< About this document > Title:Michigan Areas of Concern NEWS - Volume VI, Fall 1994 Description: This newsletter was financed through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Date: Fall, 1994 Author: Lori Reynolds Agency: Great Lakes Commission Keyword: RAPS, Areas of Concern Contact: Lori Reynolds/Matt Doss Great Lakes Commission Argus II Building 400 Fourth St. Ann Arbor, MI 48103-4816 Phone: 313-665-9135, Fax: 313-665-4370 E-mail: lreynold@glc.org < Citizens' Conference emphasizes cooperation > More than 100 people attended the fourth annual Michigan Citizens' Conference on Great Lakes Areas of Concern, held September 17 in Port Huron, Michigan. At the conference, citizens exchanged ideas and learned techniques for local remedial actions to restore beneficial uses in their Areas of Concern (AOCs). Thomas Baldini, U.S. chair of the International Joint Commission, was the keynote speaker. He cited the importance of the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) process and offered to be an advocate for increased financial support. Attendees also heard panel discussions, saw a demonstration of the Great Lakes Information Network, and participated in breakout groups. Below is a summary of the panel and breakout group discussions. -Panel discussions Fourteen speaker representing a range of interests from foundations to county and state government shared their experiences and expertise in four panel discussions. A common thread in all sessions was the need for a cooperative approach to solve problems in AOCs. Topics discussed in the panel sessions include the following: -Nonpoint source pollution * Federal and state programs. * The importance of coordinated interagency action for successful watershed programs. * Efforts in Grand Traverse County. The community is an area of high water quality and efforts have focused on pollution prevention. These include a stormwater ordinance, watershed management plans and the Grand Traverse Bay Watershed Initiative, a partnership of 127 organizations. * A project in Oakland County carried out to detect failing septic systems. Dye was injected into toilets and tracked to see if it ended up in the Rouge River. A majority of the systems tested were found to be failing. * Nonpoint source pollution in the White Lake and Muskegon Lake AOCs, from streambank erosion, agricultural runoff and urban runoff. Solutions in the White Lake watershed include best management practices, in-stream sediment ponds and composting, while the approach in the Muskegon Lake watershed focuses more on education and outreach. -Contaminated sediments * The importance of citizens to keep informed and involved, and to keep asking questions. Information sharing is important in the community, as local knowledge is vital to the RAP process. * Assessing sediment for contamination, and evaluating remedies. * Efforts to deal with contaminated sediment in three areas: Collingwood Harbour, Ontario; Monguagon Creek, Michigan; and Manistique Harbor, Michigan. -Habitat * An overview of federal, state and private groups that provide funding, technical assistance and advice on habitat protection and restoration. * Efforts in Hamilton Harbour, Ontario, home to more than 36 waterfront industries. A main habitat goal is to have a healthy and naturally reproducing warm-water fishery. * Lake Orion/Paint Creek, Michigan, home to a successful project to support a year-round trout population. Three years ago, a tube was placed at the bottom of the lake to tap cold water, which was discharged into the creek to maintain downstream temperatures below 70 degrees. This led to improved water quality and habitat for the trout. -Land use planning * Legal and policy aspects. * Authority and responsibilities of various levels of government. * The need for a bottom-up approach to land use planning. * Actions citizens can take: educate themselves, view successful models from other areas, attend meetings of planning and zoning boards, and pay attention to what is happening in their communities. - Breakout groups In the afternoon, six breakout groups provided an opportunity for citizens to discuss issues raised in the morning panel discussions and to identify priority actions they can take to address these issues. These groups reported back at the end of the day, and their reports will be used to develop strategies for public action. The following key priorities were identified: * Funding. Dedicated long-term funding support for all aspects of the RAP process. * RAP Education. Both formal K-12 education as well as nonformal education of elected officials, citizens, community and business leaders and agency representatives. * Communications. Access to the Internet; use of GLIN; a RAP clearinghouse; and use of the media to inform, educate and communicate. * Research, technical assistance and technology transfer. Broader involvement of the research community; development of new technologies; training opportunities for the RAP community; and information and technology sharing between AOCs. * Program evaluation. Institutional strategy and approach to track progress and evaluate programs and to share this information with other AOCs. * Links between RAP goals and land use planning. Process for including RAP goals and priorities in local land use planning. Historically, land use planning has received too little attention and must be integrated at both the watershed level and with the RAP process. The conference was sponsored by