International Joint Commission

Essential information on loadings, pathways and fate of the critical persistent toxic
chemicals be obtained as a priority so that practical mass balance models of critical
classes of pollutants can be developed and priority can be assigned to source control in
Lakewide Management Plans for each lake (5.4)
Each Lakewide Management Plan incorporate objectives for reductions in toxic substances
that will eliminate deformities and reproductive problems in fish, fish-eating
birds, reptiles and mammals (5.5)
The International Joint Commission and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission ensure that
the peer review process is part of Lakewide Management Plans and Fishery Management
Plans (5.5)
CHAPTER 6: SPILLS
It is recommended that:
The Commission urge governments to give spill prevention a higher priority than
contingency planning (6.1)
A basinwide spill data system be established to monitor the number and causes of spills
on the Great Lakes (6.1)
Agoal beestablishedforreducing thenumberof marinetransportspills by one-halfevery
three years (6.1)
Great Lakes transportation policy be reviewed and evaluated in terms of three questions
(6.1):
- What is the safest mode of transport for oil and toxic substances?
- Would a single, binational Great Lakes Coast Guard be feasible and more effective
than the two systems currently in use?
- How can marine transport be made safer?
CHAPTER 7: POLLUTED GROUNDWATER
It is recommended that:
the Parties and jurisdictions adopt and implement the recommendations of the SAB
Technological Committee Workshop on Assessing the Potential for Great Lakes Contamination
via Groundwater (October 1989, University of Waterloo), restated as follows (7.4):
- using Geographic Information System computer technology, collate all
hydrogeological data
- develop a directory of hydrogeological expertise as a resource for conducting the
required studies
- produce a single, comprehensive, ”state-of-the-knowledge” report, incorporating
case histories of significant pollution of the Great Lakes by contaminated groundwater
and examples of the transboundary movement of contaminants, should be
prepared by the International Joint Commission to illustrate the significance of the
problem
- coordinate a United StatedCanadian groundwater initiative so that resultant databases
are fully integrated and compatible
The Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario give priority to implementing the
recommendationsofthe 1990 “Groundwater in Canada” report, published bythescience
Council of Canada, including efforts to address (7.4):
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