An Overview of The Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Initiative — Canada

Abstract Sediment contaminated with metals, persistent organic pollutants, nutrients and oxygen consuming substances can be found in many areas throughout the Great Lakes. However, the highest levels of sediment-associated contaminants and some of the worst manifestations of their resultant problems are found in the urban-industrial harbours, embayments and river mouths. Management options may include source control and natural recovery, removal and containment in a confined disposal facility or upland containment cell, removal and treatment, and in situ capping or treatment. Over the past 13 years (as of January 2000), over $580 million (U.S. and Canadian dollars combined) has been spent on 38 remediation projects in 19 separate areas. Not only have substantial resources been spent on sediment remediation, but the rate of expenditure has increased in recent years. In addition, substantially greater resources have been spent on pollution prevention and control of contaminants at their source as a prerequisite to sediment remediation. While most of the remediation has taken place as a result of regulatory actions, some has been the result of cooperative partnerships, demonstration projects and unilateral voluntary actions. In the future, cooperative agreements may be expected to play a greater role in resolving contaminated sediment problems.

Download Full-text

Achieving pollution prevention goals for transboundary waters through international joint commission processes

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1994.0241 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 30 (5) ◽

pp. 223-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. M. Duda

Keyword(s):

Water Pollution ◽

Great Lakes ◽

Pollution Prevention ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Joint Commission ◽

Transboundary Water ◽

International Joint Commission ◽

The World ◽

International Joint

Across the world, transboundary water pollution interferes with man's use of water, degrades aquatic ecosystems, causes human health impacts, and increases tensions between nations. While developing nations are just beginning to assess the extent of transboundary water quality degradation, developed countries have learned over the years that pollution prevention, not cleanup actions or end-of-pipe treatment is the most cost-effective approach to fighting water pollution. The extent of transboundary water pollution across the world is reviewed in the paper, and key elements are outlined for addressing pollution prevention needs through joint institutions as part of international commissions. The Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River basin in North America is used as an example of where multimedia pollution prevention initiatives are being implemented to resolve transboundary pollution problems. The joint institutions for the Great Lakes cleanup utilized under the auspices of the International Joint Commission (U.S. and Canada) are described. Lessons learned from this experience include: (1) significance of multimedia pollution prevention measures to address toxic substances, (2) use of ecosystem-based, watershed approaches targeted to high priority catchments, and (3) political advantages of employing joint institutions to facilitate progress, undertake oversight and verification functions, foster public participation, and establish credibility and trust among the parties through joint fact-finding.

Download Full-text

The Great Lakes Information Network: the Region's Internet Information Service

Toxicology and Industrial Health ◽

10.1177/074823379601200327 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 12 (3-4) ◽

pp. 557-561 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Carol A. Ratza

Keyword(s):

Great Lakes ◽

Information Service ◽

Pollution Prevention ◽

The United States ◽

Federal State ◽

Information Network ◽

Great Lakes Region ◽

Internet Resource ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Internet Information

Communication is the cornerstone of ecosystem protection and sustainable development efforts in the binational Great Lakes region of North America. Great Lakes environmental protection, remediation, and pollution prevention efforts bring together individuals from across the public sector, business and industry, citizens groups, and academia. The region is now working to enhance communications between these groups and the rest of the world, through the Internet-based Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN). Diverse regional data, information, and human resources located at key agencies and organizations are accessible via GLIN. These online resources span environmental quality, human health effects and other research, resource management, transportation, demographic, and economic data, as well as other resources in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. Federal, state, provincial, and regional agencies and a range of citizen, business, and research organizations are cooperating with the lead agency, the Great Lakes Commission, in developing GLIN into the region's shared Internet resource. GLIN resources are accessible to users of ubiquitous Internet research tools including World Wide Web and Gopher. Statistical information on usage and the region's response to ongoing efforts to build the GLIN system and solicit contributions of data and information indicate that we can continue to build GLIN into a truly regional resource which enhances communication among researchers, policy makers, students, and the general public.

Download Full-text

The Urban Drainage Program of Canada’s Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund

Water Quality Research Journal ◽

10.2166/wqrj.2000.022 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 315-330 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sandra Kok ◽

J. Shaw ◽

P. Seto ◽

D. Weatherbe

Keyword(s):

Great Lakes ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Stormwater Management ◽

Municipal Wastewater ◽

Pollution Prevention ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Urban Drainage ◽

Stormwater Treatment ◽

Beneficial Uses ◽

Areas Of Concern

Abstract Since 1990, Canada’s Great Lakes 2000 Cleanup Fund, which is administered by Environment Canada, has been supporting the development and implementation of cleanup technologies to control municipal pollution sources, to clean up contaminated sediments, and to rehabilitate fish and wildlife habitats. These efforts are focused on Canada’s 16 Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) identified by the International Joint Commission for priority cleanup action and restoration of beneficial uses. Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) developed by federal/provincial teams and the public provide the strategy for restoring the beneficial uses of the AOCs. Impairments in beneficial uses in the AOCs have been, in part, caused by discharges from combined sewer overflows (CSOs), Stormwater and sewage treatment plants (STPs). To assist municipalities in addressing the problems posed by urban drainage (CSOs and Stormwater), the Cleanup Fund’s Urban Drainage Program has been supporting the development and demonstration of innovative, cost-effective technologies and approaches. These projects include high-rate treatment of CSOs, real-time control of CSOs, performance assessment of Stormwater treatment technologies, pollution prevention and control plans, and development of Stormwater management planning tools for urban areas. These projects are carried out in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, municipalities, professional groups, universities and conservation authorities and other Environment Canada’s facilities (National Water Research Institute and Wastewater Technology Centre). The Urban Drainage Program has been instrumental in advancing the state of the art in CSO and Stormwater management in Ontario. Projects supported under the program have quantified pollutant loadings from municipal wastewater sources in several Ontario Areas of Concern, provided hard data on the performance of best management practices for Stormwater treatment, identified and evaluated new cost-effective technologies for CSO reduction and Stormwater treatment, and developed strategies and decision-making tools for Stormwater management The work done through the Urban Drainage Program is making it possible for Great Lakes communities to achieve important environmental objectives at significantly lower cost As a result, the communities should be able to achieve many of these objectives much earlier than they would have if their choices had been limited to more conventional and capital-intensive solutions. Although the program has focused on the needs of Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes basin, the lessons learned there can easily be applied to communities in other parts of the country and around the world.

Download Full-text