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In this Issue:
Great Lakes
Regional Collaboration
Significant Activities Report:
January 2009
Great Lakes Regional Collaboration
 Waste incinerators are one of the mercury emission sources |
The Mercury Reduction Strategy technical team held teleconference calls during the months of November and December to further the progress of the Mercury Emission Phase-Down Strategy. The work group members selected source sectors based on the criteria communicated in the June 17, 2008 memo to stakeholders. Selection was based on the following criteria:
- Total emissions within the Great Lakes states
- Potential for high deposition within Great Lakes Basin (due to speciation profile) or high local emissions impact (because of big individual sources)
- Current availability of measures to achieve reductions.
- Potential for future emissions growth from the sector
Sources were further evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Are mercury emissions from the sector already being adequately addressed?
- Do states have the ability to achieve reductions beyond what will be accomplished through existing/forthcoming regulations/programs?
- Are there cost-effective opportunities for additional reduction?
The Great Lakes Mercury Emissions Reduction Strategy workgroup posted a draft outline, the criteria document, and the source sector document for a 30 day public comment period on November 17, 2008. For more information see: http://glrc.us/initiatives/toxics/ToxicsUpdate11-2008.html.
Contact:
Alexis Cain (cain.alexis@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA - Region 5 (312) 886-7018
 Type E botulism has killed thousands of fish-eating birds like gulls in the Great Lakes. |
Botulism
Coordination Network
GLNPO scientists Bill Bolen and James Schardt helped establish a Great Lakes
Botulism Coordination Network to advance ongoing agency activities and help
identify new multi-agency activities for future implementation. The Great
Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC) Executive Committee recently approved
the establishment of a Great Lakes Botulism Type E Coordination and Response
Initiative whose centerpiece is the Coordination Network. The Steering
Committee for the Initiative is envisioned to be comprised of a wide range
of leading botulism researchers and agency representatives who are currently
engaged in aquatic monitoring, assessment, and response activities
throughout the basin. It is expected that a principal focus of the Network
will be the identification of causal mechanisms for the botulism outbreaks
and implementation of management actions which will mitigate impacts.
Further information is available online at:
http://glrc.us/initiatives/botulism/index.html.
Contact:
Bill Bolen (bolen.bill@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA - GLNPO (312) 353-6316
Ohio Habitat/Species Workshop
The first in a series of workshops being held in each
of the Great Lakes States as part of the Great Lakes Regional
Collaboration’s (GLRC) Habitat/Wetlands Initiative was held in Northeast
Ohio on December 2, 2008. A GLRC Habitat/Species Subcommittee, which guides
the Initiative is sponsoring these workshops. The Subcommittee is charged
with overseeing implementation of the habitat and species-related
recommendations contained in the 2005 Great Lakes Regional Collaboration
Strategy. The workshop brought together 50 key decision makers from Great
Lakes states, cities, tribes, non-governmental organizations and federal
agencies in a facilitated dialogue about advancing habitat protection and
conservation through demonstrations of collaborative tools, discussion of
state priorities and needs, and interactive dialogue about innovative
approaches for moving selected projects from planning to implementation.
GLNPO's Rita Cestaric and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's Jan Miller
helped develop the workshop. Presentations were delivered by Great Lakes
Commission, Healing Our Waters, Ducks Unlimited, Ohio Department of Natural
Resources, Ohio EPA, Lake Erie Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
U.S. EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. See the GLRC Website (http://glrc.us)
for the schedule of the remaining workshops and more information about the
Habitat/Wetlands Initiative.
Contact:
Rita Cestaric (cestaric.rita@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA - GLNPO (312) 886-6815
International Activities
Commission for Environmental Cooperation Meeting
GLNPO scientist Beth Murphy attended the Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment Standing Committee of the Commission for
Environmental Cooperation on December 2 and 3, 2008 in Cuernavaca, Morelos,
Mexico. Beth is the U.S. Great Lakes representative for the committee and
was asked to give a presentation on the monitoring and surveillance
activities that are currently being implementing, both by GLNPO and in
cooperation with Environment Canada, as part of the U.S. update on domestic
priorities and international activities. In addition to similar
presentations from the Canadian and Mexican representatives, the group was
provided with a tour of the Instituto Mexicano de Technologia del Auga
(IMTA) or Institute for Mexican Water Technology and their laboratory space.
Contacts:
Elizabeth Murphy
(murphy.elizabeth@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA - GLNPO (312) 353-4227
Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy Semiannual Stakeholder Forum
The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy (GLBTS)
Semiannual Forum was held December 2-4, 2008 at the Hyatt O’Hare in
Rosemont, Illinois. The Substances and Sectors workgroup met December 2-3;
PCBs and HCB/B(a)P workgroups met December 3, and the Integration Workgroup
met December 4. Agendas and presentations are posted online at
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/bns/reports/dec2008/index.html.
