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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OOOS91001
FY 1991 ACTION PLAN
FOR THE
GREAT LAKES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
April 1991
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FY 1991: A Year of Transition
Fiscal Year (FY) 1991 marks the beginning of a new era in the US EPA's approach to
environmental protection in the Great Lakes. In the past, EPA programs have worked
diligently to control the release and/or transport of pollutants on an end-of-pipe, media-by-
media basis. Over the last 20 years, this approach has achieved remarkable success in
reducing levels of many traditional pollutants in the Great Lakes basin.
Yet, despite the demonstrable success of our past efforts, many environmental goals have
not been attained, and, in some cases, problems have become more complex and serious.
Today, there is growing recognition that our traditional approach to environmental
protection has often simply cycled problems through our system, seldom solving them. It
has become clear that, if we are to protect and restore the nation's heritage in the Great
Lakes, we must adopt a more holistic, integrated approach to ecosystem management.
In FY 1991, a model approach based on ecological perspectives will be taking shape in the
Great Lakes. For the first time, all the Agency's programs will join in a cooperative,
integrated effort to direct a critical mass of resources to address problems on a holistic,
ecosystem basis. The hallmark of the effort will be pollution prevention as the preferred
option for reducing risk. This will be buttressed by the Agency's traditional regulatory
activities, which will be integrated across program lines to craft specific solutions tailored
to local circumstances. In addition, EPA will make use of a much broader array of tools,
including market incentives and education and information. In putting the pieces together,
EPA will seek the support and involvement of States, and the national governments and
citizens of the United States and Canada.
This FY 1991 Action Plan is intended to guide the transition to a whole-systems
environmentalism. Activities are directed at two environmental objectives: preventing and
reducing the release of harmful toxic pollutants from all media and enhancement and
recovery of habitat and species diversity. The Action Plan identifies and tracks progress in
15 critical elements that will contribute to the development and implementation of an
integrated approach to ecosystem protection and restoration in the Great Lakes. The Action
Plan does not attempt to capture all the Agency's activities in 1991, nor does it attempt to
fully define the integrated program. Rather, the 15 elements build upon a base of ongoing
activities, and represent a series of key steps as we move toward an ecosystem approach to
the Great Lakes, which will be more fully developed in the Agency's 5 Year Strategic Plan
for the Great Lakes. The 15 elements that comprise the action plan are set forth below:
1. Great Lakes 5 Year Strategic Plan
2. Bi-National Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Strategy
and U.S. Action Plan
3. Lakewide Management Plans (LAMPs)
4. Remedial Action Plans (RAPs)
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5. Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative (GLWQI)
6. Baseline Loadings
7. Contaminated Sediments
8. Special Geographic Initiatives
9. Spill Response and Prevention
10. Habitat Protection and Restoration
11. Great Lakes Ecosystem Monitoring and Status
12. Exotic Species
13. EPA Research Vessel Activity
14. Great Lakes Reports
15. Outreach and Education
Objectives
As noted above, the FY 1991 action plan describes a number of key steps necessary to
enhance the Agency's ability to more fully protect and restore the integrity of the Great
Lakes ecosystem over an extended period of time, as required by the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement and the Clean Water Act.
In support of this goal, the Agency has defined two fundamental objectives:
Objective 1: Prevent and reduce the release and deposition of harmful toxic
pollutants from all sources into the Great Lakes ecosystem, and remediate in-place
toxic pollutants to levels that provide:
a. Water quality and sediments capable of sustaining populations of the most
sensitive native living resources (aquatic and terrestrial) that comprise the
Great Lakes ecosystem;
b. Drinking water and fish that are safe for unlimited human and wildlife
consumption; and
c. Air quality that protects the health of the most sensitive human
populations and the integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem.
Objective 2: Provide for the further recovery of native species, and enhance the
biological diversity and stability of the Great Lakes Basin through the protection,
restoration, and creation of important aquatic, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial plant and
animal habitats.
The 15 elements in the plan contain a range of activities to achieve these objectives. The
activities will be carried out through: (1) strategically designed Agency programs, assisted
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by States and Tribes, local governments, the Province of Ontario, other Federal agencies,
the Canadian government, and the citizens of the United States and Canada; and (2) joint
activities undertaken by appropriate combination of these agencies.
The relationship between the elements, activities, objectives, and goals that comprise the
action plan is illustrated in Figure 1 (attached). As the diagram illustrates, the Agency's
renewed emphasis on the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes is an aggressive
effort to revitalize enhance and integrate EPA's traditional activities and programs.
