Environment Canada: Canada And The United States Achieving Elimination Of Toxins In The Great Lakes Region.Business Editors & Environmental Writers WINDSOR, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 29, 2002 Environment Canada Environment Canada (EC), legally incorporated as the Department of the Environment under the Department of the Environment Act ( R.S., 1985, c. E-10 ), is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for coordinating environmental policies and Officials and stakeholders Stakeholders All parties that have an interest, financial or otherwise, in a firm-stockholders, creditors, bondholders, employees, customers, management, the community, and the government. from the Great Lakes region The Great Lakes region can refer to:
The GLBTS has proven to be an effective mechanism for tackling the problem of pollution by encouraging cooperation between federal, state, provincial, and municipal agencies, First Nations groups industry associations and many non-government organizations. It is projected that by 2006, nearly all of the reduction targets set in 1997 - in some cases calling for up to a 90 per cent reduction - will have been met or exceeded. Canada and the United States committed to work toward the virtual elimination of twelve Level 1 persistent toxic substances (also known as the "Dirty Dozen") from the Great Lakes Basin, including aldrin/dieldrin, benzo(a)pyrene, chlordane chlordane (klōr`dān): see insecticide. , DDT DDT or 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1,-trichloroethane, chlorinated hydrocarbon compound used as an insecticide. First introduced during the 1940s, it killed insects that spread disease and feed on crops. , hexachlorobenzene, alkyl-lead, mercury, mirex mirex an effective organic pesticide used in ant control and as a fire retardant; it is, however, very persistent in tissue and now banned because of residue problems. , octachlorostyrene, PCBs, dioxins and furans. These substances have been linked to widespread, long-term adverse affects on fish and wildlife in the Great Lakes Great Lakes, group of five freshwater lakes, central North America, creating a natural border between the United States and Canada and forming the largest body of freshwater in the world, with a combined surface area of c.95,000 sq mi (246,050 sq km). ecosystem. "The multistakeholder efforts that are part of the Great Lakes Binational bi·na·tion·al adj. Of, relating to, or involving two nations. Toxics Strategy have not only led to an overall reduction of toxic substances entering the Great Lakes basin, but in some cases, have exceeded reduction targets," said the Honourable honourable or US honorable Adjective 1. principled 2. worthy of respect or esteem honourably adv Honourable Adjective David Anderson David Anderson may refer to:
"As the largest freshwater fresh·wa·ter adj. 1. Of, relating to, living in, or consisting of water that is not salty: freshwater fish; freshwater lakes. 2. Situated away from the sea; inland. 3. system on the face of the earth, the Great Lakes ecosystem holds the key to the quality of life and economic prosperity for tens of millions people," said Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and . "We understand and are absolutely committed to the importance of partnerships in getting things done. That's where we are going to make the difference in the environmental issues of the twenty-first century." GLBTS stakeholders will gather in Windsor to reflect on the progress that has been made so far and set the course for the next five years. The GLBTS will look to expand its focus towards the environmental impacts of individual actions such as household garbage garbage: see solid waste. burning, which accounts for a significant amount of uncontrolled air-borne pollution. Environment Canada states that burning household garbage is the third largest known source of dioxins and furans in Ontario, after medical waste incinerators and iron sintering sintering, process of forming objects from a metal powder by heating the powder at a temperature below its melting point. In the production of small metal objects it is often not practical to cast them. . Almost a quarter of rural residents in Ontario told pollsters last year they burn garbage. Among other pollutants pollutants see environmental pollution. released by this practice are the GLBTS toxics: benzo(a)pyrene, mercury, hexachlorobenzene and PCBs. The work of the GLBTS on reducing household garbage burning is also being used as a model for Canada-Wide Standards for dioxins and furans, as a way to address this practice across Canada Across Canada was an afternoon program that formerly aired on The Weather Network. The segment ran from early 1999 until mid 2002. The show ran from 3:00PM ET until 7:00 PM ET. . For additional information about the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy, please visit the website at www.binational.net. BACKGROUNDER back·ground·er n. An informal news briefing for reporters by an official often speaking off the record. Noun 1. backgrounder The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement In 1972, Canada and the United States signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA GLWQA Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement ) in recognition of the urgent need to improve environmental conditions in the Great Lakes. The GLWQA established the commitment to restore and enhance water quality in the Great Lakes ecosystem. In 1978 the Agreement was amended to include a commitment for the virtual elimination of persistent toxic substances and established a list of toxic chemicals Any chemical which, through its chemical action on life processes, can cause death, temporary incapacitation, or permanent harm to humans or animals. This includes all such chemicals, regardless of their origin or of their method of production, and regardless of whether they are produced for priority action. The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy In keeping with the obligations of the Great Lakes Quality Agreement, Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada and former President Bill Clinton committed in February 1995 to the development of a coordinated Canadian/U.S. strategy to virtually