the Statewide Public Advisory Council, St. Clair Community College and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which contracted with the Great Lakes Commission to facilitate conference activities. A proceedings document from the conference will be available. < Chair Report: Communication between AOCs a key to successful cleanup > State/provincial cooperation a step in the right direction By Timothy Lozen, Chair When the Michigan Statewide Public Advisory Council and its provincial counterpart, the Ontario Public Advisory Council, met for a weekend of activities in mid September, it marked the first time citizens from both countries got together for the sole purpose of discussing what they can do at the local level to help implement Remedial Action Plans (RAPs). While the United States and Canada have a long tradition of cooperation, council members from both groups recognized the need to improve communication between Michigan and Ontario regarding the RAP process. Both groups share a common purpose: to facilitate public participation in decisions affecting their respective state and provincial Areas of Concern (AOCs). By sharing ideas, both groups can more effectively meet our common mission. The Michigan Citizens' Conference for Great Lakes Areas of Concern provided an ideal forum to unite the groups, and we selected a site that reflected our special focus on Michigan/Ontario cooperation: Port Huron, Michigan, and Sarnia, Ontario. The site is home to the St. Clair River AOC, one of three shared by Ontario and Michigan. Ontario has 14 additional AOCs, while Michigan has 11 more. The weekend was a tremendous success and served as a reminder that all 28 AOCs are trying to achieve the same goal: a clean lake/river/harbor/bay that supports the desired beneficial uses of the community. Communication is key to the success of this goal, and it is heartening to take this first step toward what we hope will be a lasting relationship of friendship and information sharing. We plan to build on the success of this initial meeting by exploring avenues to continue to work together. < Michigan, Ontario councils foster binational communication > Fostering binational communication about RAPS was the goal of two joint meetings of the Statewide Public Advisory Council and the Ontario Public Advisory Council. Held in conjunction with the Citizens' Conference, the meetings allowed the two groups to share information and explore ways to continue doing so in the future. The first meeting, held September 16, was an introductory session where council members met and provided brief introductions to their Areas of Concern. Networking to manage the Great Lakes Basin's water resources was the focus of the the second meeting, a workshop held September 18. Opportunities for progress on connecting channels received special focus. The Great Lakes Basin has five connecting channels, three shared by Ontario and Michigan (St. Marys, St. Clair and Detroit rivers); and two between Ontario and New York (Niagara and St. Lawrence rivers). A summary report of a recent roundtable session for the connecting channel AOCs was discussed. SPAC Chair Tim Lozen stated it is essential that Canada and the United States work together in the cleanup effort. SPAC and OPAC recommended that both groups, recognizing the uniqueness of connecting channel AOCs, encourage citizens in these AOCs to find ways to work together. Council members also heard presentations on Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs) and how these plans could be integrated with RAPS. The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement calls for LaMPs ``to reduce loadings of critical pollutants in order to restore beneficial uses of the Lake.'' Bob Hartley, Lake Superior LaMP, characterized them as ``a dynamic action-oriented management plan.'' LaMPs are under way for Lake Superior, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Diana Klemans, of the Michigan DNR, explained that these LaMPs take a somewhat different approach. Lake Superior has a pollution prevention focus with an emphasis on zero discharge for certain persistent toxic substances, Lake Michigan's main focus is on critical pollutants and Lake Erie will possibly have a biological focus, with emphasis on exotic species and habitat restoration and protection. Efforts are under way to more closely integrate LaMPs and RAPS. RAP participants can provide information to those involved with LaMPs about pollutants originating in the AOCs. A major theme for the weekend was the need for more information sharing and education. Carol Ratza, manager of the Communications Program at the Great Lakes Commission, provided one solution to meet this need, the Great Lakes Information Network. GLIN is a cooperative effort of government agencies, academia and organizations in the Great Lakes to provide online access to Great Lakes environmental and economic information in one convenient location. GLIN allows users to search for all types of information by topic, such as PCBs; provides a bulletin board service that will allow AOCs to advertise events; and provides access to newspaper articles that pertain to environmental issues in Michigan. < Conference Highlights: Baldini praises RAP cooperation > The most impressive feature of the Remedial Action Plan process "has been the willingness of thousands of people around the Great Lakes from all walks of life, with different skills and interests, to come together for a common