International Joint Commission commiss ion mix te internationale

The Inic-rnational Jolnt Commission is an indvpvndent international organization

c.st;~l)lished under (11c Boundary R':tters Trcaty of 1909. Its purpose is to hclp prevent dispulc.s over u.se of wakrs sh:lr.ccl by Canada and the

United States and to provide advice on qui.tions of mutual concern when

req~~csted 11); tile two frderal governments.

'I'lirce n~cmbers are appointed by the Prctsident o f thc ['n~t'd States, with adv~cc and ;ippruval of he Senrite, and three by

thc Governor-in-Council of Canada, on thc advice of the Prime Minister.

Adele M. Hurley Thomas L. Baldini C:,n.rdwn Section Ch.rlr US. Section Ch:irr

Dr. Pierre Beland Susan B. Bayh

Francis Murphy Alice Charnberlin

FOCL Staff

S:~lly Cole-Misch, Executive Editor

Frank Bevacqua, Managing Editor

Bruce Jarnieson, Designer

Marie Terrien, Conseil de re'daction

Doug Bondy, Columns Editor.

International Joint Commission 1250 L3rd Street NW, Suite 100

Washington, DC 20440 Tel. (202)736-9000. Fax (202)736-9015

Internltiunal Joint Commission 100 kletcnlk Street, 18th Floor

Ottana. ON KIP 5311 Tel. (613)995-2984 Fax (613)993-5583

International Joint Commission ti ri-at 1,akea Regional OfFice

100 Ouellette Avenue, Eighth Floor IYiindsor, ON N9A 6T3

Tel. (519)257-6700. Fax (519)257-6740 (519)257-67 34 -For IJC reports

or P.O. Box 32869

Detroit, MI 48232 (313)226-2170

VOLUME 21, ISSUE 2, 1996

Making the Transition to a Clean Economy Mow can we make the transition to a clean economy without undercutting

workers' earnings, irnpovenhhing comrn~~nities and lowering our standard of living! As this issue of Focus susgesta, there is no single answer to this question.

'l'he Eighth Biennial Report o n G r c x Lakc:< \Vster Quality proposes that a deliberate process of transition away from an economy that generates persistent toxic substances is needecl now to avoid more costly consequences in the future. Initk~tives must be taken at all levels. The [nost innovation often occurs at the community and plant level. Global transition initiatives are needed to create a "level playing field" when required changes are not supported in the short term by com- petitive markets.

CAMP'S Organochlorine Project shows that innovative manufacturing processes can eliminate pollution and create economic pronrth. Providing technical assistance is essential to furthering the transition process by helping entrepreneurs develop market opportunities. The Western Lake Superior Sanita~y 1)istrict demonstrates how a local unit of government can exercise leadership that is felt around the Great Lakes

basin and beyond.

FEATURES Commission Issues Eighrh Biennial Report 3 i . I I 5 H i k r h i 5 CAMP Shows rhac Transirion Is a Growch Induscry 9 The Wescern Lake Superior Sanicacion Discricc

Leads Toxic Reduccion Efforts I2

International Joinc Commission Adopcs

Scracegic Plan for Greac Lakes Rescoracion Accivicies I7

COLUMNS Briefs 8

KapSheet 14

Bookshelf 15

Events 19

Cover.: lvlackinac Bridgc, with Fort lvlichilimachirlac. Credit. O John 2nd t h n Mahan FOCUS (ISSN 1024-5219). Focus IS prinled lllree limes per j a r on recycled :a! , papcr that 1s proc~bzwd without [he use of chlorine or chlorine derivatives.

Governments Must Keep Commitments ta Agreement Program

by Geoffrey Thornburn

overnments need to maintain their dedication to programs aimed at Great Lakes water quality in the face of threatened cutbacks to environmental

programs and deregulation proposals in both countries, concludes the International Joint Commission in its Eighth Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality. Continued commitment is needed to protect past progress in cleaning up and protecting the Great Lakes ecosystem and to implement additional programs neces- sary to achieve the objectives of the Agreement.

Since the Governments of Canada and the United States signed the first Great Lakes Water Quality Agree- ment 24 years ago, government actions based on the Agreement's goals, as well as private sector investments in pollution control and prevention, have brought im- pressive progress to restore the Great Lakes Basin Ecosys- tem. They are a model of cooperative environmental research and management for the rest of the world.

In its Eighth Biennial Report, the Commission commends both countries for a quarter century of progress, achieved in large part because of strong gov- ernmental 1e:ldership. It warns, however, that current proposals for cutbacks in environmental requirements and funding for environmental monitoring, enforcement and research could jeopardize these acco~nplishments as weg as further progress. The Commission concludes that a continued commitment to the laws and regulations that set targets for action is still essential if adequate progress on the Agreement's goals is to be achieved, bawd on common goals and a coordinated, binational strategy. In addition, the Commission recognizes that a variety of voluntary programs by industry can help to achieve environmental goals and encourages their use as part of an overall program.

W i l improvements in water qualiry achieved by the present generation be mainedfor the next?

Persistent toxic substances should remain an impor- tant focus for remedial and preventive programs. The need for their virtual elimination and zero discharge continues to be reinforced by mounting scientific evi- dence about their impacts on human health and other facets of ecosystem health. The Commission believes these policies are achievable if society has sufficient will and has encouraged, along with the regulatory targws, a deliberate process of transition towards a more sustain- able economy. This process should be led by Govem- ments but involve all sectors of society.

The Commission reiterates the value of a binatbml strategy for persistent toxics, based on four key prim@les:

prevention of pollution is preferred to subsequmt cleanup precaution should be an underlying basis of deci- sions about persistent toxic chemicals and their impacts using a weight of evidence approach managing groups of chemicals rather than s@e ones due to the large number of chemicals on h market and onerous processes to deal with t h m individually, and reverse onus of proof whereby the burden is on proponents to prove chemicals safe, rather than on governments to prove they are harmful.

Several binational and national programs identified in the report begin to address these Issues, including a Binational Persistent Toxics Management Strategy, the Lake Superior Binational Program, the State of the Great Lakes Ecosystem Conferences and restoration of Areas of Concern.

The Commission also h&~lights the growing impor- tance of air pollution and !ts control as a critical compo- nent of Great Lakes environmental strategies. Air potlu- tion comes from local and more distant sources in other parts of North America and even the globe. Other isues for increased attention under the Agreement include:

monitoring and management of radionuclides long-ter~n effects of climate change in a binational context the control of ground level ozone, which has human health and ecological impacts sustaining biological integrity, including programs to protect habitat and biological diversity and prevent additional exotic species invasions, and improved environmental health information and training for health professionals.

