Resolution: U.S. Federal Support for Restoration and Delisting of Great Lakes Areas of Concern
Adopted on May 7, 2002

Whereas, the United States-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1972, as amended, provides for the designation of Areas of Concern (AOC) in need of remedial actions to address documented pollution problems; and

Whereas, thirty-one AOCs have been designated in U.S. waters, each with a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) process that coordinates and focuses the efforts of multiple levels of government and other stakeholders; and

Whereas, substantial progress has been made in characterizing the sources and causes of beneficial use impairments, identifying necessary remediation activities, and generating broad stakeholder involvement in and support for the Remedial Action Plan process; and

Whereas, many of the Remedial Action Plans are entering the implementation phase, when funding for cleanup actions, pollution prevention efforts and related activities is needed to restore beneficial uses and, ultimately, delist the AOCs; and

Whereas, substantial resources are needed to remediate contaminated sediments, which are a persistent source of toxic pollution to the Great Lakes from each AOC and contribute to 11 of the 14 beneficial use impairments identified in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement; and

Whereas, continued technical guidance and coordination by federal and state agency staff is critically important to implementing Great Lakes Remedial Action Plans and maintaining progress in restoring environmental quality in the AOCs; and

Whereas, the U.S. federal government traditionally has supported the Great Lakes states in administering the AOC program, consistent with its responsibilities under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement; and

Whereas, federal funding is vital to leveraging funding from state and local sources as well as other federal programs for cleanup efforts in the AOCs; and

Whereas, the U.S. Policy Committee has finalized principles and guidelines for documenting progress in restoring the AOCs, formally delisting beneficial uses and removing sites from the list of Great Lakes AOCs; and

Whereas, the U.S. Policy Committee has released the Great Lakes Strategy 2002, which calls for bringing all Remedial Action Plans to an implementation phase by 2005 and the delisting of at least three AOCs by 2005 and a cumulative total of 10 by 2010.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission calls on the U.S. Congress to reaffirm the federal government's commitment to restoring and delisting Great Lakes AOCs; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission urges the U.S. Congress to embrace the multiple Commission priorities and associated appropriations for AOC clean-up as articulated in the 2002 Great Lakes Program to Ensure Environmental and Economic Prosperity; and

Be It Finally Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission urges the U.S. Congress and U.S. EPA to recognize the importance of, and provide adequate support for, state agencies and designated citizens advisory councils in coordinating and leveraging resources for implementation of Remedial Action Plans in the AOCs.

Unanimously adopted by the Great Lakes Commission at its Semiannual Meeting, May 7, 2002 in Québec City, Québec.