purpose,'' noted International Joint Commission U.S. Chair Thomas Baldini in his keynote address at the Citizens' Conference. That purpose? To ensure that the future of their community will be one characterized by a healthy environment and economic opportunity for them and their children. The IJC has consistently stressed the need for communication and cooperation in the RAP process, Baldini said, noting that "cooperation throughout the community is, in fact, what gives the RAPs their cutting edge and what will ensure they are more successful than many other government programs." The IJC provides a forum for stakeholders to explore how problems can be solved for the common good, according to Baldini, who provided an overview of the commission. He noted the unique status of the IJC, which was given regulatory authority by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 over certain uses of boundary waters, "a responsibility no other two nations in the world have ceded to a quasi-independent organization." The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1972 added the responsibility to evaluate progress made by the federal, state and provincial governments to achieve the objectives of the agreement. "Under the agreement, the IJC has the burdens and responsibility of being a policy leader without the authority to make policy or regulations." This arrangement can result in creative and collective efforts that would be difficult to achieve in any other forum, according to Baldini. "The Remedial Action Plan process is a very good example of how a daunting set of circumstances can lead to constructive action." Yet several challenges remain, including maintaining enthusiasm, building partnerships, and finding money to carry out actions identified in the RAPs. "Not everything we need is going to require money," Baldini said, "but I would hate to see us get to Stage 3 and we don't have the money. It is going to be incumbent on all of us, that every time we have an opportunity to talk to a county commissioner, a city commissioner, a state legislator, a governor, a congressman, a senator, we've got to stress the fact that someone has to begin thinking about how we're going to fund this." Baldini told the audience he would do what he can to help them succeed, "even if this means supporting your efforts to secure resources when this is appropriate." He also noted that it will take a "fundamental change in the very fabric of our community to address the problems that have been identified in the Stage 1 RAPs, and that is the road we're on." < AOC Notes: Manistique River > By Leif Christensen An engineering evaluation/cost analysis and risk assessments regarding capping or dredging the contaminated sediments in the Manistique Harbor have been prepared by Manistique Papers and Edison Sault Electric Company. After significant review, the documents have been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA has proposed a final remedy that essentially relies on dredging. Internal EPA correspondence cites concern that capping may set a precedent for other cleanups within the Great Lakes Basin. In addition, EPA cites concerns regarding long-term protectiveness of the cap and Toxic Substance Control Act regulations. Manistique Papers and Edison Sault are providing information to EPA to respond to the agency's concerns and demonstrate that the sediments can be capped. Studies cite a risk reduction of 94% in capping the harbor and a 62% risk reduction in dredging. Manistique Papers and Edison Sault have volunteered to implement the capping remedy. The Harbor Advisory Committee, a group of concerned local citizens, has sponsored a petition supporting capping and opposing dredging, generating more than 4,000 signatures. Members of the congressional delegation and the Public Advisory Committee also have expressed strong support for capping. < AOC Notes: Muskegon Lake > By Jerry Engle As reported in the last newsletter, the Muskegon Lake RAP has been completed. A joint meeting of the MDNR RAP Team and the Muskegon Lake Public Advisory Council was held May 2 for a final joint review of the draft document. The RAP was released to the public in October, and a public meeting on the report is scheduled for November 7. Public comments on the plan will be accepted through December 7. The findings of the RAP have been circulated locally and have led to some useful publicity, including a strongly supportive editorial in the leading local newspaper and increased public attention to one of the AOC's most serious pollution sources identified by the RAP. Local media repre<%-3>sentatives are looking forward to the formal publication and release of the RAP, and the general public is anxious to learn whether the final plan will lead to any concrete actions in restoring their lake to a more acceptable condition. < AOC Notes: Rouge River > By Carla Davidson and Keith Krinn The Rouge River RAP is in the process of being updated. In May the Rouge RAP Advisory Council submitted goals to the DNR's Rouge RAP Team for its consideration. Since that time, the DNR has been working to update the Rouge RAP's goals and track progress on RAP implementation. A draft of the 1993-94 Rouge River Rap Update was released for public and agency comment in September 1994. Comments will be accepted through October, with the final document expected to be published by the end of the year. If you are interested in commenting on the draft 1993-94 Rouge River Rap