The Commission's report is issued biennially as required in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

Geoffrey mornburn is the economics advisor to the International Joint Commission. To receive a copy o f the Eighth Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality, contact the Commission's Washington, Ottawa or

I Windsor office.

La Commlsrfan'publfe son Hufff $me rapport blmnal :

par Geoffrey Thornburn

' ace 2 la menace des coupures dans les programmes environnementaux et des propositions de deregle- mentation dans les deux pays, les gouvernements

doivent maintenir leur engagement vis-a-vis des pro- grammes visant la qualit6 de l'eau dans les Grands Lacs conclue la Commission mixte internationale dans son huitieme rapport biennal sur la qualit6 de l'eau dans les Grands Lacs. I1 faudra continuer de lutter pour conserver les acquis en niatiere de d6pollution, protege1 116cosysteme des Grands Lacs et mettre en oeuvre les programmes supplementaires necessaires pour atteindre les objectifs fixes dans llAccord de 1978.

Depuis que les gouvernements du Canada et des ~ t a t s - ~ n i s ont sign6 le premier Accord relatif 2 la qualit6 de l'eau dans les Grands Lacs, i l y a 24 ans, les mesures qu'ils ont prises concernant les objectifs de I'Accord, ainsi que les investissements du secteur prive en matiere de lutte contre la pollution, se sont traduites par des progrks impressionnants en ce qui a trait a la restauration de I1i.cosystitrne du bassin des Grands Lacs. 11s ont egalement ete un niodele de recherche et de gestion conjointes dans le domaine de l'environnement pour le reste du monde.

Dans son Huitikme rapport biennal sur la qualit6 de l'eau dans les Grands Lacs, la Commission a felicite les gouvernements pour ce quart de sikcle de progrits realis& en grande partie gr2ce 2 la direction ferme exercke par les gouvernements. I1 prkvoit que la baisse des exigences en matiere d'environnement et les coupu- res projetees au niveau du financement de la sur- veillance, de la mise en application et de la recherche pourraient compromettre les progres realises jusqu'i present, ainsi que les progres a venir. La Commission affirme que I'engagement continu vis-a-vis de lois et de

Lcsprogr?~ uccomplis rn matiPrc & glulitb de I'rau par notre gbnbration icront-ils priservbs pour la prochainc?

reglements qui fixent les objectifs des diverses mesures demeure la condition essentielle de progres adequats en ce qui a trait aux objectifs de I'Accord, realises grHce a l'etablissement de buts communs et a l'elaboration d'une strategie binationale coordonnke. De plus, la Commis- sion reconnait qu'une variete de programmes volontaires mis en oeuvre par l'industrie peuvent aider a atteindre et meme depasser les objectifs environnementaux, et elle a encourage leur utilisation dans le cadre d'un progranme global.

Les substances toxiques remanentes doivent demeu- rer un des grands themes des programmes de mesures correctives et preventives. La necessitk de leur elimina- tion vi~tuelle et d'un rejet zero continue d'Etre renforcee par les preuves scientifiques toujours plus nombreuses de leurs effets dommageables sur la sante humaine et les autres facettes de la santk de 1'6cosysti.rne. La Commis- sion croit que ces politiques sont realisables si la societe le desire reellement et si elle encourage, de pair avec les objectifs reglementaires, un processus delibere de transi- tion vers une economie plus durable sur les plans hu- main et environnemental. Elle soutient que ce processus doit Etre dirige par les gouvemements, mais qu'il impli- que tous les secteurs de la societe.

La Commission a reitere la valeur d'une straregie binationale mientee contre les toxiques renu- nents et basee sur quatre principes des:

i l est preferable de pgvenir la pollution que de nettoyer aprks; *la phut ion devrait @tre ii la

rw'viks r h ~ ~ ' v e s et les loisin. The Geat Lakes offer base des decisions concernant &bk opportunitia fir recreation and solace. Photo: O Jh et Ann Mahan.

les produits chimiques toxiques remanents et leurs impacts

gdce a une approche qui mette I'accent sur le poids de la preuve; girtlr les produits chimiques en groupe plut8t qu'individuellement en raison du nombre considerable de produits chimiques sur le marche et du coilt de procedb de gestion individuels; f&au inverse de la preuve: c'est au fabricant de produits chirniques de prouver que ses produits sont inoffensifs, et non au gouvernement de prouver que les produits en question sont dangereux.

Le rapport mentionne plusieurs programmes binationaux et nationaux qui ont commence ii Ctudier ces questions, notamrnent une strategic binationale de gestion des toxiques remanents, le Programme binational du lac Supe rieur, les conferences sur I'ktat de 1'ecosysti.me des Grands Lacs et la restau- ration des secteurs preoccupants.

La Commission a egalernent attire l'attention sur l'importance croissante qu'occupent la pollution atmospherique et les mesures prises pour I'enrayer dans les strategies environnementales concernant les Grands Lacs. Les polluants aeroport6 p rov ie~en t de sources locales et de sources beaucoup plus kloignees situCes dans d'autres parties de lJAm6rique du Nord, et m@rne d'autres continents. Les produits chirniques toxiques rernanents entrent aussi dans 1'Ccosystilme des Grands Lacs via le commerce international. On a kgalement signals d'autres questions d'int6ri.t croissant dans llAccord:

la preoccupation de plus en plus grande au sujet de la surveillance et de la gestion des radionuclCides; la necessite de tenir cornpte des effets 2 long terme du changement climatique dans un contexte binational; la luttc contre l'ozone troposphkrique qui a des incidences sur la santk hurnaine et sur I'environnernent; le maintien de I'intkgrite biologique, notamment des programmes pour la protection de I'habitat et la diversite biologique, et la prevention de toute invasion par de nouvelles espkces exotiques; i 'dfioration de l'information en matiere de santC kologique et la formation des professionnels de la sante.

Le rapport de la Commission est ernis 2 tous les deux ans tel que requis par ]'Accord relatif 2 la qualit6 de I'eau dans les Grands Lacs.

