905R87105
Great Lakes National Program Office
Activities Report For Period Ending
December 23 1987
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905R87105
DIRECTOR'S OFFICE
CAROL FINCH, ACTING DIRECTOR
Environmental Services Directors Meet To Develop Strategies
On December 3rd, 1987 in Washington, D.C., the Environmental
Services Directors met to discuss ESAT management strategies.
Carol Finch was present as one of those who helped to develop the
series of BSD Vision Strategies. These included strategies for
risk assessment, quality assurance, enhanced laboratory and field
capability, data management, priority setting, and the example of "
the Region III Field Productivity Improvemnet Project. Of
particular interest was developing a method for establishing BSD
scientific and in-house consultant capability and to make them
available to the Regions.
Contact Person: Carol Finch (312) 353-3544
Five Year Strategy In Review And Update
Ginger Webster and Jan Edwards, independent consultants, have
been retained to take the lead in reviewing all of GLNPO's
commitments resulting from the Water Quality Act of 1987 and the
new Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. GLNPO managers identified
the major issues and management themes that are to be addressed by
the review and subsequent strategy revision. The contents of the
management review report and the Five Year Strategy were established
in a meeting on November 9-12, 1987. Further developments from the
second work session on December 16-17 are in preparation.
Contact Person: Carol Finch 353-2117
The GLNPO Newsletter
is produced at:
DSEPA, GLNPO, 5GL
230 S. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60604
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Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Signed
Major amendments to the U.S./Canada Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement were signed on November 12th. EPA Administrator Thomas
signed the Agreement on behalf of the United States, while the
Minister of the Environment McMillan signed for Canada. Formal
diplomatic aspects of the review and negoiation process were
handled by the Department of State, while EPA had the lead in
technical matters.
Signing of the Agreement capped ten months of intense effort by
a special EPA team set up by Peter Wise when he was Director of
GLNPO. The team consisted of Kent Fuller of GLNPO on a full time -
basis, Tom Daggett and Jim Thunder of Region V's Regional Council
on a part time basis, and Peter McAvoy of the University of
Wisconsin as a consultant. As the new Director of GLNPO, Carol
Finch guided the final stages, especially coordination with
headquarters. Headquarters participants included Deputy
Administrator Barnes, his staff and Conrad Kleveno of the Office
of International Activities.
Key Aspects of the 1987 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
Amendments include:-"- ,:
1. Technical aspects df the Agreement have been brought up to date,
particularly with-respect to: contaminated sediments, airbourne
toxic pollutants, contaminated groundwater and non-point sources of
pollution.
,, ,.^ * -s f' f •
This will better support quantification of all sources of toxic
substances entering the Lakes and determination of the reductions
necessary to meet water quality objectives.
2. Accountability and management aspects of the Agreement clarify
responsibilities and set dates for completionm of various
milestones and reports. Key features are the process for reviewing
water quality objectives, preparation of remedial action plans
for geographic areas of concern, and Lake management plans for
critical pollutants.
The net effect of the amendments is to call for a clear definition
of problems and a clearly defined series of actions that will
result in solving them.
3. An essential part of the 1987 amendments to the Agreement is the
consensus that supports them. At the outset, both State Government
and public interest group representatives voiced strong misgivings
about the review process and the intent of the Federal Government.
By the end of the process, both State and public interest group
representatives voiced strong approval of their involvement and the
resulting amendments. The consensus on substance includes the
Canadian participants and bodes well for the future of the
Agreement.
Contact Person: Kent Fuller (312) 353-3503
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Water Division Briefing on the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
On December .7thf Kent Fuller provided a briefing on the 1987
amendments to the Agreement to the Region V Water Division staff.
Acting Division Director Dale Bryson began the meeting with a landmark
statement of support for implementation of the Agreement, emphasizing
the importance of immediately taking action to reduce the amount of
toxics entering the Lakes and fully implementing the Agreement as a
priority committment of the Administrator. Dale pointed out the
challenging concepts and committments contained in the amendments, and
emphasized the importance of shifting from pollutant concentration" in
effluents and immediate receiving waters to thinking in terms of total
lake loadings.
Contact Person:: Kent Fuller 353-3503
Non-Point Source Committee of the IJC Water Quality Board
The Non-Point Source Committee, with Kent.Fuller, as U.S. Co-Chair,
met on November 8th to review progress and renew committments in
fulfilling its work plan. A major agenda item was the review of
proposals for putting pesticide and other data into a digitized
mapping system to support analysis and display information. It was
concluded that the ARC-INFO system best met the needs and a -
decision was made to accept a proposal from Agriculture Canada to
do the work. The system is expected to be compatible with the
U.S.G.S. ARC-INFO system and will provide a powerful tool.