Update, contact Carla Davidson at 313-961-4266 to receive a copy. In other news, an innovative project to detect failing septic systems in the Rouge River headwaters received funding. The project was carried out this summer. See the boxed article below for further details and project results. < AOC Notes: St. Marys River > By Amy Owen The Friends of the St. Marys River has submitted a proposal to Parks Canada for a St. Marys River Center. The proposed center could be housed in the old lock master's house, which is a beautiful stone historic building. Final reports from the four task teams (flora and fauna, clean-up and restoration, point source, and reporting and education) will be completed this fall. A technical writer will integrate these reports into a Stage 2 RAP. Cannelton Industries a former tannery in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, along the St. Marys River is a source of chromium contamination to the river. Studies of groundwater, soil leaching, sediment toxicity, and bio-accumulation of heavy metals were completed this summer. Results will help determine remedial action for the site. Additional shoreline stabilization work will be completed in 1994-95 as part of ongoing efforts to control releases of contaminants to the river. Pilot remediation studies also will be completed in 1995 to determine characteristics of, and cleanup options for, the highly contaminated material in the site's ``barren zone.'' Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, has committed $17 million to improve its sewer system. The multi-year plan will result in the complete separation of storm and sanitary sewers, thereby eliminating the discharge of raw sewage to the river during severe storms. < AOC Notes: White Lake > By Tanya Cabala In August, the White Lake Public Advisory Council, along with the Muskegon Lake Public Advisory Council, helped host a meeting of the Lake Michigan Forum, a public advisory body for the Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) for Lake Michigan. The Lake Michigan Forum recently decided to hold its meetings around Lake Michigan to increase public awareness and input into the cleanup and restoration plan process for Lake Michigan. The joint meeting of the PACs and the Forum well-attended by local, state and regional RAP participants focused upon integrating activities of PACs and the LaMP. The Forum had its regular meeting the following day in Muskegon. Members of the White Lake and Muskegon Lake PACs were excited that the Forum chose to host a joint meeting of both PACs and the Forum in Muskegon as its first outreach effort. The PACs have representation on the Forum and plan to continue combining efforts to restore the White Lake and Muskegon Lake AOCs and Lake Michigan. As for status of the White Lake RAP, the White Lake PAC is awaiting the release of the "1994 White Lake Rap Update" by the Michigan DNR for a full public comment period and hearing. < Rouge River AOC: innovative technique to test sewage disposal systems > A project that was developed by the On-site Sewage Disposal Subcommittee of the Rouge RAP Advisory Council was approved for funding by the Wayne County Department of the Environment from the national Wet Weather Demonstration Project. The summer project, titled The Rouge River Headwaters On-site Sewage Disposal System Survey, was a cooperative effort with the Oakland County Health Division and the Southeastern Michigan Health Association (SEMHA). The project was staffed by environmental health college seniors who were employed by SEMHA and assigned to the Oakland County Health Division. The survey identified tributaries to the Rouge system in Farmington Hills and Southfield suffering from poorest water quality based upon tests for dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity and fecal coliform. A macro invertebrate census also was performed in each sampling station. The areas of poor water quality identified in the first phase were then targeted for residential dye-testing of on-site sewage disposal systems using an innovative technique in which fluorescein dye was flushed down the toilets of homes in the targeted areas and 5-gram packets of activated charcoal were placed in the river to collect any dye leaching from those septic systems. The packets were collected and the charcoal immersed in 20 ml of a 5% potassium hydroxide solution. Any dye absorbed by the charcoal would be released in the solution. Of the homes dye tested using this method, 52% were found to be failing or slowly leaching sewage into the Rouge. Previous techniques required an individual to visually observe the presence of dye, which could occur any time from one to two days after the dye was released. < Activities at the Citizens' Conference host site: St. Clair River AOC > By Jennifer Molloy, MDNR The St. Clair River AOC, host site of the 1994 Citizens' Conference, has seen a lot of recent activity. The Stage 2 RAP document is nearly complete. Since the public review ended October 3, the RAP Team has been considering comments for final revisions. The RAP is scheduled to be submitted to the International Joint Commission (IJC) by the end of the year. Combined sewers in St. Clair, Yale and Marine City underwent the final stages of separation this summer. The city of Sarnia has drafted a comprehensive plan to upgrade the treatment plant to secondary treatment, and control combined sewer overflows (CSOs); the city is now pursuing funding options. The city