November/December 1997
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November/December 1997 |
by Jennifer Day
Following the discussion generated by the International Joint Commission's (IJC) draft report on the Detroit River Area of Concern, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray and Environment Minister Christine Stewart Michigan visited Michigan Governor John Engler in mid-October to discuss how cleanup of the Detroit River Area could be hastened. The IJC is pleased to see governmental leaders turning their attention to this issue and looks forward to positive results from these discussions.
In its final report, released one week later, the IJC recognized accomplishments by state, federal and municipal agencies and industrial leaders on both sides of the Detroit River, but faulted state, provincial and federal agencies for not, until perhaps recently, exercising the leadership needed to see the cleanup through to completion.
IJC initiated its new "status assessment" process as a way of tracking and encouraging progress in the 42 Great Lakes Areas of Concern. Since most of the action plans are already on paper, the often daunting job of implementing them now must be carried out and monitored.
Status assessments will examine progress toward restoring and protecting beneficial uses of the water and make recommendations to overcome obstacles to progress. They are not comprehensive environmental audits, but assessments of ongoing efforts and activities of the responsible governments and organizations. The IJC hopes that the status assessment process will facilitate the transfer of successful methods and experiences among different Areas of Concern and various agencies and organizations (see Focus, July/August 1996, pages 17-18).
In developing its status assessment, IJC Commissioners consulted with citizens, government agency representatives, local industries, municipalities and nongovernmental organizations. IJC's Science Advisory Board also held a public meeting to discuss scientific issues related to restoring the Detroit River Area of Concern.
Successes
Notable successes in the Detroit River Area of Concern included:
Recommendations
The IJC recommended actions to overcome obstacles to progress in the Detroit River Area of Concern, as summarized below.
Exercise leadership: The State of Michigan should meet its leadership commitments or initiate discussions with the federal governments to ensure adequate leadership is provided. Lack of leadership by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (Michigan DEQ) has hindered efforts in the Detroit River Area of Concern. While Michigan, in a memorandum of understanding with the Province of Ontario, accepted the lead for achieving restoration, its Michigan DEQ now considers itself only a participant in the cleanup. The Michigan DEQ and U.S. EPA have made an excellent start toward the needed leadership by collaborating on contaminated sediment work for the Trenton Channel.
Involve elected officials: Efforts should be made to secure involvement by elected officials in all future activities in the Detroit River Area of Concern. This should include regular briefings of elected officials, review of future iterations of the Remedial Action Plan and binational dialogue between Canadian and U.S. elected officials.
Commit funds: A strong financial commitment by the U.S. and Canadian federal, state and provincial governments is needed to supplement local partnerships and financing provided by various sectors of the community.
Develop remedial options: Cooperative efforts to model, evaluate and prioritize remedial and preventive options should be carried out, including options to address contaminated sediments on the Michigan side of the river.
Involve business and industry: Action should be taken to fully involve major industrial and business interests in the restoration effort.
Monitor environmental conditions: Governments must view monitoring as part of their core environmental program in order to evaluate program effectiveness and make mid-course corrections. Historically, there was an extensive monitoring program for the Detroit River to assess water quality, estimate loadings, identify pollution "hot spots" and evaluate program effectiveness. Due to budget cuts and changing priorities, these monitoring programs for the Detroit River have been substantially cut or eliminated.
Involve citizens: More resources should be devoted to public outreach efforts, particularly within the more impacted subpopulations consuming sport caught fish from the Detroit River. Further, greater media coverage of the Detroit River Area of Concern must be achieved, particularly in Detroit, to complement outreach efforts.
Sommaire
À l'issue de la discussion suscitée par le rapport provisoire de la Commission mixte internationale (CMI) sure la région de la rivière Détroit qui nous proccupe le vice-premier ministre du Canada, Herb Gray, et la ministre de l'Environnement, Christine Stewart, ont rendu visite au gourverneur du Michigan, John Engler, à la mi-octobre pour discute de la manière dont on pourrai accélérer les travaux de nettoyage des deux rives de la rivière Détroit. La CMI se réjouit de voir des dirigeants de gouvernement s'intéresser à cette question et s'attend à des résultats positifs de ces discussions.
Dans son rapport final publié une semaine plus tard, la CMI a loué les réalisations des organisme d'État, féderaux et municipaux ainsi que des dirigeants industriels des deux rives de la rivière Detroit. Elle a cependant reproché aux organismes fédéraux et d'État de ne pas avoir exercé le leadership voulu pour que le nettoyage soit mené à terme.
La CMI a lancé un nouveau processus d'« évaluation de la situation » pour surveiller les progrès réalisés dans les 42 secteurs de préoccupation des Grands Lacs et favoriser de tels progrès. La plupart des plans d'action sont maintenant prêts sur papier, mais leur mise en oeuvre concrète, processus souvent décourageant, reste à faire.
Les évaluations de la situation serviront à examiner les progrès réalisés en vue de restaurer et protéger les utilisations bénéfiques de l'eau et à formuler des recommandations à l'égard des obstacles rencontrés. Il ne s'agit pas de vérifications environnementales complètes, mais plutôt d'évaluations se limitant aux efforts et activités en cours des gouvernements et organismes responsables. La CMI espère que ce nouveau processus facilitera le transfert de méthodes et d'expérience entre les différents secteurs de préoccupation et entre les diverses organisations et agences.
Jennifer Day is the director of Information Services at IJC's Great Lakes Regional Office. The full text of the status assessment is available on the Internet at www.ijc.org or from Information Services, International Joint Commission, 100 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor, ON N9A 6T3 or P.O. Box 32869, Detroit, MI 48232-2869. Fax (519) 257-6740; email bondyd@ijc.wincom.net(.)
Revised: 24 December 1997
Maintained by Kevin McGunagle,
mcgunaglek@ijc.wincom.net