The Cost of Restoring Great Lakes Areas of Concern

As of 2003, Canada had invested about $33 million (Cdn) on sediment remediation and approximately $270 million (Cdn) on wastewater infrastructure improvements in its AOCs. Identified future funding needs for those areas are about $1.9 billion (Cdn). The U.S. reported in 2003 that it had spent $160 million (US) for sediment remediation and more than $3 billion (US) for wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Estimated future funding needs for U.S. AOCs is $7.4 billion (US). Based on these values, the first quarter of the journey toward remediation of Great Lakes AOCs has been completed. Detailed plans for many remedial actions have not been finalized and thus projected costs could change. For now, restoring all of the Great Lakes AOCs is estimated to cost an additional $9 billion (US).

Source: A Special IJC Report on The Status of Restoration Activities in the Great Lakes Areas of Concern. April 2003.