&EPA
                            United States
                            Environmental Protection
                            Agency
                          Office of Water
                          (4301)
March 1995
EPA-820-F-95-002
FACT    SHEET
                        GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY IOTTIATTVE
                   CASE STUDIES SHOW BENEFITS OUTWEIGH COSTS
EPA evaluated three sites in the Great Lakes Basin to estimate the costs and benefits of the Great
Lakes  Initiative (GLI).  The  three  sites are the Fox River  in Wisconsin, the Saginaw River in
Michigan,  and the Black  River  in Ohio.  EPA analyzed the data from every discharger in the
study  areas -- over 300  facilities.  The results of the  analysis  showed the benefits of  the GLI
outweighed its costs.
One Million Pounds Cleaner Each Year


The waters  in the study areas will be  almost one
million pounds cleaner after  the GLI is  in place.
This means significantly less  mercury,  PCB's, and
toxic pesticides will be in our water, fish,  wildlife,
and people.  All of these pollutants are dangerous,
even in small amounts - they are long-lasting, toxic,
and build up as they move through the food chain.


Improved Water Quality Yields Health
and Economic Benefits

EPA estimates that implementation of the GLI will:
•  improve human health;
•  expand commercial and recreational fishing; and
•  improve the quality of swimming and other water
   recreation.
It will also  improve the quality of all pursuits that
rely on  the beauty and health of the Great Lakes.
The total dollar value  for improvements in the case
study areas  alone  is $9.3 million each year.  Benefits
across the Great Lakes basin will be higher.
                       Compliance Costs Are Reasonable


                       For the three case study areas, the total annual cost
                       of compliance for all industrial dischargers and all
                       municipal treatment works ranges from a low of $2.1
                       million to a high of $3.6 million.  If the States and
                       Tribes use the innovative and flexible provisions of
                       the GLI, basinwide annual compliance costs will be
                       less than  $100 million for all industrial dischargers
                       and municipal treatment works.


                       Benefits and Costs Compared
                       The estimated average benefits for  the three  case
                       studies are about $3.1 million. The average annual
                       costs for  the three case studies are approximately
                       $2.8 million.

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