Contact Person: Kent Fuller 353-3503
International Joint Commission Biennial Great Lakes Meetings
The International Joint Commission biennial meetings were held on
November 16-18, 1987 in the Sea Gate Center in Toledo, Ohio
overlooking the mouth of the Maumee River. The purpose of the
meetings was#to officially receive and discuss the biennial reports
of the Water Quality and Science Advisory Boards of the IJC. The
reports focussed on progress in meeting the terms of the.1978 Great
Lakes Water Quality Agreement, progress in completing remedial
action plans for areas of concern and the present state of the Lakes.
Presentation of the Water Quality Board report was made by the
Co-chairs: Regional Administrator Adamkus and Director General
Dowdeswell.
Contact Person: Kent Fuller 353-3503
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UGLCC Management Committee Meeting
The Management Committee of the Upper Great Lakes Connecting
Channels Study, met November 10th at the Hilton O'Hare to review
scheduling and the summary of input/tasks of the 170 activities
of the UGLCC Work Plan. Because of the individual staff conflicts
with RAP assignments, the question of full commitment by all involved
agencies to the revised time schedule of March, 1988 for completion
of the Final Report was raised. Loss of key agency personnel
exascerbates the problem, as in the case of U.S./Canadian losses on
the Regulatory Task Force. The key Long Term Monitoring Work Group
still needs to complete organization, and P. Bertram of GLNPO was
identified as a potential U.S. chairperson. Spills were identified
as being potentially a major source of contaminants in the UGLCC stud;
area. The Regulatory Task Force was asked to look at existing spill
data and controls.
Valdas Adamkus had requested by letter a Canadian briefing on polluti<
on the Algoma Steel site and related activities. In response,
Ontario MOB staff spoke briefly of the Algoma Steel Company's and
Ontario MOE's findings at the site. OMOE has committed to detailed
study at this site and will be issuing a contract for investigation
of the contaminated groundwater discharge, surface water runoff,
seepage, and slag characteristics. Another situation involved the
discharge of dinitrotoluene from the waste lagoon of C-I-L, Inc.
in Sarnia, Ontario. This was the subject of a formal complaint
from the City of Detroit's Water and Sewerage Department because
of potential effects on the city's drinking water. Commissioner
Ridgeway said he believes that the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act
will be the controlling law over CWA pollution requirements in the
next few years due to its extensive monitoring and public notice
requirements. The Canadians stressed that there was no longer any
discharge from the C-I-L site. C. Finch, co-chair of the Management
Committee, stressed the need for ongoing dialogue on DNT and for
addressing the management issues under the Clean Water Act and
within the UGLCC framework.
Contact Person: Vacys Saulys 353-3544
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Programs Committee of the Water Quality Board
The programs Committee for the WQB met December 9th/ with Carol
Pinch as U.S. Co-Chair. The main agenda items were review of
remedial action plans and changes needed in response to the recent
amendments to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Revisions
of the protocol for review of the RAPs were worked out to make it
consistent with the new amendments.
A great deal of discussion took place concerning the changes in the
Agreement and their implications. A basic factor is the committment
by the Parties to convene regularly to review progress. This should
relieve the Water Quality Board and the Windsor staff of the IJC from
reporting pressures that now surround preparation of Board reports.
This should result in more of a focus on analysis and comment by the
IJC and the WQB and its committees. It was concluded that the WQB
strategy should be updated to reflect the Agreement changes and that
the committee structure should be re-evaluated.
Contact Person: Kent Fuller 353-3503
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REMEDIAL PROGRAMS STAFF
VACYS J. SAULYS, CHIEF
Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels Progress
On Dec. 8th, the Activity Integration Committee met in Windsor,
Ontario to coordinate the ongoing third phase of the UGLCC study.
Individual researchers and three media-specific workgroups (of 7)
have almost completed their jobs and the geographic area synthesis
teams are in place for a Jan. 25-26, 1988
meeting to achieve the third phase of the writing schedule.
Target date for completion of the Final Report is midyear of FY
'88. Significent numbers of U.S. and Canadian personnel, from
28 governmental agencies and universities are involved in this
three-year, 170-project Study.
Thr Final Report requires the boiling down of nearly 170 activity
data reports into 28 media-specific evaluation reports. They
will be further reduced into four geographical area reports which
form the core of both the Final Report and the Remedial Action
Plans that are under way on a parallel track.
Contact Person: Vacys Saulys 353-3544
UGLCC Sediment Work Group Meets
The Sediment Work Group of the Upper Great Lakes Connecting Channels
Study met in Windsor, Canada on November 23, 1987 to review progress and
determine next steps to complete their portions of the UGLCC study. The
Sediment Work Group is the only Work Group that has delivered all of its
geographic area media (so called Level II) reports for all of the
connecting channels. As a result of a request by the Data Quality Work
Group, the Sediaent Work Group authors will be including a Quality
Assurance chapter in their Level II reports.
Contact Person: Anthony Kizlauskas, 353-3576
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Hyde Park Superfund Site Lake Ontario Study Meeting
Representatives of U.S. EPA Region II Superfund, Duluth Environmental
Research Laboratory (ERL) - Duluth, Large Lakes Research Station (LLRS) -
Grosse lie, and Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO); the New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and Department of
Health (NYSDOH); Occidental Chemical Company (OCC); and EPA contractors
Gradient Corporation, and Ecology and Environment, Inc. met in Albany,
New York on December 2, 1987 to discuss progress on the Hyde Park
settlement-specified studies of 2,3,7,8-TCDD dioxin fish and sediment
contamination in Lake Ontario.
The Duluth ERL is conducting laboratory studies of uptake of 2,3,7,8-
TCDD by fish from sediments, with and without a contaminated food source.
The uptake part of the studies is now complete. The depuration part of
the studies will continue for up to a year longer, until the fish lose
half of the dioxin that they accumulated in the uptake studies.
The NYSDOH refereed a three-laboratory methods validation study between
the NYSDOH laboratory, the Duluth ERL, and the OCC. Results for both
fish and sediments show acceptable precision and accuracy by all three
laboratories and detection limit goals of 1 ppt were achieved. The next
step will be for the NYSDOH laboratory to release the sediment and fish
samples to OCC for analyses. OCC is analyzing the samples as their in-
kind contribution to the studies.
The Lake Ontario fish collections this past summer by NYSDEC were
successful except for insufficient numbers of smallmouth bass being
collected at two of the three sites where collections were planned.
The Lake Ontario bottom sediments survey conducted this past summer by
EPA GLNPO, ERL Duluth, Ecology and Environment, Inc., and General
Offshore Corporation using the GLNPO Research Vessel Roger Simons was
successful except for a core sample location being missed due to
confusion caused by a deviation from the cruise plan.
James Martin of LLRS-Grosse He introduced the State and OCC
representatives to the WASP4 mathematical model which the EPA was
proposing to use to model the loadings to sediments resulting from
discharges of 2,3,7,8-TCDD from the Hyde Park Landfill. The meeting
participants agreed that WASP4 was the most appropriate model to use.
On December 3, 19J8F, Anthony Kizlauskas met with Dr. Philip Cook from ERL
Duluth to discuss how to accomplish analysis of the sediment core samples
that were collected on the Lake Ontario cruise for other contaminants in
addition to 2,3,7,8-TCDD in order to provide necessary calibration and
validation data for the Lake Ontario mathematical model, among other
purposes.
Contact Person: Anthony Kizlauskas, 353-3576
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Second Remedial Action Plan Coordinators Forum
The Forum was held in Toledo, Ohio on November 19 and 20, 1987. Anthony
Kizlauskas gave a presentation on "Guidance on the Assessment of
Contaminated Bottom Sediment Problems" as part of the panel discussion
given by the UC Sediment Subcommittee at the Second RAP Coordinators
Forum. Mr. Kizlauskas is the Chairman of the Assessment Work Group of
the Sediment Subcommittee, Other members of the Sediment Subcommittee
also participated in the presentations. The Chairman, Mr. Deo Persaud,
provided an introduction to the Sediment Subcommittee and the guidance it
was to present at the RAP Forum. Mr. Ian Orchard, Chairman of the
Remedial Options Work Group, provided guidance on the selection of
remedial options for contaminated sediments once the assessment process
identifies the need for action. Dr. Alena Mudroch, a member of the
Remedial Options Work Group, gave a case study of how the Dutch are
addressing the contaminated sediments problem. The presentations were
received very well and touched off a lively question and answer session.
The Subcommittee's presentations were based upon a draft report that the
Subcommittee tabled at the RAP Forum, entitled "Guidance on Assessment
and Remediation of Contaminated Sediment Problems in the Great Lakes."
