THE GREAT LAKES
BINATIONAL TOXICS
STRATEGY
10-Year Perspective
Signed in 1997 by Environment Canada (EC) and the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (US
EPA), the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy
(GLBTS, or Strategy) established challenge goals for
Canada and the U.S. for 12 Level 1 persistent toxic
substances and targeted a list of Level 2 substances
for pollution
prevention measures. Over the past 10
years, the governments of Canada and the
U.S., along with stakeholders from industry,
academia, state/provincial and local govern-
ments, Tribes, First Nations, and environmen-
tal and community groups have worked
together to reduce the use and release of
targeted substances. Significant progress
has been made toward achieving the
Strategy's challenge goals. To date, 12 of
the 17 goals have been met, with one more
expected in the near future. The remaining
four - Canada's HCB/B(a)P challenges and
the PCB challenge goals - are well advanced
toward their respective targets. The Strategy also commits both countries to complete, or be significantly
advanced in, the remediation of priority sites with contaminated bottom sediments within the Great Lakes
Basin by the year 2006; this effort is still ongoing.
10-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY
UPDATE
MAY 2007
The Level 1 substances
consist of: mercury,
polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), dioxins and furans,
hexachlorobenzene (HCB),
benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P),
octachlorostyrene (OCS),
alkyl-lead, and five
cancelled pesticides:
chlordane, aIdrin/dieldrin,
DDT, mirex, and toxaphene.
GLBTS Future Focus and Challenges
With the completion of the 10-year timeline for the Strategy's challenge goals, and significant reductions
observed in environmental levels of the Level 1 substances, the GLBTS is looking toward the future and
weighing its role in addressing new and emerging toxic chemical threats to the Great Lakes Basin. To this
end, a 10-year anniversary event is being held in Chicago, Illinois, in May 2007. The event begins with a
Stakeholder Forum presenting the 10-year perspective on progress made by Canada and the U.S. toward
the Strategy's goals.
The focal point of the anniversary event
is a two-day GLBTS workshop entitled
Strategy's Future Focus & Challenges:
Sound Management of Chemicals in the
Great Lakes Basin. The workshop will
enable EC, US EPA, and various stake-
holders to begin considering new direc-
tions for the GLBTS as it moves forward
with its mission to ensure the sound
management of chemicals in the Great
Lakes Basin. The workshop will include
discussions of:
Put-in-Bay Harbor, Lake Erie, Ohio
Photo Credit: US EPA Great Lakes National Program Office
Future GLBTS structure and
mandate under a revised Great
Lakes Water Quality Agreement
(GLWQA).
Future GLBTS management options for addressing new substances.

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GLBTS Progress - 1997 to 2007
The following charts illustrate examples of progress made toward the GLBTS challenge goals. The table on the
last page presents a more comprehensive summary of the progress achieved to date.
Sediments
Since 1997, over 4,000,000 cubic yards of sediments are estimated to have been remediated in the Great Lakes
Basin. The bar graph below represents the cumulative volume of sediment remediated in the U.S. Great Lakes
Basin since 1997, as calculated based on quantitative estimates reported by project managers.
Cumulative Volume of Sediment Remediated in the
U.S. Great Lakes Basin

4,500,000

4,000,000


CS
3,500,000


u
3,000,000
-Q
3


2,500,000


S
2,000,000
s
o
>
1,500,000

1,000,000

500,000

0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Year
Source: 2006. Quality Assurance Project Plan for "Great Lakes Sediment Remediation Project
Summary Support." Unpublished. Available from Mary Beth G. Ross (ross.marybeth@epa.gov).
Mercury
In Ontario, mercury releases have been reduced by approximately 85 percent between 1988 and 2003 (see
below). In the U.S., mercury releases and total mercury use are estimated to have declined at least 50 percent
since 1990 and 1995, respectively.
Mercury Releases (to air and water) in Ontario from 1988 to 2003, by Sector.
1
1
ui 1
W H
0> 1
CD
(5
Jt>
3
o
0>




8000
6000
4000
2000
HCOA Target for Total
Releases
~	Consumer products
(e.g., paint, pesticides,
Hg devices)
¦ Municipal (e.g.,
incineration, sewage
treatment plants, etc.)
~	Industrial (e.g., pulp and
paper, mining, etc.)
~	Fuel combustion (e.g.,
fossil fuel power
generation, etc.)
1988
2003
2005
Year
2010
Source: Environment Canada, Ontario Region (2005).

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Hexachlorobenzene
Canada has made significant progress toward its HCB goal, reducing HCB emissions to the Great Lakes Basin by
approximately 73 percent since 1988. The bar graph below illustrates HCB releases in Ontario from 1988 to
2005, along with major sources of the chemical.
HCB Releases ill Ontario 1988 to 2005
60.00
50.00
b 40.00-
30.00-
g 20.00-
10.00
0.00
mMm,
T	1	1	1	1	1	I
¦	Other
¦	Cement Production
~	Wood Presentation-Use of PCP-lreated Wood
¦	Sewage Sludge Lai d pli cat on
~	Sewage Treament Plants (volatilization nd
w aer d isoh ag e)
¦	Ircn a Steel
~	P rima-i/ Mads Produ ction (Min ing)
~	Ferric a Ferrous Chioride Use
¦	Household Waste Burning (Bum Ba-rels)
~	Pesticide.Applications (all)
1988 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Source: Environment Canada (Environmental Protection Operations Division - Ontario Region) Inventory as of Nov. 2006,
with an update on releases from pesticide application received from Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency
(Letter dated April 11, 2005).
Dioxins/Furans
According to the most recent data available, the U.S. has reached its goal, and Canada has nearly met its chal-
lenge goal of a 90 percent reduction, achieving an 89 percent reduction in dioxin/furan releases. Based on total
releases to air, water, and land, remaining sources of dioxins in the U.S. are illustrated in the chart below.
Municipal
Wastewater
Sludge
6%
Coal Fired Utility
Boilers
5%
Industrial Wood
Combustion
3%
Diesel (On and Off
Road)
7%
Backyard Burning
of Waste
35%
Other
Medical Waste
Incineration
27%
Municipal Solid
Waste
Combustion
6%
Residential Wood
Combustion
1%
Cement Kilns
(Hazardous)
1%
Top U.S. Inventoried Dioxin Releases in 2000.
Source: An Inventory of Sources and Environmental Releases of Dioxin-Like Compounds in the United
States for the Years 1987, 1995, and 2000, November 2006.