The Substances and Sectors workgroup continued to
develop the “Framework for Identifying Substances to be considered in the
Great Lakes”, with “beta tests” of polybrominated diphenyl ethers,
perfluorooctane sulfonates, and nonylphenols. The Framework is intended to
comprehensively evaluate potential threats of substances in the Great Lakes.
Keynote speeches were given by Margaret Kenny, Director
General, Chemical Sectors, Environment Canada, and Jim Willis, Director, New
Chemicals Division, U.S. EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, on
how the U.S. and Canadian chemical assessment and management programs might
work more closely together through the GLBTS.
Contact:
Frank Anscombe (anscombe.frank@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA - GLNPO (312) 353-0201
or Ted
Smith (smith.edwin@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA - GLNPO (312) 353-6571
Invasive Species
 Didymo, aka "Rock Snotis", is an invasive freshwater alga that is spreading across North America. |
New Invasive Alga in Lake Superior
The invasive alga "didymo"(Didymosphenia
geminata) has been
detected in Lake Superior. Previously thought to be not suited for the cold
temperatures of the lake, the alga has been identified at several points
along the U.S. shoreline. State agencies are pursuing outreach efforts
targeting outdoor enthusiasts, particularly anglers, with the reminder to
clean boats and avoid wearing felt-soled waders, which have been know to aid
the transport of algae. Current concerns persist as to whether didymo will
enter estuaries and nearby rivers and streams. The Superior Work Group is
providing outreach support to state agencies through ongoing channels of
communication with basin stakeholders, such as the Lakewide Management Plan
report update, Lake Superior Day brochures, and other printed materials.
Contact:
Elizabeth LaPlante (laplante.elizabeth@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA - GLNPO (312) 353-2694
Contaminated Sediments
Muskegon, Michigan AOC: Division Street Outfall Project
Several GLNPO scientists attended a meeting of the
Muskegon Remedial Action Plan (RAP) technical team on December 16, 2008 to
present the preliminary findings of the Feasibility Study for the Division
Street Outfall Great Lakes Legacy Act cleanup project, and to update the
technical team on the status and schedule of site activities.
Representatives from the RAP, the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality, Weston Solutions (U.S. EPA's contractor), and the City of Muskegon
participated in the meetings.
Preliminary findings indicate that two options score significantly higher than other alternatives when evaluated on criteria ranging from cost to effectiveness to public acceptability:
- A complete dredging remedy, and
- A mixed remedy of dredging plus enhanced natural recovery. The major trade-off between the dredging and mixed remedy are costs vs. long-term effectiveness.
GLNPO anticipates finalizing the Feasibility Study in late January 2009. The group provided initial feedback and established a schedule for the coming months to move the project forward. GLNPO staff also took a brief site tour.
Contact: Marc
Tuchman (tuchman.marc@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA - GLNPO (312) 353-1369
or Scott Cieniawski (cieniawski.scott@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA - GLNPO (312) 353-9184
 EPA's sediment sampling vessel, the R/V Mudpuppy, being lowered into the Ottawa River, Ohio to identify the extent of needed sediment cleanup there. |
Maumee River AOC: Ottawa River Project
On December 30, 2008, GLNPO scientist Scott Cieniawski
attended a public information meeting for local stakeholders regarding the
proposed Great Lakes Legacy Act program Ottawa River sediment cleanup
project. The meeting was sponsored by the non-federal sponsor for the
cleanup project, the Ottawa River Group (ORG). Approximately 15 people
attended the meeting, including representatives from the Ohio EPA, the City
of Toledo, and the Maumee Remedial Action Plan.
ORG representatives gave a presentation describing the
proposed cleanup, projected costs, schedule, and potential impacts and
benefits for the local community. Scott Cieniawski provided a brief overview
of the Great Lakes Legacy Act and discussed the current status of the
project, emphasizing that ORG and GLNPO are coordinating on a $1.5 million
sampling and design project for the river, but that no funding decision has
been made yet regarding funding of the actual cleanup project.
Contact: Scott Cieniawski (cieniawski.scott@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA - GLNPO (312) 353-9184
 A scene from the Kinnickinnic River sediment remediation project area. |
Milwaukee AOC: Kinnickinnic River Project
As of the end of December 2008, the construction of the
special cell for Kinnickinnic River sediments at the Milwaukee Area Confined
Disposal Facility, including all excavation, berm construction, under-drain
trenching, and sump installation, was complete. The construction contractor
(Freeman Environmental Services) will completely demobilize from the site at
the beginning of January 2009. Thus, the first phase of construction for the
Kinnickinnic River sediment remediation project is essentially complete.
On December 12, 2008, a Kinnickinnic River project meeting was held at the Port of Milwaukee office with the agency stakeholders (GLNPO, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Port of Milwaukee). The participants discussed the bid package for the contract for the remediation phase of the project. The bid package went out to bidders on January 12, 2009. Contract award is expected by March 2009, with initiation of sediment dredging and disposal activities in Spring 2009.
Contact:
Ajit Vaidya (vaidya.ajit@epa.gov)
U.S. EPA - GLNPO (312) 353-5713