Contact Person: Anthony Kizlauskas, 353-3576
UC Sediment Subcommittee Meets
The UC Sediment Subcommittee met in Toledo, Ohio on November 20, 1987 to
discuss future activities on finalizing the draft "Guidance on Assessment
and Remediation of Contaminated Sediment Problems in the Great Lakes"
and to plan other activities for the coming year. Suggested changes to
the draft guidance document included furnishing cost estimates for all
recommended assessment methods and remedial options, and additional
guidance on how to use the assessment data to delineate problem areas
within the Area of Concern. The Subcommittee then discussed the need for
workshops in the coming year, including a Workshop on Sediment Assessment
Criteria (jointly sponsored with the UC Aquatic Ecosystems Objectives
Committee) in the Fall of 1988, a Technology Transfer Workshop on
Remedial Options in the Fall of 1988, and a Technical Workshop on Testing
for Mutagenicity in Bottom Sediments in the Summer of 1988.
Contact Person: Anthony Kizlauskas, 353-3576
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ORD-LLRS In-Plaoe Pollutants Modelling Meeting
Researchers participating in the In-Place Pollutants Study being
coordinated by the Office of Research and Development Large Lakes
Research Station met at LLRS in Grosse lie, Michigan on November 24, 1987
to review progress and determine next steps for the modelling aspects of
the study. Participating scientists included: Dr. Dominic DiToro of
Manhattan College (overall fate and effects and toxicity modelling), Dr.
Joseph DePinto of Clarkson University (adsorption/desorption behavior of
contaminants from sediments), Dr. Wilbur Lick of the University of
California at Santa Barbara (sediment deposition, resuspension, and
transport), and Dr. Keith Bedford of Ohio State University
(probabilities of sediment resuspension, entrainment of bottom
sediments). The scientists presented progress reports on their separate
activities. Then discussions were held on what information each
scientist needed from the others in order to complete their tasks in a
coordinated manner. The intent is to provide a final report including
the results of all data and modelling activities on the In-Place
Pollutants studies in the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River by
September, 1988.
Contact Person: Anthony Kizlauskas, 353-3576
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ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING STAFF
ROBERT TOLPA, ACTING CHIEF
NPS Conference Meets in Milwaukee
A conference entitled "Political, Institutional and Fiscal
Alternatives to Accelerate Nonpoint Pollution Programs" was
held in Milwaukee, WI on Dec. 7-9, 1987. The conference was
co-sponsored by the Great Lakes National Program Office and
Marquette University's Water Resources Center and the National
Nonpoint Source Institute. The three-day meeting provided papers
and discussions of political, institutional, organizational,
social and fiscal problems associated with establishment and
implementation of nonpoint pollution abatement programs. Ralph
Christensen participated in a panel of public officials and made
a presentation for Valdas V. Adamkus, Region V administrator.
Proceedings are expected to be available shortly.
Contact Person: Ralph G. Christensen 353-3545
Upper Gre.at Lakes Connecting Channels NPS Workgroup
Ralph Christensen participated in the final review of the
Agricultural NPS level 2 report of the OGLCC in Windsor, Ontario
Dec. 9-10, 1987. The report will be ready to present to the
synthesis committee by Dec. 23rd, 1987. Tom Davenport, NPS
Coordinator or Region Vs Water Division has provided excellent
support in preparing the U.S. portion of the Report.
Contact Person: Ralph G. Christensen 353-3545
Ralph Christensen Receives Bronze Medal Award
4
GLNPO is pleased that Ralph G. Christensen received a Bronze Medal
Award at Region V's annual honor award ceremony, for successful
management of Great Lakes, Section 108, demonstration projects. This
series of demonstration projects led to the development and voluntary
implementation of low cost measures to reduce phosphorus loadings to
the lakes from nonpoint sources. Reduced loadings are leading to
reduced algal growth, a shift away from nuisance species, and
reduction of hypolimnetic anoxic areas. Future load reductions
will come, primarily as advances in conservation tillage and other
farm practices take hold. The projects provided a valuable basis for
the new EPA nonpoint source program authorized by the Water Quality
Act of 1987.
Contact Person: Kent Fuller 353-3503
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SURVEILLANCE AND RESEARCH STAFF
WAYNE WILLFORD, CHIEF
Lake Ontario Toxics Committee Meets
W. Willford attended a meeting of the Lake Ontario Toxics
Committee on Dec. 10-11, 1987 in Toronto, at which the members
reviewed comments received on the draft Lake Ontario Toxics
Management Plan. In response to the comments, the Committee made
major revisions in the plan. The revised plan is now premised
upon whether or not ambient data exists for a toxic of concern
and, if ambient data exists, whether the levels present exceed
existing standards, or most sensitive use criteria. In each
situation, a specific action is called for by the involved
jurisdictions. If ambient data is not adequate, actions needed
to obtain the data will be specified.
