GLRI Success Story Areas of Concern Chad Lord Healing Our - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

GLRI Success Story Areas of Concern Chad Lord Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition (202) 454-3385 clord@npca.org

Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

Areas of Concern The U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (Annex 1 of the 2012 Protocol) defines AOCs as "geographic areas designated by the Parties where significant impairment of beneficial uses has occurred as a result of human activities at the local level." An AOC is a location that has experienced environmental degradation.

Areas of Concern • 26 U.S. AOCs • 5 binational AOCs • 12 Canadian AOCs

Evaluate conditions Remove Implement BUI actions Consult Assess public actions Propose removal

First Great Lakes GLLA 2002 Appropriation GLLA 2008 Restoration 2004 Initiative

Results • Four AOCs delisted • 50 beneficial use impairments at 18 AOCs in eight Great Lakes states removed – five times total in preceding 22 years. • Over 3.5 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment has been remediated.

Results • AOCs delisted - four • Oswego River (NY) - 2006 • Presque Isle (PA) – 2013 • Deer Lake (MI) – 2014 • White Lake (MI) – 2014 • Management actions complete – four • Ashtabula River (OH) • St. Clair River (MI) • Sheboygan River (WI) • Waukegan Harbor (IL)

Buf Buffalo R o River ( (NY)

"The Buffalo River is a repulsive holding basin for industrial and municipal wastes, it is devoid of oxygen and almost sterile..." Our Mission Source: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Our Mission Protect water quality and quantity for present and future generations while connecting people to water Source: Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper

Photo credit: Joe Cascio photography

Cleaning Up Our Industrial Past Buffalo River Restoration Partnership

St. L Louis Ri River er ( (MN)

Source: MPCA

St. Louis River AOC • July 2013 Remedial Action Plan approved • Created by 40-plus partner organizations • Under plan, 70 clean up actions to remove all 9 BUIs completed by 2020 • 5 th year of implementation • Delist AOC by 2025

Chambers Grove Shoreline Softening/Restoration Photos courtesy Nelson French, MPCA

Slip 2 – Contaminated Sediment Cleanup Photos courtesy Nelson French, MPCA

St. Louis River AOC Clean Up • Estimated cost of work: • Federal share: $93.1 million (Great Lakes Legacy Act) • Non-federal share: $64.1 million (Minnesota bonding; U.S. Steel) • Minnesota Legislature approved $25.4 million bond for sediment clean up – May 30, 2017 • Matches $47.2 in federal funding • Money left on the table?

St. Louis AOC Clean Up • Clean up of contaminated sediment leads to • Local economic benefits • Aquatic habitat improvements • Tourism and recreation