Geoffrey Thornburn est le conseiller 6conomique de la Commission mixte internationale. Si vous dksirez obtenir un exemplaire du Huitjkme rapport biennal sur la qualite' de l'eau dans les Grands Lacs, veuillez contacter le bureau de la Commission a Washington, Ottawa ou Windsor:

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mpnhm'vc inurnto I

the Gjcat Lakrs basin

m a i n s changeinents &vrant se produire si nous voalons diminurn la &pendance de notre economic 21 I'6gard des pr&& chimiqs toques sans entrainer de pemrbations atrx nimax so&l et

6cononGqw. XI Faudra m m e en @ace un processus de mmition d W e et

riblk s'&beEonnaDt sur un laps de temps raisonnabk. Ce process devn conjuguer Ics talents, la b m e volontk, i'esprit d'initiative et h &termha- t b dm ~pterumants cle rous les secteurs, tant 5 I'6dx.k cxdkaM q'individuelle. Dans certain5 secteurs, les pfoduaews, ks uavailleurs er ks cormmmteurs pourront i.prouva des m d t & 5 s'adapter au dmnge- men£. Dans d'autres domaines, on pourfa r&cm&e rap- b pr&- mes en f&mr appel a cks technologies exist-, P des programme de formation et, peut-he, 2 des mesures intiatives. La Conunissirm esr p a - dt5e que le processus adope, qwl qu'il soit, devM &re & en aeuwe ck £ason plan%Eie et &piable, et que k reglement du @ l h e ne peut &re diffGrt5 sans entrainer des rkpercussions encore plus i long t m e sur I e plan de I'enviromement et de la same.

La Conmission estime que ce processus devrait Cue &rig6 par les gouvemements, mais qdil devrait Cgalement faire appd, dam la qu& de moyens permermnt de relever ce d&i fi avoir 2 d h i r e tout ce que nous ainlons, h la collaboration des milieux d'affaires, des S ~ ~ I M L S , des sckm.6 ques. des enseignants et d'autres ressources. La stm@j,ie dqptee dwrait entre aufres viser B pr6s~rver la vitalit2 kconomique, la ~enhbU4 du .tra~a& I'inegrit6 de l'eriviro~ement naturel, notre s a d et d e des &6nticm futures.

Zes changenxnts ne pourront pas &re effect-u.& udquemen par I'Y-kire dc la reglernentathn envimmlemende et &s p m g r m de protection. Des m&anismes dewont Sb-e mis en place pour protfiger et aider les mmmunautb twchees, et &kr ks bulemmemem. Ces m&a-

bevrom faire intervenir des processus rt5gi0mt.a~ b u x a se&c&Is c;t tmir compte des besoms WQents qai existent sur te ptan de l'enviro-t et sur les plans d et el. II faut @alema gardm P l'esprit pue h raise en place de nouvaux proce!ssus et ks au~es -es alallanr de avec I'accomp~menE crune transition inrpmmte font h t e m i r des c&rs importam qui pounonl &re difflciles 3 endsager ckm le c-e de ka fom concurrence caact6rhmf Les ~~ mmdaux. Par txx3s-2, if sera impomnt de famiser des initiatives 11 mc&e muhila- &at, par exempk pour ce qui concme la surveWce et J ' M a n de la production et du ccmmace de ce- p c h t s cftlmrgues et leur prise en ccmid&atlan cSans des ententes ewes immtie .

Ndtre con& consulcatif scient6que s'est &dark dzms son p b r & a c rapport, fermement en faveur d'accorder &vantage d'atrention P h mise en place d'une se~ategie de planifitah de la tmirion. 11 a ieco- qw les gouvernements metrent en oeuvre de t e l b sua~ies IA 00 il aise cia ris~ues de boulevemmenb impartants lies 3 P e s engagements pris zdrieu- rement rn vue de l'dimimtian progressive des substances toxiques, cumme ceux pr& d;ms le Programme binational du lac Sup5rieur ef &ULS I'enrme atre le Canada et I'Ontario. La Commission estime cpe ta I* en d'vn tef processus de emition, prenant appui sur les assises fournias par une Egislation a une r&lementation debase, constitiera un outit impartant en we de I'adopwm de pratiques plus dtirables sur les plan enviroonemental er humain, e? de l'atteinte des obj~tifs vis& par ]'Accord sur la qualit6 de I'eau dans les Gnnds Lacs.

briefs The Innernational Joint

&mft%sion welcomes new

members it recently appointed

to its boards and thanks those

who have completed their

service for the time and talent

they contributed. Henry

Lickers, Mohawk Council of

Akwesasne, Mag& Havas, Trent University and William

Bowerman, Lake Superior

State Mvcrsity were ap-

pointed to the Great Lakes

Science Advisory Board. Orie

Loucks recently completed his

term of service.

Newly appointed

members to the International

Kootenay Lake Board of

Control include Denill Cowing, U.S. Geological

Survey and Jack Farrell, British Columbia Ministry of

Lands and Parks. Jerry

Hughes and D.A. Kasianchuk have completed their terms of service.

More effective sea lamprey control and fish passage on Michigan's Tittabawasee River wiU be accomplished through a partnership program with Dow Chemical Company and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. A study will analyze the existing fihway, and establish an effective lamprey trap and fish passage facility at the site. For informa- tion on this collaboration, contact Marc Gaden, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, 2100 Commonwealth Boul- evard, Suite 209, Ann Arbor, MI 48105-1563. (313)662-3203; fax (313)741-2010.

In 1989, plans to develop a multi-million dollar complex and aquarium at the head of the Great Lakes on the Duluth, Minnesota waterfront were announced. After years of planning and develop- ment, the Lake Superior Center complex is becoming a reality, according to the center's directors. Duluth City Council recently authorized the sale of bonds for consm~ction and the center is busy raising the additional private money needed to break ground. So far, $23.5 million dollars has been committed by the State of

Minnesota, the Ciry of Duluth and private donations. An additional 57.5 million remains to be raised. A market study estimated that the Lake Superior Center could draw berween 325,000 and 400,000 visitors a year to the aquarium.

For more informa- tion contact Lake Superior C w r , 353 Harbor Drlve, Duluth, MN 4&02 (218)720-3033; fax (218)720-3407.

Results From a study presented at the Sixth International Zebra Mussel and Other Aquatic Nuisance Species Conference held in March 1% in Dearborn, M-, noted that Plichigaa l h are becoming more rapidly colonized by zebra musssels than are Wisconsin lakes. The conference, hosted by Michigan Sea Gnnt, attracted 450 delegates representing academia, government, industry and uiky companies. To obtain the conference proceedings, send check for $50 (US) payable to Michigan State University and mail to Michigan Sea Grant Extension, 334 Natural Resources Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824. (517)353-9748.

Pennsyhnm -Iy opened a G- UPer Office in Meadville to further the state's involvement in the Lake Erie Lakewide Manage- ment Plan and remediation activities related to Presque Isle Bay. For more informa- tion on the Great Lakes office, contact Kelly Burch, Pennsylvania Department of Environ- mental Protection, 230 Chestnut Street, MeactPille, PA 16335. (814)332-6816.