Key activities in support of objective 1 include:
Prevention of future discharges of toxic pollutants, with special emphasis on
persistent, bioaccumulative pollutants from all sources;
Abatement of continuing discharges and emissions of toxic pollutants from all
sources; and
Remediation of in-place sources of toxic pollutants from all sources ("toxic hot
spots").
Key activities in support of objective 2 include:
Inventory existing aquatic, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial habitats;
Mobilize U.S. EPA binational interagency efforts to protect and manage remaining
habitats of importance to Great Lakes basin plants and animals, including the active
participation/support of U.S. and Canada to control the spread of exotic species; and
Mobilize U.S. EPA binational, interagency efforts to mitigate lost habitats and
restore remaining habitats
The relationship between the 15 elements in the Plan and the objectives is shown in Figure
2 (attached). Moreover, the Action Plan requires the use of an appropriate balance of all
available tools to achieve the program's environmental goals and objectives. These tools
include integration of the Agency's traditional command and control programs, augmented
by the use of a much broader array of tools including pollution prevention, market
incentives, and information/education. While the Agency has already begun to use the tools
at its disposal in new and imaginative ways (e.g., USX settlement), our experience is still
limited Nonetheless, we recognize that much of our success in the Great Lakes in future
years will depend on our ability to more completely integrate and balance existing tools,
with an eye towards continuous improvement over time.
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Action Plan Summary Format
In the following pages, each of the 15 elements of the action plan is addressed individually.
For each element there is a statement of purpose, a listing of key activities/products, and a
summary of expected results.
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Figure 1
FY1991 ACTION PL AN
Ecosystem
Integrity
Reduce
Toxic
Pollution
Prevent
Abate
Remediate
Protect
and Restore
Habitat
Inventory
Protect
Restore
Base Programs (CWA, CAA, TSCA, RCRA, CERCLA)
Standards Permits Enforcement Monitoring
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Figure 2
Matrix of Action Plan Elements to Great Lakes Objectives
Action Plan Programs
5-year Strategic Plan
Bi-natlonal Poll. Prev. Strategy
LAMPs
RAPs
GLWQI
Baseline Loadings
Contaminated Sediments
Special Geographic Initiatives
Spill Response and Prevention
Habitat Protection/Restoration
Great Lakes Ecosystem Monitoring &
Status
Exotic Species
Research Vessel
Reports
Reduce
Toxics
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Protect and
Restore
Habitat
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
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FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE GREAT LAKES
Purpose:
To focus Agency efforts and resources in a multi-media, geographic based,
ecosystem attack on targeted Great Lakes environmental problems and problem
areas to reduce toxics and protect\restore habitat and species diversity.
Deliverables:
Complete Great Lakes Comparative Risk Report
Draft Five Year Strategic Plan incorporating EPA and
State comments on outline
Brief public and other Federal Agencies on draft
strategic plan
Second draft Strategic Plan incorporating public
comments
Finalize Strategic Plan and deliver to stakeholders
Expected Results:
Completion and implementation of the Five-year Strategic Plan (FY 92-96) will allow
the Agency to coordinate efforts to achieve maximum risk reduction using all
available tools. Moreover, the Plan will Involve all stakeholders and increase
public, state and Agency support in identified actions. The Identification of
appropriate measures of success in the Plan will allow the Agency to track
progress in meeting the program's goals and objectives.
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BINATIONAL GREAT LAKES POLLUTION PREVENTION
STRATEGY AND THE U.S. ACTION PLAN
Purpose:
To develop and implement Canadian and US comprehensive pollution prevention
actions focused on preventing the generation and release of pollutants to all media
(air, land, water)
Deliverables:
Announcement of Strategy & U.S. Action Plan by
Reilly, De Cotret, and Governors
Begin implementing binational initiatives including:
Pollution Prevention Symposium in Traverse
City, Michigan
Lake Ontario Urban Nonpoint Source Project
Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Challenge
Program
Binational Lake Superior Initiative
Binational Automobile Industry Project
Expected Results:
Reaching agreement on the Pollution Prevention Strategy and Action Plan
constitutes an important step towards completion of a number of goals in the Great
Lakes region. These include virtually eliminating the discharge of persistent toxics
into the Great Lakes basin; reducing emissions of the 17 targeted pollutants
identified in the National 33/50 Project (formerly the Industrial Toxics Project), as
measured by TRI and other sources; incorporating pollution prevention into all
Agency activities including Remedial Action Plans and Lakewide Management
Plans; and identifying ways to achieve cost effective restoration and maintenance
of the biological, chemical, and physical integrity of the Great Lakes basin. (Note:
many of the problems in the Great Lakes basin are caused by persistent toxics,
such as RGB's, which have been banned and are therefore not amenable to
pollution prevention strategies. Problems from in place pollutants will be primarily
addressed through Remedial Action Plans and the remediation of contaminated
sediment, both integral elements of this Action Plan.)
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LAKEWIDE MANAGEMENT PLANS (LAMPs) FOR CRITICAL
POLLUTANTS
Purpose:
To develop and implement comprehensive management plans to reduce the loading
of Critical Pollutants from all media to the Lakes in order to restore and protect the
full range of beneficial uses. As a priority, the Agency is focusing its effort on the
completion of Stage I LAMPs for Lakes Michigan and Ontario during FY1991. The
completion of LAMPs for the remaining Lakes will be covered in the Great Lakes
5-Year Strategic Plan.
Deliverables:
LAKE MICHIGAN
Problem Characterization and Draft Stage I LAMP
Development
Establish Intergovernmental Coordination Process
Develop and Implement Public Outreach Strategy
Establish Monitoring and Data Management Process
Submit Stage I LAMP to IJC
LAKE ONTARIO
Update the Lake Ontario Toxics Management Plan
Adopt Four Party nonpoint source load estimate
methodology (U.S. EPA, New York State,
Environmental Canada, Ontario Province)
Apply nonpoint source methodology to Lake Ontario
Adopt Four Party ecosystem objectives
Develop ecosystem indicators for Lake Ontario
Submit Stage I LAMP to IJC
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Expected Results:
Completing Stage I LAMPS for Lakes Michigan and Ontario in FY 91 will set the
stage for achieving further significant load reductions of Critical Pollutants from
air, land and water sources during FY 92 and beyond. The interim objective of
these plans will be to reduce levels of toxic substances in the Lakes to levels that
will present a negligible risk to humans and wildlife and that will support a
sustainable fishery. The plans will also serve as an important step toward the
virtual elimination of loading of Critical Pollutants to the Lakes through the
implementation of improved technology and pollution prevention measures.
91 Action Plan: LAMPS - 2
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REMEDIAL ACTION PLANS FOR THE AREAS OF CONCERN
Purpose:
For each Area of Concern (AOC) on the Great Lakes, to identify beneficial use
impairments and the causes of those impairments from sources in all media (Stage
I); to identify the remedial actions, and the parties responsible for carrying out
those actions, necessary to restore the beneficial uses (Stage II); and document
attainment of the beneficial uses following implementation of the remedial actions
(Stage III)
Dellverables:
Conduct quarterly meetings of U.S. EPA/State RAP
Policy Guidance Workgroup
Transmit FY 92 RAP Program Guidance to the States
Award FY 91 RAP Program Funds to States
Conduct FY 91 Mid-Year Evaluation of State RAP
Program Efforts and Identify Opportunities for
Enhancement
Prepare report on compliance with June 30,1991
deadline of the Great Lakes Critical Program Act
Receive and review draft FY 92 State RAP Program
Plans
Approve FY 92 State RAP program plans
Current State commitments are for the completion of 9 Stage I and 2 Stage II RAPs
during FY 91, bringing the cumulative totals to 24 Stage I RAPs and 8 Stage II RAPs
by September 30, 1991. Appropriate milestones for tracking the completion and
implementation of RAPs were agreed upon at a January 23, 1991 meeting of a
State/U.S. EPA RAP working group. Individual tracking charts will be prepared for
each of the 31 AOCs for which the United States has either sole or joint
responsibility with Canada and will be used to monitor progress. Tracking charts
for those RAPs scheduled for completion during FY 91 will be appended to the
Action Plan at the end of the second quarter of the fiscal year.
Expected Results:
Beneficial use impairments at the AOCs include fishery and benthic impairments
resulting from toxic contaminants and contributing to human health and
environmental risks both locally and on a lakewide basis. RAPs provide a
mechanism for focusing all prevention, control and remediation tools available at
the local, State and Federal levels to achieve specified environmental goals in a
geographic area. Gains achieved at the AOC level will contribute significantly to
the reduction of environmental and human health risks throughout the basin.
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GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY INITIATIVE
Purpose:
To develop guidance for consistent water quality criteria and implementation
procedures, antidegradation policies and procedures, and pollution prevention
strategies for the Great Lakes.
Deliverables:
Prepare for final steering committee ratification of the
aquatic life, wildlife, and antidegradation proposals
Prepare a pollution prevention strategy and schedule
for implementation
Prepare for final steering committee ratification the
human health and the implementation proposals
Federal register notice for comment all proposals
Conduct public hearings on materials subject to
federal register notice
Expected Results:
Completion of the Initiative will provide, through the consensus of the Federal,
State, public and private groups, the essential elements needed for the States to
review and update their individual water quality standards and implementation
procedures during the 1990-1993 triennial review period. This process will, for the
first time, result in consistent water quality criteria and implementation procedures
for the Great Lakes, which will greatly reduce the potential for interstate conflicts
and ensure across-the-board implementation of toxic pollutant controls for Great
Lakes discharges. Further, products of the Initiative will be used by the United
States to negotiate Objectives under Annex 1 of the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement.
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BASELINE LOADINGS
Purpose:
To establish the baseline toxic loads from land, water, and air sources to the Great
Lakes. Establishing baseline loads will be accomplished on a geographic priority
basis in conjunction with Remedial Action Plan development for the Areas of
Concern* and Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) development for Lakes Michigan
and Ontario. Baseline loads for Lakes Erie, Huron and Superior will be established
in conjunction with LaMP development beginning in fiscal years 1992, 1994, and
1996, respectively.
Deliverables:
Complete source inventory and atmospheric
deposition studies of toxic pollutants in the Detroit-
Windsor transboundary area and the Lake Michigan
basin
Develop criteria for screening permits for a pilot
project reviewing several major new sources of air
emissions for State control of toxic pollutants in
accordance with the Great Lakes Toxic Substances
Control Agreement and begin implementation of the
pilot project.
Conduct an airborne lead initiative to reduce the
800,000 pounds of lead emitted annually to the air in
Region V:
Identify major lead sources which contribute to
deposition
Conduct modeling and/or monitoring studies to
characterize the problem
Establish Lake Ontario-Niagara Frontier NPS estimates:
Conduct methods development workshop
Apply methodology for priority toxics to Niagara
frontier
Apply methodology and develop loading
estimates for Niagara River/Lake Ontario Basin
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BASELINE LOADINGS (Contd.)
Deliverables:
Prepare demonstration study for the Rouge River and
the Niagara River watershed to help develop a
methodology to link mass balance models for the
Great Lakes to GIS technology
Complete load estimates for Critical Pollutants from
wastewater discharges to the Lake Michigan system
Complete load estimates for toxic pollutants from
RCRA facilities and CERCLA sites to the Lake
Michigan system
Expected Results
The Agency's ability to quantify and report progress in reducing the toxic pollutant
loads to the Great Lakes will depend upon our ability to establish a baseline load.
The activities described above represent the first steps to develop load estimates
for toxic pollutants on a targeted geographic basis. These estimates will be refined
over time and confidence intervals narrowed as source monitoring activities and
analytical capabilities improve.
'Baseline Toxic Pollutant load estimates for the AOCs are being developed in
conjunction with each Remedial Action Plan.
91 Action Plan: Baseline Loadings • 2
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CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS
Purpose:
To assess and implement innovative methods and technologies for the
management and remediation of contaminated sediments, supporting LAMP
development as well as Mass Balance Studies, and to reduce the impact of
contaminated sediments through accelerated remediation
Deliverables:
Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated
Sediments (ARCS) Program:
Identify technologies to be demonstrated at
ARCS sites
Initiate Pilot (small, field) scale contaminated
sediment treatment demonstrations
Complete field work to support mini-mass
balance contaminated modeling of the Buffalo
and Saginaw Rivers
Issue reports on (i) assessments conducted for
the ARCS Program, (ii) bench (laboratory) scale
contaminated sediment treatment
demonstrations, (iii) human health contaminated
sediment risk assessments in four ARCS
locations
Great Lakes Contaminated Sediment Tributary
Monitoring Program:
Complete draft plan for necessary field activities
for sediment sampling of tributaries and harbors
of Lakes Ontario and Michigan, focusing on
toxics
Great Lakes Contaminated Sediment Monitoring Plan:
Complete draft field plan design, including open
lake sediment sampling using the R/V Lake
Guardian, focusing on toxics in core samples.