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Progress Toward the Challenge Goals
The following table shows Canadian and U.S. progress toward the challenge goals agreed upon in the
GLBTS. It represents overall progress that has occurred in the two countries, reflecting GLBTS and other
government and non-government initiatives.
|Focus
Challenge Goals
Progress
Mercury
Canadian release: By 2000, reduce releases by 90% in the
Great Lakes Basin.
Approximately 85% reduction between 1988 and 2003.
U.S. release: By 2006, reduce releases (to air nationally and to
Great Lakes waters) by 50%.
Estimated 50% reduction in nationwide air emissions between
1990 and 2002.
PCBs
U.S. use: By 2006, reduce by 50%.
Estimated reduction of more than 50% between 1995 and 2003.
Canada: By 2000, reduce by 90% high-level PCBs (>1% PCBs)
that were once, or are currently, in service. Accelerate
destruction of stored high-level PCB wastes.
As of April 2005, 89% of high-level PCBs (Askarel > 1%, 10,000
ppm) in storage had been destroyed in Ontario, compared to 1993;
approximately 68% reduction in high-level PCBs in service in
Ontario, since 1989.
U.S.: By 2006, reduce by 90% nationally high-level PCBs (>500
ppm PCBs) used in electrical equipment.
According to annual reports from PCB disposers, about 110,000
PCB transformers (56%) and 166,000 large PCB capacitors (12%)
were disposed of between the 1994 baseline and the end of 2003.
The amount of PCB equipment disposed since 1994 is expected to
be higher because annual reports may not account for the disposal
of every PCB transformer or capacitor. EPA is currently compiling
2004/2005 PCB disposal information and, based on updated PCB
transformer registrations, will re-evaluate the data gaps in the
inventory.
Dioxins
and
Furans
Canadian releases: By 2000, reduce releases in the Great
Lakes Basin by 90%.
89% reduction (228 grams) in total releases in the Great Lakes
Basin since 1988.
U.S. releases: By 2006, reduce releases (to air nationwide and
to waters of the Great Lakes) by 75%.
EPA confirmed that the challenge goal has been met (greater than
75% reduction).
HCB
Canadian releases in the Great Lakes Basin: Reduce by 90% by
2000.
Approximately 73% reduction in Ontario since 1988.
U.S. releases: By 2006, reduce releases to the Great Lakes
Basin.
Emissions reduced from approximately 8,519 lbs (3,872 kg) in
1990 to 2,911 lbs (1,323 kg) in 1999.* Additional 28% reduction
from 1999 to 2002.
B(a)P
Canadian releases in the Great Lakes Basin: Reduce by 90% by
2000.
Approximately 52% reduction in Ontario since 1988.
U.S. releases: By 2006, reduce releases to the Great Lakes
Basin.
Approximately 77% reduction in the Great Lakes states from 1996
to 2001.
Alkyl-lead
Canada: By 2000, reduce by 90% the use, generation, or
release of alkyl-lead.
Over 98% reduction in sources, uses, and releases from 1988 to
1997 in Ontario.
U.S.: Confirm by 1998 that there is no longer use of alkyl-lead in
automotive gasoline.
In 2000, EPA confirmed no use of alkyl-lead in automotive
gasoline. NASCAR has agreed to phase-out the use of alkyl-lead
in high octane fuel by 2008.
Level 1
Canada: Report by 1997 that there is no longer use, generation,
or release of the five Level 1 pesticides.
EPA and EC confirmed that all uses of the Level 1 pesticides have
been cancelled, and production facilities have been closed.
Pesticides
U.S.: Confirm by 1998 that there is no longer use or release of
the five Level 1 pesticides in the Great Lakes Basin.
OCS
Canada: Report by 1997 that there is no longer use, generation,
or release of OCS.
In 2000, EC concluded that there were no documented releases in
Ontario in 2000.
U.S.: Confirm by 1998 that there is no longer use or release of
OCS in the Great Lakes Basin.
EPA has concluded that the challenge goal has been met.
'Reductions cannot be used to establish a specific reduction in HCB emissions since 1990 due to inconsistencies in the 1990 and the 1999 emission
inventories and source categories.
Sources : (For mercury, PCBs, dioxins and furans, HCB, and B(a)P) US EPA, 2007. GLBTS 2006 Progress Report. February 2007, Access: htto://
www.epa.aov/alnpo/bns/: (For HCB and B(a)P) GLBTS Stakeholder Forum Presentation, May 2007; (For OCS) US EPA, 2000. Great Lakes
Binational Toxics Strategy Octachlorostyrene (OCS) Report Stage 3; (For alkyl-lead and Level 1 pesticides) US EPA, 2002. Great Lakes Binational
Toxics Strategy, 2001 Progress Report, Access: www.binational.net.
For more information about the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy
and the reduction challenge goals, visit www.epa.gov/glnpo/bns or www.binational.net.
Canada	©EPA

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