United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Great Lakes
National Program Office
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago. Illinois 60604
&EPA
b
Six
a s i c
Questions
&
Answers
concerning
The Great Lakes
a
n
Contaminated
Sediments.

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The Great Lakes
among the largest and most complex
freshwater ecosystems in the world, provide
a home, water, and food to millions oj
aquatic plants and animals, and people.
One pathway for lake contamination
occurs when toxic substances attach to solid
particles, such as soil or silt, and are
transported to the water from the land or air.
Many of these contaminants become
incorporated into the bottom sediments of
streams, harbors, and the lakes themselves.
The Assessment and Remediation of
Contaminated Sediments (ARCS) program
is a 6-year study and demonstration project
administered by the EPA's Great Lakes
National Program Office (GLNPO)
in Chicago.
In addition to demonstrating ways to assess
the contaminated sediments problem, the
Program also demonstrates ways to remove
toxic pollutants from bottom sediment.
Finally, the Program is exploring ways to
predict the potential outcome and effectiveness
of various remedial actions.

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Question
Water runoff and wind erosion carry
Answer
What is the major problem we have?
soil and organic particles that eventually form
sediments on the bottoms of rivers, lakes, and
wetlands. Sediments are home to numerous bot-
tom-dwelling organisms which serve as food for
larger animals like the lake trout and the bald
eagle. Increased chemical use by society has
trapped numerous toxic compounds in the sedi-
ments. Many of these compounds remain toxic
for a long time and wind up in plant, animal,
and human tissue sometimes causing health and
reproductive problems.
0
Question

Should I be concerned?
Answer \(.ontaminants from sediments find
their way into the food chain and may pose a
health risk. The public needs to be aware of
sport fish consumption advisories, issued each
year by states in the Great Lakes, for example.
Sediments may also pose a risk to swimmers or
to children playing on floodplains and beaches.

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©
Question

How extensive is
the problem ?
Answer
The United States and Canada
have pinpointed the largest concentrations of
toxic pollutants in 4 3 "Areas of Concern" with-
in the Great Lakes Basin. Much of the contami-
nation occurred there before the present regula-
tory programs were in place. Today EPA regu-
lates many of the toxicants entering the Lakes
from known sources like municipal and indus-
trial plants. However, runoff from cropland,
lawns, and urban areas— as well as chemical
spills and airborne pollutants-- need to be cur-
tailed.
Question
What is being done?
The 6-year ARCS program is
Combining the expertise of govern-
ment, universities, private industries, and public
interest groups, the ARCS program currently
focuses on five targets: Buffalo River; Ashtabu-
la River, Saginaw River and Bay, Sheboygan
River, and the Grand Calumet River/Indiana
Harbor Canal. At each site the ARCS program
assesses the extent of the problem, evaluates and
demonstrates cleanup techniques, and develops
practical approaches through which local deci-
sion-makers can attack the most important
aspects of the problem.
Answer
underway

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Impacts of Sediment on Habitat & Food Webs
bald eagle
mosquito
minnows
The pollution cycle: Contaminants from the air, land,
and water sink to the bottom of lakes and streams
where they lodge temporarily in bottom sediments

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common tirn
bloater chubs
mallard
However, wind, currents, the movements of bottom
dwelling organisms, and uptake by plants may
reintroduce contaminants from sediments into the
food chain.

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Q u e s t i o n

Who has continuing responsibility ?
The regulatory agencies, both Fed-
eral and State, will continue to control known
pollution sources, maintain enforcement pro-
grams, and oversee cleanup. State environmen-
tal agencies are responsible for devising and
executing cleanup or "Remedial Action Plans"
at each "Area of Concern" in the Great Lakes.
This encourages participation by local citizen
groups, which help to develop programs for
restoring these contaminated areas.
Answer
Question

What can 1 do to help ?
(Community interest and participa-
tion in waste reduction and recycling is grow-
ing throughout the Great Lakes Basin. The sue
cess of pollution prevention philosophy will
depend largely on the extent of individual and
community support, especially at the "Area of
Concern" This support is vital for restoration
of these areas. Contact your local cleanup
action group and State water pollution control
agency for specific information.
Answer

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ARCS Demonstration Sites


The five ARCS demonstration sites highlighted here
are among the 43 binational Great Lakes Areas of
Concern singled out for priority clean-up by Great
Lakes states, US and Canadian federal governments,
and the International Joint Commission.

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ARCS

Information Libraries
Buffalo, NY— Buffalo and Erie County Public
Library, Science Department, Lafayette Square, Buffa-
lo, NY N203, (716) 858-7101, J.P Dudley
Branch Library, 2010 South Park Avenue, Buffalo,
NY \4220, (716) 823-i858; Great Lakes United,
Cassety Hall, State University at Buffalo, i 300 Elm-
wood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222, (716) 886-0142.
Indiana Harbor Canal/Grand Calumet River,
IN- Gary Public Library, 220 W. 5th Street, Gary,
IN 46402, (219) 886-2484,- East Chicago Public
Library, 2401 East Columbus Drive, East Chicago,
IN 46312, (219) 397-2453, Reference Library, Indi-
ana University NW, 3400 Broadway, Gary, IN
46408, (219) 980-6580.
Saginaw River, Ml- Hoyt Library, Michigan
Room, 505 James Street, Saginaw, MI 48605, (517)
755-0904; Bay City Branch Library, 708 Center,
Bay City, MI 48708, (517)893-9566.
Sheboygan River, Wh Mead Public Library,
710 Plaza 8, Sheboygan, WI53081,
(414) 459-3432.

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Ashtabula River, OH—Ashtabula ( .oimty Dis-
trict Library, 335 W. nth, Ashtabula, OH 44004,
[2\6] 997-934i.
Additional Repositories- Library, Great Likes
National Program Office (GLNPO), LISEPA, 11
W. Jackson Blvd.,, Chicago, IL 60604. International
hint ( outmission Library, University of Windsor,
Windsor, Ontario N9A oTi. (519) 973-7023.
For more intormation about the U.S.
EPA's AR(.S program, call the EPA Hotline:
1-800-621-843 l or write ARCS, Great Lakes
National Program Office, U.S. Environmental Pro-
tection Aijency, 77 W. Jackson, Chicago, IL 606O4

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