The M i n n m Line, (800)455-4526, & a toll-free p h smke *, provide all dYta)a of Minnesota M8a rrrer infarmarion. llae W k L i o e c - d d with people in cal languag ruld p k k dormation a h 1 household w bum, wells, septic systems, resource ismm 4 0th water-related azraars. The Water is bated in the Minnma& k a Grant O f f i c ~ U 23DS &ot Fifth Street, h h & h W 55812-1445. For more information, contact Deanne Roquet at (218)726-7524; email droquet@d.umn.edu.

C AMP, Inc., formerly the Cleve- land Advanced Manufacturing Program, recognizes the long-

standing polarization between governments and nongovernmental organizations of Canada and the United States that promote the reduction of toxic, persistent, bioaccumulating chemicals in the Great Lakes basin, and those busi- nesses and industries in both coun- tries that, understandably, resist these changes. As a third-party, neutral mformation and technology resource, CAMP and its regional collaborators believe we can bridge the differences and demonstrate substitution technologies that will contribute to human health benefits and ecosystem protection, as well as economic growth, throughout the Great lakes basin.

CAMP is preparing a five-year plan to reduce the releases of these chemicals into the Great Lakes basin. 'lhis plan will facilitate work under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement between Canada and the United States, which commits the Governments to restoring and protecting the Great Lakes through the virtual elimination of persistent toxic substances. Established in

1984, CAMP serves as a regional research, development, deployment and training resource by:

mobilizing and leveraging academic, government, private and public resources to help manufacturers grow and improve fostering innovation in manufdc- turing enterprises through re- search, development, technology deployment, business assistance and training, and motivating and helping the manufactul-ers to develop peo- ple, use technology, improve business practices and modern- ize products, processes and. facilities.

With grants from the George Gund Foundation, the Great Lakes Protec- tion Fund and the Joyce Foundation, CAMP began its Organochlorine Project in October 1995 Of the 11,000 organochlorines in use around the world, CAMP will focus on the 100-150 that have been prioritized by international and national experts.

To foster transitions from toxic to benign chemicals, CAMP'S strategy is simply to demonstrate new technolo-

gies or substitutions that produce health and economic benefits. By the end of 1996, CM4P will establish ongoing demonstration projects in metal parts cleaning, wet cleaning of clothing and fabrics, and recycling of polyvinyl chloride post-c-onsumer waste. In the following four years, additional chemicals and industry processes will become the focus of more demonstration projects.

These first three target areas were systematically selected because of their environmental impact (based on reported releases and toxicity of released substances), the existence of proven technologies to make ready substitutions, and the opportunity to educate and encour- age others to seek opportunities for safe, economic alternatives to the use of toxic chemicals.

In metal parts cleaning, C&VP has joined with U.S. and Canadian governments and private agencies to study effective alternative chemicals and processes for methyl chloro- form, methylene chloride, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene. Releases of these four chemicals by the eight Great Laltes states are shown in the following table.

Table One

~ O B ~ T O X K ; ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ H ~ ~ ~ W ~ A T L I ; (Based on 1993 U.S. Toxrc Release Inventory Data)

CHEMICAL AMOUNT RELEASED IN POUNDS PERCENT OF U.S. TOTAL

Mrthyl Chloroform 18,652,896 29% Methylene Chloride 24,888,666 38% Triochloroethylene 16,637,115 55% Tetrachloroethylene 3,856,230 33%

CAMP will demonstrate, for example, that an auto parts supplier can reduce its use of these chemicals by substituting water-based chemj- cals and new processes in its clean- ing and degreasing operations. One project that demonstrated virtual elimination of 1 , l ,l-trichloroethane in automobile radiator and con- denser manufacturing was con- ducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with Tennessee's Center for Clean Products and Clean Technologies and the Calsonic Manufacturing Corporation. By substituting aque- ous wash processes, Calsonic's

solvent-degreasing purchases were reduced from 293,000 pounds in 1990 to zero in 1994. Savings were made at virtually every stage of handling and use as shown in the second table.

In dry cleaning, CAMP is work- ing with Chicago's Center for Neighborhood Technology and Canada's Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Centre to demonstrate and disseminate the health and cost advantages of using water-based technologies to clean clothing. These would replace current tech-

nology based on the toxic chemical tetrachloroethylene, also known as "perc." Three long-term studies on wet cleaning show reductions in the use of perc and costs, along with positive customer responses. In collaboration with U.S. and Cana- dian regional organizations, CAMP is planning a wet cleaning training and demonstration program, with cur- ricula prepared by Environment Canada and the University of Massa- chusetts at Lowell's Toxic Use Reduction Institute.

The recycling of polyvinyl chloride (WC) is an old practice, but it has applied mostly to scrap

-

Table Two

Primary Activities Cost (U.S $/yr) of Solvent Cost (U.S. $/yr) of Aqueous Degreasing Process Wash Process

Maintenance-yearly - $32,300 - - $29,900

Wastewater treatment -0- $23,609 S34,W $2,000

- -

TOTAL --

$341,100 - $125,330

S A W m5,m

generated during production, or preconsumer waste. With over 10 billion pounds per year now pro- duced in the U S , alone, there are many opportunities to build the infrastructure to collect, recycle and manufacture new products, thus reducing the need for virgin PVC, and to divert PVC from waste streams which are headed to incin- erators.

To illustrate these possibilities, Turtle Plastics of Cleveland, Ohio collects PVC automobile trim, intra- venous bags and tubes, swimming pool liners, recreational rafts and other used items and reprocesses them into a range of new products. These include the wedge-shaped blocks carried on emergency vehi- cles to hold damaged vehicles steady during rescue operations, which will replace heavy wooden materials that absorb oil and splinter easily. Many different forms and styles of inter- locking floor tiles are also produced for machine shops, food handling

Interlocking weddry floor tiles are one product rmrde by Turtk Plastics from 100 percent recycled PVC.

facilities, shower stalls, trailers and veterinarian stations. CAMP is assist- ing Turtle Plastics and other recyclers to seek new post-consumer resource materials and to manufac- ture new, finished commercial and retail products.

As an integral part of the project, CAMP is building an information resource to inform and assist compa- nies interested in exploring organochlorine substitution tech- nologies. This resource will grow over the project's five-year develop- ment period.

Stephen J. Gage is president of CAMP, Inc. CAMP may be contacted at the Organochlorine Project, Prospect Park Building, 4600 Pros- pect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103- 431 4. Telephone (21 6)543-6674; fax (216)543-7160; email steve.gage@camp.org or joseph. chadboume@camp. org.

The Western Lake Superior Sanitary District Leads ToxScs Reduction Efforts

by Julie O'Leary

T hroughout its history, the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) has been a leader in

implementing innovative programs that reduce toxic substances. The &strict provides wastewater and solid waste services to 130,000 people in ten municipalities in and around Duluth, Minnvsor:~. The 1,300 square-kilometer (500 square-mile) district is located at the western-most end of the Great Lakes. In processins waste, the district enlploys a comprehensive set of waste management systems, including:

a ueatmeilr plant that processes 160 million liters (43 million gallons) of wastewater per day a processing facility that manages 270 tonnes (300 tons) of solid waste from four counties per day an incineration system that burns sludge and refuse-derived fuel an industrial waste landfill a yard waste composting site a permanent household hazardous waste facilily.

Because of its dependence on this integrated system, WLSSD has imple- mented toxics reduction programs that focus on wastewater and solid waste.

Targeting commercial and resi- dential customers, the district's pro- grams range from collecting toxic wastes to educating waste generators about source separation and pollution prevention. Ultimately, the programs promote the elimination of toxic dscharges within the WLSSD service area.

Since WLSSD is the largest point source of clischarge on the U.S. side of Lake Superior, Kurt Soderberg, execu- tive director, believes the district has a special obligation to assess its impact on the lake. "The WLSSD was specifi- cally created to deal with the pollution in the lower St. Louis River," said Soderberg. "Because of these origins and because of our input to Lake Superior, we have always believed that our primary mission is to protect the environment."

WLSSD has recognized the Lake Superior Binational Program designa- tion of the lake as a demonstration site for elimination of persistent toxic discharges. In response, WLSSD is one of few local governments that has committed its facilities to the goal of zero discharge. Executive Director Soderberg has said that, "Zero dis- charge is no different than zero defects or zero time lost to injuries. Just as we strive toward zero defects,

we must recognize this goal and develop programs and systems to get us there."

Such toxics reduction programs arc not new at the district. The reduc- tion of effluent mercury levels has been a district goal since 1989. To meet that goal, WLSSD made changes to processes at its facilities and devcl- oped programs aimed at the source separation of mercury-containing wastes. For example, changes in the district's ash management system significantly reduced mercury and lead content in sludge and effluent.

Strlrt@nt Lima Further, the district's industrial pretreatment program is guided by some of the most stringent limits for metals content in the nation. Through this program, district employees work closely with industrial customers to help them identky and address prob- lems, with a goal of meeting the required pretreatment limits. Finally,

bans have been placed on the disposal of specific materials, such as latex paint and antifreeze, in sewers.

In addition to toxics reduction programs, the WLSSD has operated a household hazardous waste 0 collection

mmfre Uep& sa cr&bn, k westera Lake superior ~ ~ C B I S S D l a toojtxls fait figure de chef de Ne dam la mise en -Eke- novatem de ~~3wtic-n da

Western Lake S rim Sanitary District - c ? f & i Z ~ -

program since 1986. The district assure des s e ~ c e s cia district's HHW program, trairemt des earn us& et located in a permanent des & c b sdides 3 building since 1993, was the 1 3 0 0 0 0 ~ ~ d e d i x first in Minnesota to accept hazardous wastes from small ma lnsdIq8 FTW PrqJod businesses through its Clean The most recent effort of the Shop program. district is the development

Education programs are and implementation of a another important element of Zero Discharge Pilot Project, the district's pollution pre- focusing on mercury, lead,

I vention strategy. MercAlert is PCBs, dioxin and a public education program hexachlorobenzene. Funding that focuses on mercury and has been secured from the mercury-containing products. district, the Great Lakes The district has established a Protection Fund and the U.S. collection network for button Environmental Protection batteries in northeastern Agency's Region 5 Water Minnesota, conducted Division and Great Lakes teacher workshops on National Program Office. mercury and developed Over the next two years, audovisual and print materi- district staff will work with als about the management of generators to develop strate- mercury-containing products, gies to reduce the use and including a guide for dental discharge of these chemicals offices. in the service area. Reduc-

District staff are continu- tion and elimination pro- ing these important efforts by grams will be directed at the developing an outreach general public, as well as at program to assist dentists specific industries and and a project for homeown- organizations. Strategies will ers that stresses reducing use range from educating about of lawn pesticides. These alternative products to programs combine educa- developing infrastructure to tional efforts with on-site collect and manage materials visits and technical assistance when alternatives are not for customers. available. A cost assessment

will be conducted for phas- ing out all PCBs in the service area that remain in use, though they are no longer manufactured or distributed. The project will

also include dissemination ~e wD, cpl'il

plans to ensure that informa- w d *u hw, tion is shared with other amismoeuvrecfespro- communities and industries. gtrammes & -on des

The WLSSD is a proven subaxes toxiqw a& sur regional system that has les eaux us&.s et les ckhets been a leader in cost-effec- sdides. Onen& ven les tive waste management and d in tdes commercide a innovative solutions to 1~5demeile. les plqrammes environmental problems. It is du vent de h co&ecte through these and other such des toxiques la efforts that the WLSSD will xn~ibilisathn des pa&- continue its leadership tews de d&hets au tri B la efforts. source et d h pr&emim &

la pollution. En fin de Julie 0 'Leary is a pollution compte, Ies pc-a fmt prevention supervisor at the lit pmnm de I'&haticm WLSSD. For general informa- h rejets roxiques a tion about the WLSSD, call Irnils&ew & la gone dew- (21 8)722-3336. For specific vie p a k W S D information about the Zero Discharge Pilot, contact Julie O'Leaxy or Tim Tuominen, Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, 2626 Courtland Street, Duluth, MN 55806. Email p2team@cp. du1uth.m.n. us; telephone (21 8) 722-3336, extension 233 for Julie O'Leary or extension 324 for Tim Tuominen; fax (21 8) 727- 7471.

P L A N m -

L o a f EnvIro-l Hamtw Nmed fn Mmk@m and Whits Lakar

F or more than five years, the communities in the Muskegon Lake and White Lake Areas of Concern have been actively involved in many projects ranging from organizing Public

Advisory Councils (PACs) to seeking funding for remedial actions. The PACs' one-year-old LakeWatch program recently received the national Local Environmental Hero award from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Individual "local environmental heroes" also recognized for their tireless efforts to preserve and protect our environment include Jerry Engle, Chuck Vanderlaan, Kathy Evans, Gary Fahnenstiel and Theresa Lauber.

LakeWatch is a citizen water monitoring program developed to provide useful water quality data while utilizing a vast source of energy -- enthusiastic volunteers. Thirty-five LakeWatch volunteers take secchi disk readings and collect water samples once a month for temperature, phosphoms and chlorophyll on Muskegon and White Lakes. The LakeWatch program will not only provide data for annual reports, but will also help to identify potential water quality problems and educate the community about lake ecology through training, presentations, displays and annual reports.

Last year over 400 volunteer hours were documented for LakeWatch organizing, recruiting, training and monitoring. What

began with initial seed money from a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant was expanded to include many other partners who help with program delivery and funding. These include the Lake Michigan Field Station of NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, Montague High School, Muslrepn Conservation District, Muskegon County Wastewater Management System, Muskegon Lake and White Lake PACs, Muskegon Sportfishing Association, Natural Resource Conservation Service, White Lake Area Sportfishing Association, Timberland Resource Conservation and Development Council and Phillips Environmen- tal Partnerships.

Through educational programs like LakeWatch, the Muskegon Lake and White Lake PACs are continuing to educate the communities on water quality and habitat issues that encom- pass projects on natural landscaping, soil erosion, buffer strips, wildlife monitoring, household waste, urban runoff and land ethics. Current projects are funded through a Michigan Depart- ment of Environmental Quality grant received by the Muskegon Conservation District.

For more mformation, contact Theresa Lauber, Muskegon Conservation District, 1001 East Wesley, Muskegon, MI 49442. Telephone (616)773-0129; fax (616)773-1210.

F ollowing a successful demonstration project in 1995, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has pro- posed to dredge areas of the Manistique River and harbor

that were previously planned to be capped, according to U.S. EPA announcements. Agreement in principle has been reached for the companies named as "potentially responsible pal-ties" to provide a set amount of money for U.S. EPA to perform the dredging.

Within two to three years after dredging, PCB concentrations in fish are expected to drop be!ow current health advisory levels, according to L.S. EPA.

During summer 1995, sediment dredging in the North Bay portion of the Area of Concern showed that a cofferdam and silt barriers with floating booms were effective in containing resuspended sediment5 during debris removal. No resuspension of sediments occurred during the dredging. The cost of dredging proved to be comparable to capping the sediment5 in part because disposal costs were less than expected. Materials with high PCB concentrations were separated and disposed of in a

PCB disposal facility while 97 percent of dredged sediments could be safely disposed of in a nonhazardous landfill.

The total cost for dredging the harbor and river hotspots is estimated to be between $6 million and $11 million. During dredging activities, surface water would be monitored, according to U.S. EPA. U.S. EPA would also conduct sediment and fish sampling for several years after the dredging to confirm that cleanup standards were met.

As we go to press, U.S. EPA is reviewing the comments presented at public meetings held in March and May. Work to remove and dispose of the contaminated sediments could begin in mid-summer 1996.

For more info~mation, contact James Hahnenberg, Remedial Project Manager, L1.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard (SR-a), Chicago, IL 60604-3590. Email hahnenhe~g. jan~es@epamail.epa.gov; telephone 0 1 21353-4213; fax (312)886-4071,

International Joint Commission Reports may now be requested dizctlyfiom the Great Lakes Regional Ofice

in Windsor, Onurio by dialing (519)257-6734. Ifaperson fs not available to receive your order, you may have your name,

d r e s s , telrphone number and title of report with the voice

messaging system andyour order will b e j l h d as soon ns possible.

The first multistate inventory of emissions of toxic air contami- nants potentially harmful to the Great Lakes ecosystem or human health has been com- pleted. The 300-page South- west Lake Michigan Pilot Smdy report can be downloaded from the Great Lakes Information Network at http://w.great-lakes.net/ partmrs/glc/project~/ai~~/swlm/ swlrn.html. Printed copies are available for $27 (US) at the address below.

A new Great Lakes Lnhonnation Network (GLlN) Tour Guide has also been publ~shed, This 90-page book serves as a desktop reference for Great Lakes-related world Wide Web infolmat~on. To order, send check or money order for $7 (US) to Great Lakes Commission, The Argus 11 Building, 400 Fourth Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48103-4816. For more mformation, email cratzrt8glc.org; ca 11 (313665- 9135; fax (313)665-4370.

e A new edition of Great Lakes: An Environmental Atlas and Resource Book has been produced by Environment Canada and the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency Great

Lakes National Program Office. Full-color maps show Land use, population, waterborne com- merce, precipitation and other aspects of the Great Lakes ecosystem and chapters cover natural processes, people, concerns, joint management and new directions. Available in

- - -

The Round Goby W A T C E ~ ~ ~ h& of tbis new Great Lakesjnvadn:

English and French, the atlas can be found online at: http:// www.cciw.ca/glimr/metadata/ great-lakes-atlas/intro.html. To order a printed copy in the United States, contact Steve Garbaciak, Great Lakes National Program Office at gahaciak.steven@epamaiI.epa.gov or (312)353-0117. In Canada contact Nancy Stadler-Salt. Environment Canada at nancy.stadler-salt@cciw.ca or (905)336-6271.

A Pollution Prevention Internet Guide is available for $50 (Cdn) plus tax and ship- ping through the Great Lakes Pollution Prevention Centre, 265 North Front Street, Suite 112, Sarnia, ON N7T 7x1. (800)667-9790. This guide, updated twice a year, offers quick access to over 100 references to sources of pollu- tion prevention information.

- .

w to hrb rrsource managers keep nark

Round G6&y WATCH

e Green Culture: Environmen- tal Rhetoric in Contemporary Am- is a book that com- bines the interests of rhetorical criticism and a concern for the environment. One chapter addresses public participation in the International Joint Commis- sion's 1991 Great Lakes Water Quality Meeting and its effeca on the Sixth Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Qr~nlicy to the Canadian and American governments.

Green Culture can be obtained in either cloth or paperback by sending S.45 or $21.95 (US) respectively to the Publicity Department, University of Wisconsin Press, 114 North Murray Street, Madison, WI 53715. (608)262-8782.

*. A revised version of the Give Water A Hand materials has been completed by the Univer- sity of Wisconsin. The 72-page youth Action Guicle provides step-by-step inst.ructions on investigating local watershed issues and carrying out local service projects to address environmental problem. To order the Action Guide or

a@ Minnesota Sea Grant has produced a wallet-sized card to aid anglers in identifying the round goby, a new, potentially harmful exotic Fish found in parts of the Great Lakes. The Round Goby WATCH card describes why gobies are a problem, how to identify them, what anglers can do to prevent accidental transport to uninfested waters and what they should do if they find a goby. Cards are available from Great Lakes state Sea Grant off~ces or statc resource management agencies. Single cards are free. For more information, contact Minnesota Sea Grant office, 2305 East Fifth Street, Duluth, MN 55812-1445. (218)726-8712; fax (218)726-6556.

newsletter of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, is available on the Internet. The most recent issue includes a discussion on the examination of incinerations as a method of disposing hazard- ous wastes. ATSDR newsletter contents for health education and communication and special initiatives on Great Lakes and

human health effects can be retreived through: http:// atsdrl .atsdr.cdc.gov:8080/ atsdrhome. html.

The Lake Superior Center has produced a draft lesson and resource guidebook for K-12 teachers called Lake li%xts. The guide compiles new and adapted activities, background information, and other teaching resources to increase under- standing of Lake Superior. This working draft is being circulated to obtain feedback from educators around the basin and all input will be welcomed. To receive a copy, send $5 (US) to Tom Beery, Lake Superior Center, 353 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN 55802. (2 181720-3033.

The Lake Superior Wall Map, producecl by Lake Superior Magazine, is a folded, Full-color map showing the height and depth indications, popular lighthouses and shipwrecks, the Lake Superior Circle Tour and major highway routes for all areas surrounding Lake Superior.

Copies are avail:~ble in the Lake Superior Travel Guide on newsstands around the lake, or wit11 a subscription to Lake Superio~ Magazine. To receive a free copy of the map by mail, send a stamped, self-addressed business-sized envelope to Lake Superior Magazine, P.O. Box 16417, Duluth, MN 55816. (800)635-0544.

Wild applr bower, BayjeM Wisconsin

RartsumHmnawdk& &mr&wnuamweum clmwt#ecI*dmw un guieleen wede lapmtec- tionetdehresmrationdeces zones riverdines nanuelles, qw s a n t e n ~ d e s e d ~ r e r Selon un inwntaire des rives du Samt-Laure~, ptes de 26 % de ceks-accmnaissentdes p r o b b d'cksion er 45 % sorn mm & srnxxures de pmwim. I2 guide p&me, pow les pqets de Iesmmcim, des techques awhudb qui priviEght le recwrs a un c a m Vegw. Environnement Canada a rms ce projet au point de concert avec l e m ~ d e s T ~ d u @&ec, la SodW de la B a i e - ~ ~ , Canards Illimitks Galxi& et ks consukants Argus, On peut obmb un ~ d u g u ~ e n mmrnuniquant avec Denis Lehoux, Service c a w k n de t* fame, C.P 10100. S W - F a y (Qudxcl G1V 4H5. Tel6phone . (418) 648-2544

e Headwaters - me LWhe of a River is a 28-minute video that explores how development without specific design controls threatens headwaters resources and what can be done. To receive the video or further information, contact the Southeast Michigan Areawide Water Quality Board, 660 Plaza Drive. Suite 1900, Detroit, MI 48226. (313)961-4266; fax (313)961-4869.

e WOW! Wonders of IRtlands is a 330-page hands-on guide to wetland activities for educators of grades K-12. To receive a copy, send a check for $15.95 (L5) plus shipping ($4.50 for first copy plus ~ 1 . 5 0 for each addlt~onal copy) payable to Project WET Fund-RDI and Inall to The Watercourse, 201 Culbertson Hall, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717- 0057. (406)994-5392; fax (406)994-1919.

e Lntemctive Lake Ecology is a lake education curriculum for middle school students that comes with a workbook, teacher's guide and program video. A preview of the video is available free of charge. For more information, contact Jody Connor or Stephanie Moses, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, 6 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301. (603)271-3503; fax (603)271-2867.

=2=

Enviionmental Advenhm?~ is a series of educational booklets designed for studen~s ages eight to 11 to increase understanding of our natural resources. The newest comic-type booklet, entitled Across Time and Space, teaches about ecosystems and is available for 80.50 (US). Teacher's guides for each adventure are also available. To place an order or obtain more information, contact the Soil and Water Conservation Society, 7515 NE Ankeny Road, Ankeny, IA 50021-9764. Elnail swcs@netim.net; (800)843-7645 or (515)289-2331 ext. 19; fax (515)289-1227,

Jnmaff oflaallah Adopts Strategic for Great l a b - .

by Bruce Kirschner

J n Apr1.1 1 9 6 , the International ~ f h m m h h approved an Aam% 2 St- Plan to more

ftW4 its role under hnex 2 d ehe Grcst Lakes Water Qdky @mznm3. Under Annex 2, rfee GmmkmirM evaluates and KparG m ra~%lvrtk by the Parties to h e Apxrmm (tbe two federal pmumm) and the jurisdictions (the G m t Lakes a t e and provinc~al govmmmis) to clean up local h!as Of Camm and open lake w U m To k m t their planning m d remution activities, the Parties md j u c i x k d x ~ prepare Remedial Action P b CRAB) and lakewide Mamqyment Plans € M I . k pemt, mast of the relevant

pimmm-d agp7cies are &EL. work on RAPS

a d laMPs b u s e of reduced ftac&g ew intend restructuring It i d-te fhundsbn's hope that its

r #ew smtkg~ ptrn will encourage = and s q p t tk Parties and jurisdic-

tbm its k y wwk to restore open lake waters and Areas of Concern.

The goals of the Commission's mw strategic plan are:

.- to provide effective support for efforts by the Parties and jurisdic- tions to restore beneficial uses In Areas of Concern and open lake waters to better evaluate remedial activities as specified in Annex 2 of the Agreement

to facilitate comnunication between the various RAP and LaMP efforts to provide expertise and infor- mation to facilitate remediation, and to provide opportunities for interaction between the public and the Cormnission.

One focus of status assessments will be to examine tech&@ a d institutional issues that influence the restoration of benefial uses. Status assessments, including site visits by Commissioners, will play an integral role in the successful completion of the strategic plan. Sk to e&t status assessments mrill be conducted during each two-year cycle.

The Commission will report on the overall status of RAPS and LaMPs as required by Annex 2. This reporting will be part of the Commission's biennial reports or, when necessary, special reports.

A major new focus of the strate- gic plan will be status assessments that review activities related to specific Areas of Concern and open lake waters. Status assessments will concentrate on:

sites that have the potential to export persistent toxic sub- stances binational sites sites with high level of activity and sites with notable institutional arrangements.

Focusing on a subset of open lake waters and Areas of Concern will allow more in-depth study and should provide information that will be valuable to other Great Lakes basin sites.

To fulfill ths strategic element, the Commission will:

place emphasis on binational Areas of Concern and attempt to bring Parties and jurisdictions together for closely coordmated, joint efforts arrange forums to provide information exchange on ap- proaches to funding, administra- tion and other aspects of suc- cessful remediation programs provide mechanisms for technol- ogy and dormation sharing, and identify institutional barriers to remediation and arrange work- shops, as appropriate, to provide necessaly expertise.