eliminate persistent toxic substances, particularly those which bioaccumulate, from the Great Lakes Basin. The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy (GLBTS) was signed into force on April 7, 1997 as a means of fulfilling these commitments. The Strategy responds to recommendations of many groups over the years (including the International Joint Commission, environmental and citizens' groups), to commit to the pursuit of virtual elimination of persistent toxics substances so as to protect and ensure the health and integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem. The persistent toxic substances identified in the Strategy have been linked with widespread, long-term adverse affects on the Great Lakes ecosystem, including fish and wildlife. This is the first time specific reduction targets have been set by both countries. In the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. the goals for mercury, PCBs and dioxins are national in scope because these toxics are primarily airborne and sources far outside the basin can impact the Great Lakes through atmospheric long-range transport. This Strategy takes a creative new approach to environmental protection. The goal of virtual elimination will be achieved through a variety of programs and actions, but the primary emphasis will be on voluntary actions and pollution prevention. The Strategy advocates "cleaner, cheaper, smarter" methods of reducing toxic substances and reaches out to all sectors of society. The GLBTS provides a 4-step analytical framework to guide Environment Canada, the United States Environmental Protection Agency "EPA" redirects here. For other uses see EPA (disambiguation) and Environmental Protection Agency. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA , and Strategy stakeholders towards the virtual elimination of Strategy substances. The steps include information gathering, analysis of current regulations, initiatives, and programs which manage or control substances, identifying cost effective options to achieve further reductions and implementing actions to work towards the goal of virtual elimination. The "dirty dozen" or "Level 1" persistent toxic substances targeted for reduction are among those substances that when present in water, sediment sediment, mineral or organic particles that are deposited by the action of wind, water, or glacial ice. These sediments can eventually form sedimentary rocks (see rock). or aquatic organisms Organisms See also animals; bacteria; biology; plants; zoology. anabolism Biology, Physiology. the synthesis in living organisms of more complex substances from simpler ones. Cf. catabolism. — anabolic, adj. , exert a toxic effect on aquatic animal and human life. They include aldrin/dieldrin, benzo(a)pyrene, chlordane, DDT, hexachlorobenzene, alkyl-lead, mercury, mirex, octachlorostyrene, PCBs, dioxins and furans.
BINATIONAL TOXICS STRATEGY STAKEHOLDER FORUM
Wednesday May 29th, 2002
The Cleary International Centre
Windsor, Ontario Canada
Strategy Achievements and Future Challenges
9:30AM Meeting Check-in and Registration
10:00AM Welcome, Introductions - Danny Epstein, Director,
Environmental Protection Branch, Environment Canada & Gary
Gulezian, Director Great Lakes National Program Office,
United States Environmental Protection Agency
10:15AM Reporting on the Strategy's Achievements and Challenges
PCB Challenge: Ken De, EC
Dioxin Challenge: Anita Wong, EC
B(a)P/HCB Challenge: Tom Tseng, EC
Mercury Challenge: Alexis Cain, USEPA
OCS, Pesticides & Alkyl Lead: Tony Kizlauskas, USEPA
11:45AM Lunch - Hosted by Environment Canada
1:00PM Industry and ENGO presentations
GLBTS process allowing imaginative solutions by industry:
Robert Stempel, Chairman, The Council of Great Lakes
Industries & Chairman, Energy Conversion Devices Inc.
State of Michigan Mercury Reduction Program: Andy
Buchsbaum, National Wildlife Federation
The Role of industry in the Lake Superior Binational
Program Nick Lewis - Manager, Environment, Cascades Fine
Paper, Thunder Bay Inc.
2:30PM Refreshment break - hosted by Environment Canada
2:45PM A panel presentation:
Indicators: SOLEC indicators in relationship to current
ambient monitoring practices and results: Harvey Shear,
EC and Paul Horvitin, USEP
Ambient Environmental Monitoring Results
Ambient air monitoring of Great Lakes toxics:
Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN): Todd
Nettesheim USEPA; and,
the National Air Pollution Surveillance Network (NAPS):
Tom Dann, EC
Sediment monitoring of toxics in the Great Lakes: Scott
Painter, EC
Mercury, PCB & Dioxin Trends in Herring Gull eggs: Chip
Weseloh, EC
Trends in PTB's in whole trout and salmon: Sandy Helman,
EPA
4:45PM Summary of Day, evening events, etc.
5:00PM Adjourn
BINATIONAL TOXICS STRATEGY - INTEGRATION WORKGROUP
Thursday May 30, 2002
The Cleary International Centre - Windsor Ontario
Strategy Achievements and Future Challenges
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
8:30 AM Meeting Check-in & Continental Breakfast - Hosted By
Environment Canada
9:00 AM Welcome, Introductions & Stakeholder Activity Updates
Danny Epstein, Environmental Protection Branch,
Environment Canada & Gary Gulezian, Director Great Lakes
National Program Office, United States Environmental
Protection Agency
9:30AM Emerging Chemicals of Concern- Presentations on
Immerging chemicals of concern entering the Great Lakes
- Focus on substances, sources, toxicity, pathways and
potential environmental effects
John Carey, Director General, National Water Research
Institute, Environment Canada Mike DeVito, Experimental
Toxicology Division, National Health &Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory, USEPA
10:30AM Break
10:45PM Pollution Prevention and the Great Lakes Binational
Toxics Strategy - Ian Orchard, Environment Canada
11:30AM Lunch - Hosted by Environment Canada
12:30PM Reflections on the Stakeholder Forum Plenary of May 29th
- Future Directions of the Strategy
2:30PM Break
2:45Pm Workgroup meeting report-out from - Issues that need to
be raised to the Integration Workgroup
Mercury
Dioxin & Furans
PCB
B(a)P & HC
3:45PM Agenda Planning - Integration Group Meeting - Thursday
August 29th, Chicago
4:00PM Wrap up and adjourn
|
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion