dedicated to living an environmentally friendly lifestyle, but this site will stay on the cutting edge of environmental related news and information."
Almost all of the information and resources on the site are and will continue to be provided by MSU and a dozen current company sponsor. The website is divided into several categories and sub-categories related to our environment.Primary categories include: Agriculture, Biobased Technologies, Companies Contributing, ECO/AGRI Tourism, Energy, Green Building, Green Careers, Green Facts, Green Products, Public Policy, Recycling, Transportation, Green Events and Water and Land. One of the primary features of the Web site is Green in the News and Regional Green in the News. This news feed is produced by MSU's Knight Center for Environmental Journalism through a news service called Michigan's Echo.
Access a release with further information (click here).
Monday, December 3, 2007
Binational Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Infrastructure Study
Nov 26: The governments of Canada and the United States released the binational Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway (GLSLS) Study. The GLSLS Study was conducted to evaluate the infrastructure needs of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway system, specifically the engineering, economic and environmental implications of those needs as they pertain to commercial navigation. The study assesses the long-term maintenance and capital requirements to ensure the continuing viability of the system as a safe, efficient, reliable and sustainable component of North America’s transportation infrastructure.
Seven Canadian and United States departments and agencies were involved in the study: Transport Canada, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Environment Canada and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Interested parties are invited to provide feedback on the final report, which will be provided to the above noted organizations for their consideration. Written feedback received by January 18, 2008 will be posted to the study website.
The report concludes in part that, "Forward planning must ensure that GLSLS capacity remains fluid and responsive within a stable policy framework and investment climate that can support strategic and timely investment in system capacity, while improving service levels and reliability. Furthermore, it must do so in a manner that satisfies concerns about environmental stewardship and that raises challenges for the shipping industry... Participants and stakeholders will succeed if they are able to integrate the three perspectives of engineering, economics, and the environment. Only if a balance is struck among these three differing sets of imperatives will it be possible to maintain truly sustainable commercial navigation in the Great Lakes basin and St. Lawrence River, and leave a lasting positive legacy to future generations."
Access the report website for an announcement and links to related information (click here). Access the complete 128-page report (click here). Access the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System website for additional information (click here). Access a Milwaukee Journal article on the study (click here); and additional media reports (click here).
Seven Canadian and United States departments and agencies were involved in the study: Transport Canada, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Environment Canada and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Interested parties are invited to provide feedback on the final report, which will be provided to the above noted organizations for their consideration. Written feedback received by January 18, 2008 will be posted to the study website.
The report concludes in part that, "Forward planning must ensure that GLSLS capacity remains fluid and responsive within a stable policy framework and investment climate that can support strategic and timely investment in system capacity, while improving service levels and reliability. Furthermore, it must do so in a manner that satisfies concerns about environmental stewardship and that raises challenges for the shipping industry... Participants and stakeholders will succeed if they are able to integrate the three perspectives of engineering, economics, and the environment. Only if a balance is struck among these three differing sets of imperatives will it be possible to maintain truly sustainable commercial navigation in the Great Lakes basin and St. Lawrence River, and leave a lasting positive legacy to future generations."
Access the report website for an announcement and links to related information (click here). Access the complete 128-page report (click here). Access the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System website for additional information (click here). Access a Milwaukee Journal article on the study (click here); and additional media reports (click here).
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