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United States Response to Recommendationsin the International Joint Commission’sNinth Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality
United States Department of StateUnited States Department of StateandandUnited States Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection AgencyGreat Lakes National Program OfficeGreat Lakes National Program OfficeChicago, IllinoisChicago, Illinois
August 1999
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INTRODUCTION
The United States (U.S.) compliments the International Joint Commission (the Commission or“IJC”) on the release of its
Ninth Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality
. It containsthoughtful recommendations for actions by the U.S. and Canada (the Parties).The Parties have made significant efforts and expenditures to address adverse environmentalimpacts and to mitigating or reversing the subsequent effects. The Parties take pride in theircooperative efforts in working toward proactive solutions to avoid new impacts and to protect theGreat Lakes Ecosystem from degradation. The U.S. wishes to assure the Commission of its firmcommitment to continue these efforts.The Commission’s
Ninth Biennial Report
, as in reports past, stresses the need to continue theParties’ efforts in reducing and virtually eliminating, persistent toxics from the Great Lakes. Inaddition, the Commission has increased its focus on the potential impacts of radioactivesubstances. The U.S. remains committed to this effort, and along with our Canadian partners, isactively engaged in national, binational, regional, and global efforts to address persistent organictoxic pollutants, be they from air emissions, from nonpoint sources, or from traditional pointsources. The U.S. feels that this multilevel approach will increase the pace of toxics reduction inthe Great Lakes and within the international community.The Commission has once again expressed concern over the way in which reductions ingovernment funding may affect Agreement activities. The U.S. is aware of the need for vigilanceand innovation to protect and to more efficiently use limited resources. We take very seriouslyour responsibility to protect the citizens we represent. The U.S. commitment to the Great Lakesremains firm and undiminished. We are actively engaged in ensuring that the needs of the GreatLakes are well met through the efficient use of all resources. The development of State of theLakes Ecosystem Conference (SOLEC) indicators, for example, will help to target monitoringresources.It is important to note that this response, while highlighting a small selection of representativeactivities, reflects the wide universe of programs being undertaken by the large number of U.S.Great Lakes partners. These partners include Federal, State, Tribal and local agencies as well aspublic, private and non-profit businesses and organizations. This vast array creates a synergywhich has led to the significant environmental improvements in the Great Lakes Basin.The U.S. feels that it is important to strongly reiterate that there are a variety of stressorsimpacting the Great Lakes ecosystem. We recognize and are addressing the impacts of toxicsubstances through a variety of existing and new, innovative efforts. But there is also an equallyimportant need to address other areas of vital importance to the health of the Great Lakes. Theseinclude, but are not limited to, the protection and restoration of important habitats; enhancingbiodiversity; controlling the impacts of exotic species and limiting future introductions; andpromoting sustainable patterns of development. The breadth and magnitude of the stressorsimpacting the Great Lakes both argues for and bolsters the ecosystem approach to research and
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management of the Basin which forms the cornerstone of our efforts. The U.S. encourages theIJC to make recommendations as to how the Parties can make continued progress in furtheringthe adoption and full implementation of the ecosystem approach.On behalf of the entire U.S. Great Lakes community, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are pleased to present this Nation’s response to theCommission’s
Ninth Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality
.
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