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Endorsed by GLRC Executive Committee on March 2, 2007
I. Introduction
While certain persistent toxic substances (PTS) have been
significantly reduced in the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem over the past
30 years, they continue to be present at levels that pose threats to
human and wildlife health, warrant fish consumption advisories in all
five lakes, and disrupt a way of life for many in the basin,
particularly the life ways and culture of tribal communities. The GLRC
Strategy calls for the continued reduction and virtual elimination of
persistent toxic substances such as mercury and PCBs in the basin, as
well as preventing new toxic threats to the basin through pollution
prevention and enhanced surveillance, protecting public health through
education and outreach, and working with international fora to address
out of basin sources. This Toxic Pollutants Initiative sets forth a
series of near term activities undertaken by members of the
Collaboration to implement these recommendations.
II. Proposed Activities
Mercury Phase-down Strategy
A basin-wide mercury product stewardship strategy is under
development to fulfill the Collaboration Strategy recommendation to
phase-down mercury in products and waste. A workgroup comprising State,
Tribal, and City staff was formed in April 2006 to develop a basin-wide
Strategy for the phase-down of mercury in products and waste. A draft of
the Mercury Phase-down Strategy will be completed by the end of March
2007 for review by Governors, Tribal Leaders and local government
leaders. Pending their review, a public comment period is anticipated in
summer 2007. The goal is to have a finalized GLRC endorsed Phase-down
Strategy by fall 2007. Outcomes of this effort will include legislative
and other policy responses in the basin that respond to the
recommendations of the Mercury Phase-down Strategy, and longer term
mercury removed from the Great Lakes basin in products and waste as a
result of implementation actions
Burn Barrel Education and Outreach Campaign
USEPA with Great Lakes States, Tribes, and Cities are collaboratively
developing an education and outreach program to address open burning
across the Great Lakes Basin. This project targets Local and Tribal
waste management officials to provide:
- Education about environmental concerns associated with trash
burning,
- Information on infrastructure and alternatives to burning in
communities and
- Tools to strengthen state, tribal and local ordinances on
burning and support greater compliance with current regulations.
Staff will present at State-wide meetings in all Great Lakes States
through the end of calendar year 2007. Outcomes will include numbers of
ordinances banning burning in the Basin, trash disposal alternatives
implemented in the Basin, and reductions in the practice of burning
garbage across the Basin
Pharmaceutical and Electronic Waste Disposal Education and
Outreach Campaign
USEPA, in collaboration with Great Lakes States, Tribes, and Cities
are developing an education and outreach program to address
pharmaceutical and electronic wastes in the Great Lakes Basin. Similar
to the burn barrel campaign above, this campaign will target State,
Tribal and Local waste management officials to provide information about
pharmaceutical and electronic waste disposal and recycling policies and
options. Toolkits have been developed that provide information on health
and environmental concerns associated with these wastes; current
federal, state and local regulations governing recycling and disposal;
examples of take-back programs and other success stories; and, a list of
resources. IL/IN Sea Grant staff are attending a series of State-wide
meetings of Local and Tribal government officials across the Basin to
present and provide the toolkits, through calendar year 2007. Outcomes
will include collection and/or recycling activities implemented as a
result of the campaign, pounds of pharmaceuticals collected and safely
disposed, and pounds of E-waste recycled and/or safely disposed
Great Lakes Sport Fish Consortium Project
The Great Lakes Sport Fish Consortium (via the Wisconsin Department
of Health and Family Services with representatives of all Great Lakes
States and also Tribes) has been funded by USEPA to finalize a
basin-wide uniform mercury protocol for sensitive populations. This
project will develop new fish consumption outreach materials related to
mercury. To create an economy of scale, one grantee will develop the
materials based on a goal of state consensus. In turn, the states will
be able to use materials for outreach. A final Draft Protocol will be
produced by the end of calendar year 2007. Basin-wide Outreach Materials
will be produced by the end of calendar year 2008. Outcomes will include
advisories issued based on the Protocol. This project will take into
consideration the needs of subsistence and commercial fishermen. |
