Volume 23, Issue 1, 1998 March/April 1998

The International Joint Commission is an independent international organization established under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. Its purpose is to help prevent disputes over use of waters shared by Canada and the United States and to provide advice on questions of mutual concern when requested by the two federal governments. Three members are appointed by the President of the United States, with advice and approval of the Senate, and three by the Governor-in-Council of Canada, on the advice of Prime Minister.

Features Beacons of Light in the Great Lakes Basin Overcoming Obstacles to Sediment Remediation New York Moves Toward Completion Are PACs Effective? Sowing Seeds for Success IJC Makes Recommendations Regarding AOC Restoration Activities La CMI fait des recommandations sur les activités de restauration des SP IJC Task Force Urges Closer Watch Over Radioactive Releases La CMI recommande une surveillance accrue des déchets radioactifs IJC Reports on Major Obstacles to AOC Restoration Columns Briefs Bookshelf Events

Beacons of Light -- Des Lumières dans la Nuit This issue of Focus shines the spotlight on both inspirational activities and institutional obstacles shaping the image and work of individual Areas of Concern (AOCs) in the Great Lakes basin. Annex 2 of the 1987 amendments to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement laid the foundation for Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) to clean up AOCs. In the 12 years since, efforts toward remediation have taken vastly different forms and have had varying rates of success in building systems to support cleanup. RAPs are important tools for achieving the purpose of the Agreement and serve as an important step to virtually eliminating inputs of persistent toxic substaces. The International Joint Commission (IJC) has spent more than a decade reviewing and assisting in the development of RAPs and has actively expressed concern during the last few years with the overall progress to develop and implement cleanup and prevention strategies in some AOCs. The governments and members of AOC communities have invested considerable time and effort on RAP-related activities. IJC's greatest value-added roles in the process are first, the onsite evaluations of individual AOCs and second, the sharing of important information among AOCs and throughout the Great Lakes basin about successful strategies, common obstacles and specific actions to get all AOC restoration efforts back on their feet and create the momentum necessary to move forward.

Revised: 7 April 1998
Maintained by Kevin McGunagle, mcgunaglek@ijc.wincom.net