of Port Huron also is currently revising its CSO control plan in conjunction with MDNR. MDNR continues wetland restoration projects in Algonac State Park and St. John's Marsh, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is gearing up for habitat restoration projects on Stag Island and Chenal Ecarte. The Ministry of Environment and Energy (MOEE) and the Lambton Industrial Society (a consortium of industries located on the eastern shore of the St. Clair River) initiated joint sediment characterization efforts this summer on the critical hot spots south of Sarnia. These studies are designed to determine where sediment remediation may be necessary, and, if so, what the feasible options are. In addition, three dimensional sediment mapping and profiling is being conducted by Environment Canada, and sidescan sonar evaluation of sediments is being conducted by Geological Survey of Canada. A sediment/ benthic reference sites assessment by Environment Canada also is planned for this fall, and a funding partnership with EPA is being explored for this study. The logistics and politics of cross-border funding have been difficult up to now; we're hopeful this can be worked out. Several other studies were initiated this year. Fish contaminant monitoring was conducted by MOEE, MNR and MDNR. The effects of commercial ship wakes and surges on low-lying areas in the St. Clair delta are being studies by the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The St. Clair River Binational Public Advisory Committee (BPAC) held its annual St. Clair River Week in June. A week of activities designed to raise awareness of the river as a natural resource included tours of local industries, spill response and cleanup demonstrations, waterfront tours and nature walks, theater presentations, concerts, canoe and kayak demonstrations, a yacht regatta, storm drain marking, a photo exhibit and a fish fry. BPAC also held its annual photo contest, and timed the awards ceremony to coincide with the public release of the Stage 2 RAP. Friends of the St. Clair River, a nonprofit organization formed by the St. Clair BPAC, raised funds for a fax-based alert system for more rapid notification of downstream facilities and communities whenever a spill occurs. Friends also hosted an IJC-sponsored workshop for participants of the five Great Lakes connecting-channel RAPS in June. As the focus of RAP activities shifts from planning to implementation, the RAP Team is evolving into a RAP Implementation Committee with representation from new organizations, agencies and stakeholder groups who will be able to most expeditiously facilitate environmental cleanup. The BPAC also has decided to formally expand its role from acting primarily in an advisory capacity to becoming more actively involved in setting priorities and aiding in implementation. < Statewide Public Advisory Council: Council Members and Alternates > Clinton River Representative: William Smith, Mt. Clemens, 313/468-4028 Alternate: Erich Ditschman, Rochester Hills 313/853-9580 Deer Lake Representative: James Russell-Parks, Marquette 906/345-9961 Alternate: Philip Doepke, Marquette 906/227-2812 Detroit River Representative: Mary Ginnebaugh, Grosse Ile 519/255-7141 Alternate: Richard Armstrong, Detroit 313/224-1103 Kalamazoo River Representative: Mary Powers, Kalamazoo 616/345-9295 Alternate: Ron Baylor, Kalamazoo 616/381-7030 Manistique River Representative: Leif Christensen, Manistique 906/341-2175 Alternate: James Wicks, Germfask 906/586-3351 Menominee River Representative: Nancy Douglas, (Vice chair), Menominee 906/863-2679 Alternate: George Rogers, Menominee 715/735-7411 Muskegon Lake Representative: Gerald Engle, North Muskegon 616/744-6330 Alternate: Kathleen Evans, Muskegon 616/788-3880 River Raisin Representative: James Mann, Manchester 313/428-8388 Alternate: Harold D. Straub, Monroe 313-241-5501 Rouge River Representative: Keith Krinn, Pontiac 810-858-1333 Alternate: Orin Gelderloos, Dearborn 313/593-5339 Saginaw River/Bay Representative: Patrick Howe, Midland 517/631-8839 Alternate: Robert King, Mt. Pleasant 517/774-2494 St. Clair River Representative: Timothy Lozen, (Chair), Mt. Clemens 810/469-2633 Alternate: Fred Kemp, Port Huron 313/984-9730 St. Marys River Representative: Amy Owen, Sault Ste. Marie 906/632-0072 Alternate: Gaylord Alexander, Lewiston 517/786-2613 Torch Lake Representative: George Pini, Hubbell 906/296-4701 Alternate: Gerald Perreault, Lake Linden 906/482-8307 White Lake Representative: Tanya Cabala, Whitehall 616/722-5116 Alternate: David Johnson, Whitehall 616/894-5069 < Upcoming Activities > -SPAC quarterly meetings The Statewide Public Advisory Council will meet October 20, 1994, and January 19, 1995, in East Lansing, Michigan. -EPA, MDNR seek citizens' input in southeast Michigan meetings U.S. EPA and MDNR will hold a series of public meetings to gather input from citizens on their environmental concerns and priorities for southeast Michigan. This input will help establish joint long-range environmental goals that will shape the agencies' future priorities and budgeting decisions. One meeting will be held in each of seven counties (St. Clair, Macomb, Washtenaw, Lenawee, Monroe, Livingston and Oakland), and two will be held in Wayne County. The meetings are scheduled from November 16 to December 7, and are sponsored by the Southeast Michigan Initiative Public Participation Work Group. For specific dates and locations, contact Denise Mogos, MDNR, 313-953-1528.