--bl;-w Annex 2 rs concerned with the restoratzon of open lake waters and Areas of Concern.

e n e & - b - -erk'-&k. a

Review of RAPS by Co~nmission staff members will be a comprehensive overvien~ to ensure the documents meet the spirit of the Agreement. Updates submitted to the Conlmission will be reviewed to determine the level of response from the Commission that provides the best assistance to the Parties. Review of LaMPs will be completed in a similar manner, except that more attention to technical detail will be given to Stage 1 LaMP subrnis-

drtafiitcrppar~doapaa sions for each lake. a&

The Commission's new strategy is - designed to make optimum use of pPLp*+d

~h~ ~~~~~i~~ wllj meet with appro- Commission resources and provide

prate representatives of the Part~es more f lex lb l l i~ in the ongoing evalua-

and lurlsdstions as needed concerning tlOn "d ffa~l l lk l t l0I l of remed~al aCtl0n

progress toward restoring beneficla1 pl"% Ln Areas and I--*-

uses In Areas of Concern and open Open lake waters. d-dbm

lake aaters In addition, the Commis- sion wlll evaluate the extent to whlch more somation, or to provide 2.

the Parties, in cooperation with state y o u r h ~ ~ t o n h e Co-onbhfl ld" and provincial governments, have 2 activities, contact Bruce Kirschner; -w P-b consulted the public in all actions RAP and L&P Coordinator, Intema- - a

taken under Annex 2. tional Joint Commission, Great Lakes - * -= la Regional Ofice, 100 Ouellette Avenue, E~ghth Floor, Whcko~ ON N9A 613 or -1 &llk3 at l? 0. Box 3286.9, Detroit, MI 48232. * fL86 d6S pb Telephone (519)257-6700 or ~lpam-mkr (313)226-2170; fax (519)257-6740. *

D e & K a w ~ & L simah--au~& -*-

$or information- on thefollowing meetings- of the .International Joint Commission and its various boards, contact a Commission office.

Internatjonal Red River Poll~tioflBoaid - Devils -I&FNE- - -

-

July 1 I Souris-Red Rivers Engineering Board Public Meefing - - -=-

hiioden, MB

lmhna-, 1N Sepcemh la13 Great Lakc? h e m Ad\ ~soly Board lleet~ng

and Workshop on Envlyo-gsntal Rgs-ults w*, ON

- . .- HZ I J C ~ t i v e ~ -n, M:

24 Immaabna1 Osopoos Lake B a d of Control Public Meeting Cferntative) Oroville, WA

, , - - e m m r n p Q n 2 ~ & , r Public Meeting Rochestef, NY

22-24 IJcSe~ni-Annus1 Meeting Ottawa, ON

Novmber 5 Council of Great Lakes Research Managm Windsor, ON , - -

20-21 Great Lakes Scimce Advisory b a r d Windsor, ON

-

* GREEN '96, a benchmark occasion for the Global Rivers Environmental Education Net- work, will focus on "Educating for Sustainable Watersheds." The conference will be held July 10-13, 1996 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Education and community leaders involved in watershed programs and community action will share ideas and knowledge. A registration packet can be obtained from the GREEN International Office, 721 East Huron Street, Ann Arbor, A11 48104. Email green@green.org; fax (313)761-4951 or call (313)761-8142,

e Wofbg with Wetlands and Wildlife is a series of workshops to be held from August 19% through February 1997 in Colorado, California, Texas and Georgia. For more informa- tion, contact the Wildlife Habitat Council, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 920, Silver Spring, MD 20910. (301)588-8994; (301)588-4629.

Human Interactions with the Environment: Perspec- tives from Space, is a Pecora 13 Symporsium m be held in Sioux Fa&, Soub Dakota from August 20-22, 1996. Remote sensing information will be dis- cussed to understand and evaluate human impacts on the Earth and human adjustments to environmen- tal change. Look for pro- gram information on the Internet at http:// edcwww.~.mgs.gov/ pecml3.htmL To reg-, send check or m e y 6 for 11175 (US) to Pecora 13 Symposium, P.O. Box 1607, Sioux Falls, SD 57198-1607.

* A hands-on Stormwater Management Modeling Workshop with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be held August 29-30, 1996 at the Technical University of Nova Scotia in Halifax. Registration fees are $495 (Cdn). For more information contact Evelyn James, Computational Hydraulics International, 36 Stuart Street, Guelph, ON N1E 4S5. (519)767-0197; fax (519)767-2770; email infMchi.on.ca.

e The International Joint Commission's Great Lakes Water Quality Board will hold its 1996 public meet- ing in Rochester, New Yolk on October 18-19, 1996.

The Great Lakes Water Quality Board and the Water Resources Board of New York State will hold concur- rent business meetings on Friday, October 18. That afternoon the two Boards will meet together with the public to diacuss local issues related to water qual~ty and watershed management in upstate New York.

On Saturday, October 19 the Great Lakes Water Quality Board will cosponsor a Finger Lakes- Lake Ontario Conference with the Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protec- tion Alliance. The confer- ence will focus on place- based and community-based a p p r o a c h to waer qmkity and watershed management. Ernpl-wis will be cm p t i - cal experknces linldng envirmment d econcrmy in management, achkving "win-win* sa)ut!ons and applying succe~sful cornen- sus-based approaches in local decisionmaking proc- esses. State, federal and international governmental officials, agricultural produc- ers, recreational users, environment^, lakeshore and watershed @dents, scientists and researchers, developers, resource manag- ers and business owners across the region are en- couraged to register. The ptogam will provide ample opportunity for registrant

pdJ&~n, w$& US. D-pmmzt tfAgr&> N d M c s Gnmwahn S m k , &hi-8 M. Kc& pradcrrt cffehr RTLd& I%&# Counctl, s t p an agrcnrsnrc w work 10~rhcr M impmvc wedads on pnvate lad. Credzt: Michael Fuhman.

participation. Facilitated tal Protection Agency break-out group discussions (312)886-4360; fax (312)353- will be included to improve 11 55 or Simone Rose, communication and under- Environment Canada standing among (905)336-6270; stakeholders, and to elicit fax (905)336-6272. ideas on action plans for place-based watershed cS6 management.

For more information, cmtact Betsy Landre, Water Resources Board/Finger Lakes Association, (319536- 7488 or John Hartig, Great bakes Regional Office, International Joint Comrnis- sion, (313)226-2170 or (519)257-6711.

* The 1996 State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) will be held on November 6-8, 1996 at the Cleary International Centre in Windsor, Ontario. This year's conference will emphasize Great Lakes nearshore areas. Participa- tion in the conference is by invitation only. For more information, contact Don DeBhsio, U.S. Environmen-

The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS), the Minnesota Lakes Association and Wisconsin Association of Lakes are holding their Sixteenth Annual Interna- tional Symposium o n People, Lakes and Land: Puzzling Relationships, November 13-16, 1996 at the Radisson Hotel South in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For further information, contact NALMS, P.O. Box 101294, Denver, CO 80250. (303)781-8287; fax (303)781-6538.