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CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS (Contd.)
Dellverables:
Buffalo River Clean-Up:
Agreement by key agencies (U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation, Region II, and
GLNPO) on project scope
Complete draft plans, identify sites, conduct
workshops and meetings with RAP Citizen
Advisory Groups and other interested parties,
complete necessary sampling, and complete
NEPA and other regulatory requirements
Announce Buffalo River Cleanup Plan
Region V Great Lakes Sediment Initiative:
Program Building - Fill positions, secure
necessary contract documents for dredging and
disposal projects, add additional enforcement
sites, establish necessary workgroups, and
establish workplans
Initiate enforcement investigations at simpler
sites such as Manistique River, Menominee
River/Harbor, St. Louis River/Harbor and at more
complex sites like Green Bay and Saginaw Bay.
Accelerate enforcement activity at Grand
Calumet River/Indiana Harbor and continue
Superfund activity at Waukegan, Ashtabula,
Sheboygan, Torch Lake, and the Kalamazoo
River
Dredged Material - Develop Draft USEPA/Corps
Great Lakes §404 guidance for dredged sediment
testing and analysis (final document anticipated
in 2nd quarter, FY 92)
Disposal Guidance Development - Contract and
obtain preliminary outputs from engineering
consultant. Provide support to programs on
disposal decisions
Regional Contaminated Sediment Inventory
Pilot - Contractor to have obtained all new raw
data and to have begun draft inventory
91 Action Plan: Contaminated Sediments - 2
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CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS (Contd.)
Expected Results:
Targeted assessment and remediation of contaminated sediments addresses a
serious long-term basin problem. Since sediments serve as both a repository of
toxic contaminants and an ongoing source of toxins to the Great Lakes food chain,
remediation and proper management are essential to the restoration of ecosystem
health. Persistent toxic substances in sediment will continue to harm the
ecosystem as long as they remain in the system. The activities and plans
contained in this element will provide experience, methods, and guidance toward
solving identified contaminated sediment problems throughout the basin. Targeted
sites will actually be cleaned up upon completion of remediation activities.
91 Action Plan: Contaminated Sediments • 3
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SPECIAL GEOGRAPHIC INITIATIVES
Purpose:
The Agency has identified two areas within the Great Lakes Basin that, because of
extensive historical and ongoing degradation, merit special attention with regard
to remediation, further pollution abatement and prevention actions in order to
reduce environmental and human health risks. These areas are: (1) Northwest
Indiana; and (2) the Niagara River. The purpose of these Initiatives Is to develop
a multi-media, geographically focused environmental program In these areas that
will result In significant reductions in toxic pollution and restoration of the
beneficial uses, and serve as a model for EPA program cooperation in other
geographic-specific initiatives in ensuing years.
Deliverables:
NORTHWEST INDIANA:
Coordinate with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to
ensure the dredging of the federal navigation channel
in the Indiana harbor ship canal
Achieve 90% or greater compliance with all Federal
environmental statutes:
Track USX Corporation's initiation of its
sediment characterization study and the start-up
of its sediment recycle study
Complete negotiations of the multi-media, Inland
Steel enforcement case
Complete Potentially Responsible Party searches
at 15 sites along the Grant Calumet River for
future CERCLA enforcement actions and U.S.
Fish and Wildlife service natural resources
damage assessments and claims
Complete negotiations with Federated Metals
under RCRA/Clean Water Act clean-up action for
Lake George in Whiting, Indiana
Assess petroleum distillate contamination of ground
water
Initiate broad spectrum pollution prevention initiative
with industry and local municipalities
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SPECIAL GEOGRAPHIC INITIATIVES (Contd.)
Deiiverables:
NORTHWEST INDIANA (Contd.):
Assist Indiana in completing the remedial action plan
Involve the public in key activities through an
aggressive public outreach/environmental
communications strategy(RAP) for the area of concern
Conduct the air enforcement activities to reduce limits
applicable to coke oven gas combustion
NIAGARA RIVER:
Provide report on the Updated Categorization of
Chemicals:
Complete U.S. Point Source Loadings Report for the
Niagara River
Update U.S. Hazardous Waste Sites Loadings Report
with chemical specific loadings and status of cleanup
Develop Proposal for Niagara River/ Lake Ontario
Pollution Prevention Initiative
Complete annual 50% reduction progress report for the
Niagara River
Screen Chemicals for addition to ambient river
monitoring network
Complete U.S. non-point source control annual status
report
Complete re-analysis of prior years' ambient river
monitoring data
Complete Niagara Falls, NY ground water flow model
Expected Results:
These actions will result in immediate decreases in the loadings of toxic pollutants
from ongoing discharges entering southern Lake Michigan and western Lake
Ontario thereby reducing loadings of toxics that bioaccumulate in fish tissue and
improving the quality of the habitat and aquatic biota. These actions will also
begin the process of addressing contaminated sediments that, until remediated,
will continue to act as a major source of toxic pollutants.
