ANNEX 15 - AIRBORNE TOXIC SUBSTANCES

GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT

1. Purpose.

   The Parties, in cooperation with State and Provincial Governments, shall conduct research, surveillance and monitoring and implement pollution control measures for the purpose of reducing atmospheric deposition of toxic substances, particularly persistent toxic substances, to the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem.

2. Research.

   Research activities shall be conducted to determine pathways, fate and effects of such toxic substances for the protection of the Great Lakes System. In particular, research shall be conducted to:

   1. understand the processes of wet and dry deposition and those associated with the vapor exchange of toxic substances;

   2. understand the effects of persistent toxic substances, singly or in synergistic or additive combination with other substances, through aquatic exposure routes on the health of humans and the quality and health of aquatic life where a significant source of these substances is the atmosphere, in accordance with sub-paragraph 4(b) of Annex 12; and

   3. develop models of the intermediate and long-range movement and transformation of toxic substances to determine; (i) the significance of atmospheric loadings to the Great Lakes System relative to other pathways; and (ii) the sources of such substances from outside the Great Lakes System.

3. Surveillance and Monitoring. The Parties shall:

   1. establish, as part of the Great Lakes International Surveillance Plan (GLISP) instituted under Annex 11, an Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network in accordance with paragraph 4 below;

   2. identify, by means of this Network, toxic substances and, in particular, persistent toxic substances, appearing on List No. 1 described in Annex 1, of those designated as Critical Pollutants pursuant to Annex 2 and their significant sources in accordance with sub-paragraph 4(c) of Annex 12, and to track their movements; and

   3. utilize this Network in order to: (i) determine atmospheric loadings of toxic substances to the Great Lakes System by quantifying the total and net atmospheric input of these same contaminants, pursuant to sub-paragraph 3(a) of Annex 11; (ii) define the temporal and spatial trends in the atmospheric deposition of such toxic substances in accordance with sub-paragraph 4(a) of Annex 12; and (iii) develop Remedial Action Plans and Lakewide Management Plans pursuant to Annex 2.

4. Components of the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network. The Parties shall confer on or before October 1, 1988, regarding;

   1. the identity of the toxic substances to be monitored;

   2. the number of monitoring and surveillance stations;

   3. the locations of such stations;

   4. the equipment at such stations;

   5. quality control and quality assurance procedures; and

   6. a schedule for the construction and commencement of the operation of the stations.

5. Pollution Control Measures.

   1. The Parties, in cooperation with State and Provincial Governments, shall develop, adopt and implement measures for the control of the sources of emissions of toxic substances and the elimination of the sources of emissions of persistent toxic substances in cases where atmospheric deposition of these substances, singly or in synergistic or additive combination with other substances, significantly contributes to pollution of the Great Lakes System. Where such contributions arise from sources beyond the jurisdiction of the Parties, the Parties shall notify the responsible jurisdiction and the Commission of the problem and seek a suitable response.

   2. The Parties shall also assess and encourage the development of pollution control technologies and alternative products to reduce the effect of airborne toxic substances on the Great Lakes System.

6. Reporting.

   The Parties shall report their progress in implementing this Annex to the Commission biennially, commencing with a report no later than December 31, 1988.