Contact -Person: Wayne Willford 353=1369
Meeting of Green Bay Technical Coordinating Committee
The Green Bay Technical Coordinating Committee met in Madison, Wl
on Nov. 19th, 1987 to review and modify the draft Green Bay Study
Plan. Attendees included Dave DeVault of GLNPO, John Sullivan,
Anders Andren, Bill Sonzogni and Dale Patterson of WDNR. Bill
Richardson, Russ Kreis, and James Martin of EPA's LLRS participated
via conference call.
Several modifications were made to the Plan. These include: a)
If calculations of maximum possible loads support it, all tributary
load monitoring, other than the Fox and Menominee rivers, will be
reduced to monthly. The Fox River monitoring will be increased
from the current 40 samples/year to appproximately 52. These will
be divided*^ J€ § 2 week intervals; approximately 26 event related.
Sampling wlir continue under the ice on the Fox River, b) Additional
work on sediment resuspension will be planned for the middle and
lower Bay. The Committee felt that the bay's exchange with Lake
Michigan could be estimated by sampling stations in the major
passages during cruises, and from current existing data. Funds from
this effort would be redirected toward suspended sediments.
James Martin of LLRS will forward the Plan to successful modeling
bitters prior to final modification.
Contact Person: Dave DeVault 353-1375
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External Review Committee Meets on Institute of Water Research
On Oct. 20th David Rockwell represented the Great Lakes National
Program office as a member of the 1987 External Review Committee for
the Institute of Water Research (IWR)-Michigan State University.
The review .committee is comprised of 27 persons representing state,
federal agencies and other universities.
IWR grants are funded currently from two sources, the U.S.
Geological Survey and the Kellogg Foundation. IWR highlighted its
research capabilities in groundwater monitoring and its
educational outreach. A geographical information system linking
remote sensing data of land use, and nitrate concentrations from.
well measurements was reported in the contaxt of county development
planning. The Kellogg Foundation has selected IWR to develop state
wide education programs to inform users of groundwater about
groundwater protection and health hazards.
Several excellent publications were presented and copies obtained
for GLNPO. Ms. L.G. Wolfson presented a 416-page text on "Rural
Groundwater Contamination." Ms. M. Wolfram presented a color
pamphlet on "Michigan Water Resources."
IWR was receptive of the expansion of their research interest in
investigations of groundwater contaminant loads to the Great Lakes.
Contact Person: David Rockwell 353-1373
Winter Great Lakes Surveillance
The Great Lakes National Program Office's strategy for tracking
long term changes in phosphorus concentration levels in the Great
Lakes includes the taking of water samples during isothermal periods
of the limnionic season. During fall overturn, which usually occurs
between November 15th and January, or during early spring, between
March and April, GLNPO has used the Roger R. Simons. In between
February and March, samples can be taken using a Huey helicopter when
ice extensively covers the lakes. The uncertainty of obtaining
samples when the lakes are isothermal in the fall, and the lower
operational cost of the helicopter, has led GLNPO to select the
winter helicopter operations in place of the fall overturn ship
operations.' "
Two winter lake surveys have been planned for this year to
increase the opportunity of obtaining samples from lakes
experiencing ice cover and to reduce the cost per station visit.
Region II's helicopter, which is based in New Jersey, will be used
for the surveys. A second sampling run will be included on the
return trip with only a 25% increase in flight time (9-10 hours)
over a direct return to New Jersey.
Contact Person: David C. Rockwell 353-1373
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Limnology Program Surveys
The following is a tentative schedule for GLNPO's 1988 field
operations. Limnology surveys will include sampling four of the
Great Lakes. Mass balance surveys are also planned for Green Bay.
The spring survey is scheduled for after ice-out in March/April.
EPA personnel with biology or chemistry backgrounds who are
interested in participating in the program are invited to consider
the schedule. Written requests approved by your supervisor,
indicating the time interval in which you can serve, may lead to a
meaningful short term detail. Training can be provided in March
and July for required chemical analysis and filtration tasks.
Surveys
Spring Run 1
Spring Run 2
Survey 1
Survey 2
Survey 3
Summer Run 1
Summer Run 2
Survey 4
Survey 5
Area
M-H-E-0
0-E-H-S-M
Green Bay
Green Bay
Green Bay
M-H-E-0
0-E-H-S-M
Green Bay
Green Bay
Tentative Time
After March 20
After March 20
April 20
June 7
July 18
August 1-11
August 12-26
August 27
October 7
Expected Duration
(days)
10-12
14-15
5
5
5
10-11
14-15
5
5
Contact Person: David C. Rockwell 353-1373
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