91 Action Plan: Special Geographic Initiatives • 2
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SPILL RESPONSE AND PREVENTION
Purpose:
To reduce the number and volume of Great Lakes spills of oil and other hazardous
materials, focussing on areas with the greatest spill risk.
Deliverables:
Target and complete 120 spill prevention and control
countermeasures (SPCC) program inspections at Great
Lakes facilities (increased from 69 in FY 90)
Complete 30 SPCC inspections at Grand Calumet/
Indiana Harbor Area of Concern
Complete strategy to deal with oil-laden aquifers in
Grand Cal/ Indiana Harbor (SPCC staff)
Complete chemical safety audits in Detroit and
Cleveland (CEPP)
Conduct EPA meetings on achieving improved data
collection and interpretation techniques pertaining to
spills
Map areas with greatest threat of spills through
cooperative effort of GLNPO, US Coast Guard, and the
Department of Transportation
Conduct spill preparedness exercises at most Region II
removal sites
Expected Results:
As a result of increased inspections, there should be decreased damage to the
Great Lakes ecosystem from spills through (i) improved prevention and clean up
efforts and (ii) fewer spills.
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HABITAT PROTECTION AND RESTORATION
Purpose:
To provide an overall protection strategy for wetlands in the Great Lakes basin and
provide initial inventories of the critical habitat areas of the Great Lakes for Lake
Michigan and Lake Ontario, and prepare initial action plans to protect, restore,
enhance and create appropriate plant communities and hydrology that will provide
habitat for birds, fish, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates. This effort
is a part of the Great Lakes Wetlands Strategy that will identify specific tasks and
Implementation plans that will result in a net gain of wetland acreage and value In
the basin, and will serve as a national model for species/habitat protection on a
watershed basis, in addition, this effort will help to focus Federal, State, Provincial,
and local public agencies and private wetland organizations on the common goals
of wetland protection and restoration.
Deliverables:
Develop a Great Lakes Wetland Strategy:
Review draft strategy with US Great Lakes Policy
Committee
Develop final strategy and deliver to
stakeholders
Develop Habitat Protection Plan:
Issue letters to State and Federal agencies with
natural resource responsibilities asking for data
Coordinate with States to prepare maps of
critical communities
Prepare draft protection strategy for most critical
communities and deliver to stakeholders for
comment
Expected Results:
A Federal, State, and local wetlands protection strategy will be established that
provides detailed roles for each involved governmental entity. Also, critical plant
communities within the basin will be inventoried and assessed for their ability to
support fish and wildlife populations. Areas will be categorized into three major
groups (meeting, not meeting, need information) indicating their status to support
designated uses of waters along the nearshore of the Great Lakes and in the
tributaries. Based on current status, a protection, enhancement or restoration
strategy will be proposed for each area. Maps and initial action plans will be
provided to the States for inclusion in their future workplans. The final plan will
provide a framework for Federal and State initiatives to restore and enhance habitat
to provide for an expanded multiple use natural resource base.
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GREAT LAKES ECOSYSTEM MONITORING AND STATUS
Purpose:
To establish environmental objectives and design comprehensive and integrated
cross media management, monitoring, and data management processes that will
answer key management questions with regard to identifying trends in the
chemical, physical and biological components of the Great Lakes ecosystem,
projecting future ecosystem responses, and setting cleanup targets and priorities.
Dellverables:
Coordinate with States and other Federal Agencies in
doing a comprehensive review of Ecosystem
Monitoring
Form an intra-agency work group to identify specific
data integration issues needing resolution in order to
support FY 91 activities and implementation of the
Great Lakes Five Year Strategy
Complete trial run and methods validation for open
water sampling of toxic substances in Lakes Michigan
and Ontario
Begin construction of five air toxics monitoring
stations for the Great Lakes Air Deposition Network.
