March/April 1998
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March/April 1998 |
The following are recommendations from the International Joint Commission's (IJC) recent Special Report on Areas of Concern (AOCs) regarding issues that must be considered in the planning and implementation of all AOC remediation.
Human Health Considerations
IJC recommends that human health information being developed for lakewide management plans (LaMPs) be incorporated as appropriate into the remedial action plan (RAP) development process. This information should provide considerable justification for many needed remedial actions in various AOCs and should be disseminated within AOCs that have susceptible populations consuming sport-caught fish.
Public-Private Partnerships
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the states of Indiana and Ohio cooperatively compile lessons learned from the Ashtabula and Grand Calumet partnerships and disseminate the information to other AOCs. IJC recommends that this successful strategy be looked at carefully by both federal governments for application in other AOCs.
Funding and Staffing
IJC recommends that the federal governments undertake a transparent planning activity aimed at identifying resources available annually for planning and implementation activities as well as resources still required to restore beneficial uses in the 42 AOCs within the Great Lakes basin. Inter alia, this information should be used to balance between planning and implementation activities.
IJC recommends that the federal governments and jurisdictions determine both the minimal and optimal levels of support necessary to complete planning and implementation of restoration activities in each AOC.
Public Participation
IJC recommends more resources be mobilized by the federal governments and local jurisdictions in order to enhance public participation efforts. In order to increase public awareness of and participation in AOC restoration efforts, low- or no-cost means of reaching and influencing the public should be better utilized.
Information Transfer
IJC recommends greater use of available technology to enhance public participation efforts and improve the transfer of information and technology to and between AOCs. Efforts similar to the U.S. EPA web site for nonprofit organizations are needed. Increased private sector participation could be instrumental in carrying out this activity. Publishing RAP documents and other publications on web sites would provide a cost-effective means of sharing advances in remediation strategy and technology.
Quantification of Environmental Benefits
The reduction in risk to human health achieved under the Superfund program in the Waukegan Harbor AOC has not received optimal public exposure. IJC recommends additional effort be devoted to properly informing citizens and politicians of this notable success.
PAC Funding
The Muskegon Lake Public Advisory Council example of aggressive fund-raising serves to show that many PACs could be more effective in seeking outside funding. IJC recommends that inter-PAC transfer of information concerning funding sources and techniques be promoted.
Revised: 7 April 1998
Maintained by Kevin McGunagle,
mcgunaglek@ijc.wincom.net