ANNOUNCEMENTMarch 6, 2002
International Joint Commission Reviews Cleanup Plans for Eleven Areas of Concern The International Joint Commission (IJC) has released reviews for Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) at different stages from eleven Areas of Concern. The reviews include:
- Bay of Quinte - Stage 2
- Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor Ship Canal - Stage 2
- Eighteen Mile Creek - Stages 1 and 2
- Niagara River (Ontario)-Stage 2
- Niagara River (New York)-Stages 1 and 2
- Rochester Embayment - Stage 2
- Wheatley Harbour - Stages 1 and 2
- Waukegan Harbor - Stage 2
- Waukegan Harbor - Stage 3
- Metro Toronto and Region - Stage 2
- St. Clair River - Stage 2
- St. Lawrence River (Ontario)-Stage 2
- Spanish Harbour - Stage 2
The full text of these reviews are available online
Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement signed in 1978, Canada and the United States, in cooperation with the Great Lakes states and provincial governments, are responsible for developing and implementing Remedial Action Plans to restore water quality in identified Areas of Concern. Forty-two locations in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin are designated as Areas of Concern because pollution problems have impaired water uses, such as recreation or drinking water supply, or the ability to support aquatic life.
Under the 1987 Protocol to the 1978 Agreement, the International Joint Commission reviews each RAP at three stages: 1) when the area’s problems have been defined, 2) when measures to restore water quality have been selected, and 3) when beneficial uses of the water have been restored to the area. The IJC’s review is provided to the appropriate federal government, RAP personnel and the public to assist them in carrying out the cleanup efforts.
The IJC is a binational Canada-United States organization established by The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to help the two Governments prevent and resolve disputes over use of waters along the U.S. and Canada boundary. Under the 1978 Agreement, IJC assesses progress by the two countries to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem.
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