All stations will be fully operational by the end of the
first quarter FY 92
Report on trends in chemical concentrations in Great
Lakes fish
Complete plan for Great Lakes EMAP and integrate
with Great Lakes Monitoring Plan
Expected Results:
Establishing comprehensive, State and Federal environmental objectives for the
Great Lakes and agreeing to the key management questions that must be answered
will guide subsequent monitoring and data management program design for the
Great Lakes Basin. Designing the EPA program to complement other Federal and
State activities will result in the efficient utilization of limited resources and will
foster cooperation and reporting of the status and trends of key environmental
indicators. The formation of the intra-agency work group will facilitate internal
resolution of data integration issues and provide a specific forum for coordinating
data management in support of the specific activities in the FY 91 Action Plan.
This work group will identify barriers to data integration, the steps for overcoming
these barriers, and the cost of and priority for taking these steps.
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EXOTIC SPECIES
Purpose:
To coordinate with other Federal Agencies to determine ecosystem effects of exotic
species and monitoring efforts to prevent Introductions of exotic species.
Deliverables:
Conduct zebra mussel observations in cooperation
with the Coast Guard
Research to determine the impact of zebra mussels on
the health of Great Lakes ecosystems, to define the
ecological and physiological requirements of nuisance
species for forecasts of their spread and to identify
susceptible areas, and to evaluate the environmental
risks of possible control options:
Complete report on Proceedings of International
Workshop on Introduced Exotic Species in the
Great Lakes
Monitor effectiveness of ballast-water exchange
for Great Lakes shipping
Draft report on ballast-water exchange program
Establish cooperative agreement with Soviets on
zebra mussel ecology
Include exotic species component in FY92 Great Lakes
Monitoring Plan
Expected Results:
Minimize introductions of nuisance exotic species and determine their effects on
the ecosystem. Identification of impacts of new invading species and taking the
first steps to stabilizing the Great Lakes biological community.
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EPA RESEARCH VESSEL MONITORING PROGRAM
SUPPORT
Purpose:
First time monitoring of toxic substances in Great Lakes water column on a
"routine" basis and open lakes sediments monitoring to establish baseline and
support LAMP development.
Deiiverables:
Complete arrangements for Bay City Homeport
facilities for R/V Lake Guardian
Complete R/V Lake Guardian warranty work
Commission the Ship; have shakedown of existing lab
facilities
Complete outfitting of labs
Conduct Great Lakes cities tour
Conduct first open lake program cruises
Expected Results:
The availability of the R/V Lake Guardian will allow establishment of baseline
information for LAMPs, development of a data base allowing EPA programs to set
realistic goals for Great Lakes cleanup, and measurement of environmental
progress. This element will also provide an educational support platform for Great
Lakes universities.
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REPORTS
Purpose:
Reports to Congress and the International Joint Commission on environmental
progress in the Great Lakes Basin.
Deliverables:
Prepare US contribution to IJC, Water Quality Board,
State of the Lakes Report
Draft Administrator's 1989/90 Report to Congress to
EPA and States
Submit Administrator's 1989/90 Report to Congress
Draft Administrator's 1991 Report to Congress to EPA
and States
Submit EPA's 1990 Report to the IJC on progress
under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement to
EPA and the States for review
Submit CAA report to Congress on air toxics/Great
Lakes
Expected Results:
These Reports provide a mechanism for EPA to report on US progress in restoring
Great Lakes ecosystem health, serve to articulate an environmental agenda for the
Great Lakes, and comply with statutory requirements.
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OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
Purpose:
To initiate an aggressive communications and education effort to inform the public
about the work EPA, States, and other Federal agencies are doing to protect and
restore the Great Lakes. This effort will seek to increase the public's knowledge
and concern about the Great Lakes ecosystem and demonstrate EPA's commitment
to the Lakes.
Deliverables:
Announce Bilateral Great Lakes Pollution Prevention
Strategy
Develop public information and education materials
Develop and deliver pilot teacher workshop
Commission new research vessel
Hold "Great Lakes Month", (including Great Lakes
Education Week, Great Lakes Cleanup Day, and other
events)
Conduct International Great Lakes Pollution Prevention
Symposium
Conduct general media outreach
Expected Results
The communications strategy should bring widespread attention to the activities
of EPA and others to protect the Great Lakes on both sides of the border. The
public will become better informed of the relative risks to the Great Lakes and the
strategic choices the Agency is making to address those risks.
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