RAP Reviews

Introduction

Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) for designated Areas of Concern (AOCs) are to be developed and implemented by the Parties (Canadian and U.S. Governments) in cooperation with State and Provincial Governments. AOCs are geographic areas that fail to meet the general or specific objectives of the Great Lakes Water Agreement (the Agreement) where such failure has caused or is likely to cause impairment of the beneficial use or of the area's ability to support aquatic life. The RAPs are to be submitted to the International Joint Commission (Commission) for review and comment at three stages:

• stage 1-when a definition of the problem has been completed;
• stage 2-when remedial and regulatory measures are selected; and
• stage 3-when monitoring indicates that identified beneficial uses have been restored.

As defined in 4(d)(ii) and 4(a)(iii-vi), respectively, of Annex 2 of the Agreement, Stage 2 RAPs are to be submitted to the Commission for review and comment and are to contain:

• an evaluation of remedial measures in place;
• an evaluation of alternative additional measures to restore beneficial uses;
• a selection of additional remedial measures to restore beneficial uses;
• a schedule for their implementation; and
• an identification of the persons or agencies responsible for implementation of remedial measures.

In addition to these required Stage 2 elements, Annex 2 of the Agreement also details general principles for RAPs that include:

• RAPs shall embody a systematic and comprehensive ecosystem approach to restoring and protecting beneficial uses in Areas of Concern; and
• the Parties, in cooperation with State and Provincial Governments, shall ensure that the public is consulted in all actions undertaken pursuant to this Annex.

Completed Reviews

• Severn Sound- Stage 3

• Bay of Quinte - Stage 2
• Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor Ship Canal - Stage 2
• Eighteen Mile Creek - Stages 1 and 2
• Rochester Embayment - Stage 2
• Wheatley Harbour - Stages 1 and 2
• Waukegan Harbor - Stage 2
• Waukegan Harbor - Stage 3
• Metro Toronto and Region - Stage 2
• St. Clair River - Stage 2
• Spanish Harbour - Stage 2

• St. Lawrence River (Ontario) - Stage 2
• Niagara River (Ontario) - Stage 2
• Niagara River (New York) - Stages 1 and 2

• Severn Sound - Stage 2

December 10, 1999

• Hamilton Harbour - Stage 2

October 16, 1998

• Nipigon Bay - Stage 2

LaMP Reviews

Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Annex 2 , Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs) for open lake waters are to be developed and implemented by the governments of the United States and Canada in cooperation with state and provincial governments. Such plans are to be designed to reduce the loadings of Critical Pollutants in order to restore beneficial uses. The LaMPs are to be submitted to the IJC for review and comment at the following four stages:

Stage 1.	A definition of the threat to human health or aquatic life, an evaluation of available information on concentration, sources, and pathways of Critical Pollutants and steps to be taken to develop the information needed to determine the schedule of necessary load reductions of Critical Pollutants.
Stage 2.	a determination of load reductions of Critical Pollutants necessary to meet objectives of the Agreement.
Stage 3.	an evaluation of remedial measures in place and alternative additional measures to decrease loadings of Critical Pollutants; identification and an implementation plan for additional remedial measures needed to achieve the reduction of loadings; and an identification of the agencies or persons responsible for these remedial measures.
Stage 4.	a process for evaluation of remedial measure implementation and effectiveness; and a description of surveillance and monitoring to track the effectiveness of remedial measures, including the eventual elimination of Critical Pollutants' contribution to beneficial use impairments.

Completed Reviews

April 2000

• Lake Superior Stage 2

October 1999

• Lake Ontario Stage 1

November 1996

• Lake Superior Stage 1