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Remedial Actions Plans (RAPs) for the Great Lakes Areas of Concern Overview | General Resources | Related Resources 
What's New Lake Ontario water-level plan due later this year Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (9/29) For the third time in five years, the two-nation panel (from Canada and United States) that oversees Lake Ontario water levels will float a new regulatory plan to benefit the lake's ecosystem. Leaders to celebrate White Lake shoreline restoration project The Muskegon Chronicle (7/18) Conservationists, state and federal employees, and elected officials will gather Wednesday at Goodrich Park in Whitehall to kick off a $2.1 million project to restore fish and wildlife habitats on White Lake. Last step to clean Sheboygan River of PCBs awaits final OK The Sheboygan Press (6/11) The document governing the cleanup of the lower Sheboygan River has been signed by federal officials and is awaiting a judge's signature, which would be the final step authorizing a plan to clear the river of industrial pollutants. EPA considers alternate plans for Menominee River Peshtigo Times (5/11) Two programs proposed for removing arsenic contamination from the bed of the lower Menominee River Basin were explained to local citizens at a recent meeting in Marinette. Cleanup of toxic Muskegon Lake sediments to begin in May Muskegon Chronicle (4/7) After years of talk and planning, a $12 million cleanup of toxic mud from the bottom of Muskegon Lake in the Division Street Outfall area is finally scheduled to start next month. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality have given the green light to the project. Mayor's reef idea no help: BARC The Hamilton Spectator (3/9) Mayor Bob Bratina’s out-of-the-blue comment Monday that he would prefer to see Randle Reef’s toxic sediment dredged up and shipped away — rather than the current plan to cap it in place — was met with a mixture of shock and surprise a day later.
Overview Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) identify specific problems in severely degraded Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOC) and describe methods for correcting them. Forty-three such areas have been identified by the U.S. and Canadian governments; 26 in U.S. waters, 17 in Canadian water (five are shared between U.S. and Canada on connecting river systems). Collingwood Harbour, in Ontario, is the first of these 43 sites to be delisted. The U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA), as amended via the 1987 protocol, directed the two federal governments to cooperate with state and provincial governments to develop and implement Remedial Action Plans for each Area of Concern. RAPs are typically compiled by a state or provincial department in charge of natural resources; then they are signed by the secretary or minister of that department and submitted to the International Joint Commission for comment. As outlined in Annex 2 of the GLWQA, each RAP should take an ecosystem approach to restoring and protecting beneficial uses in Areas of Concern. Each RAP will include problem identification, steps to solve such problems including determination of responsible parties and timetable for action, and documentation that problems are resolved. Because each AOC is faced with different environmental problems, each RAP will be unique in the beneficial uses that are impaired and the options chosen for remediation. One plan may have a large human health component while another focuses largely on contaminated sediments. The goal is to have a final product that accurately reflects the environmental conditions, encompasses the concerns of all stakeholders and has a commitment for implementation.
General Resources Human Health and the Great Lakes U.S. EPA Region 5 / Great Lakes Commission Featuring information on hot topics like drinking water and fish consumption, Human Health and the Great Lakes provides complete and up-to-date information about issues of human health in the Great Lakes region. Also contains a comprehensive glossary of Great Lakes terms and several links to related online resources. Based on data taken from the EPA's Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) studies. Canadian Great Lakes Remedial Action Plan Updates Our Great Lakes, Environment Canada Provides progress reports for the 17 AOCs in Canada for lakes Erie, Huron, Ontario and Superior, and the connecting channels. Great Lakes Areas of Concern U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) Information on U.S. AOCs including current RAP status, scheduled meetings, progress and achievements, beneficial use impairments, research, publications, community involvement and funding partners. Great Lakes Remedial Action Plans U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Great Lakes Regional Headquarters An overview of the Corps' program to support RAP development and implementation. Michigan Great Lakes Areas of Concern Program Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Provides basic information on the Michigan AOCs, RAPs and LaMPs.
Related Resources GLIN: Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes Region GLIN: Beneficial Uses in the Great Lakes Areas of Concern GLIN: Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs)
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