March/April 1998
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March/April 1998 |
In this issue of FOCUS, the International Joint Commission (IJC) has showcased successful concepts, techniques and institutional characteristics that have furthered action toward remediation and have created community momentum in their Areas of Concern. The examples also illustrate the importance of examining different strategies that work and apply them in other AOCs. During the past several years of reviewing RAPs and assisting in their planning, IJC has found several common reasons why remedial programs in a number of AOCs have been stalled.
Lack of Planning for Implementation of "Big Ticket" Remedial Measures
In many AOCs, planning for implementation has not included the steps needed to quantify the cost of potential remedial options nor identify possible methods of financing "big ticket" remedial measures. These measures, often for the treatment or removal of contaminated sediment or sewerage infrastructure improvements, can cost millions and sometimes billions of dollars. There are several shortcomings in this major flaw to planning.
Reductions in Government Support with No Associated Increase in Local Capacity
Reductions in government funding and staffing for AOC restoration activities are almost universal throughout the Great Lakes basin. This manner of downloading expensive and complex activities on communities has resulted in considerable frustration at the local level and a resultant decline in activity in many affected AOCs. The failure to build the local capacity to assume tasks related to remediation prior to the cutbacks has led to a "sink or swim" challenge, especially for the more marginal RAP efforts. Some public advisory committees struggle to cover day-to-day expenses while others aggressively seek donations and grants.
Failure to Set Priorities Within and Among AOCs
Prioritization among individual remedial options and among AOCs appears to be ad hoc. The activity lacks transparency. It also appears that binational AOCs are not assigned any higher priority for resources than other AOCs. Many binational AOCs have extensive industrial areas and the added challenges of working across an international border as well as the probem of transboundary pollution and a more direct impact immediately downstream.
Public Participation
In an era of many competing messages, intensive and perhaps expensive media campaigns are needed to reach and inform audiences of even popular themes, such as environmental restoration efforts. Little effort has been devoted toward the use of mass media, particularly in the more urbanized AOCs. Many of these areas have substantial resources and talent in the fields of television and radio. The use of public service announcements, broadcast at no cost, presents a useful opportunity to reach segments of the population difficult to access.
Information Transfer
The transfer of information and technology among AOCs appears to be random and infrequent. Considerable new information, associated particularly with human health effects and sediment remediation, is available but apparently is not distributed to the AOC communities in any systematic fashion. Innovative use of existing information technology has the potential to assist in providing rapid transfer of information and technology to AOC teams that are seeking assistance. U.S. EPA's web site provides resources for nonprofit organizations and is a notable example of the type of product that can be provided. This web site provides easy access to environmental and health information. Its address is http://www.epa.gov/epahome/nonprof.htm(.)
Failure to Quantify Benefits of Remediation, Particularly Regarding Human Health
Information regarding the benefits derived from remedial activities is not widely distributed to AOCs throughout the basin. Environment Canada has undertaken studies quantifying the economic benefits, but little information regarding the human health benefits, particularly in regard to the remediation of contaminated sediment is readily available within the various AOCs. Full descriptions of the listed obstacles are contained in IJC's Special Report on AOCs. This report is available from any IJC office or on the Internet at http://www.ijc.org/php/publications/html/beacon/beacon.html(.)
Revised: 7 April 1998
Maintained by Kevin McGunagle,
mcgunaglek@ijc.wincom.net