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IDENTIFYING
THE CONCERN
St. Clair River AOC
The St. Clair River AOC includes the entire river, from the Blue Water Bridge to
the southern tip of Seaway Island, west to St. Johns Marsh and east to include
the north shore of Mitchells Bay on Lake St. Clair. Anchor Bay is not included.
The IJC listed the St. Clair River as an AOC because of pollutants such as
bacteria, heavy metals, and toxic organics, which had come from municipal and
industrial discharges, urban and rural runoff, combined sewer overflows (CSOs),
and contaminated sediments.
Remedial Action Plan
Through the Great Lakes agreement, the IJC created a mechanism for the AOC to
initiate cleanup measures. This mechanism is known as a Remedial Action Plan
(RAP). A RAP consists of six steps:
1. Evaluation of remedial
measures in place;
2. Evaluation of alternative
additional measures to restore beneficial uses;
3. Selection of additional
remedial measures to restore beneficial uses and a schedule for their
implementation;
4. Identification of persons,
agencies, or organizations responsible for implementing selected remedial
measures;
5. Evaluation of
implementation and effectiveness of remedial measures; and
6. Surveillance and monitoring
processes to track the effectiveness of remedial measures, leading to eventual
confirmation of restoration of beneficial uses.
RAP
Team
The RAP for the St. Clair River AOC was initiated in 1985. A binational group,
called the RAP Team, was established in 1987 to develop the plan and ensure
adequate and appropriate public involvement. The RAP Team included
representatives from federal, state, and provincial governments.
Binational Public Advisory
Council
The St. Clair River Binational Public Advisory Council (BPAC) was created in
early 1988 to work with and advise the RAP Team and government representatives
on a regular basis during development of the Remedial Action Plan. Its role, at
that time, was to convey public opinion and views regarding RAP goals. BPAC also
offered advice on problem identification, planning methodology, public
involvement, technical information, identification of available remedial
options, selection of remedial actions, and plan recommendations.
Impairments to the River
In 1991, BPAC published an extensive document called the St. Clair River
Stage 1 Remedial Action Plan that showed evidence of, or the need for:
• Restrictions on fish
consumption
• Bird and animal
deformities
• Degradation of benthos
• Restrictions on dredging
activities
• Restrictions on drinking
water consumption or drinking water taste and odour problems
• Beach closings
• Degradation of aesthetics
• Added cost to agriculture
and industry
• Loss of fish and wildlife
habitat
RAP Implementation and Public
Accountability
In 1995, BPAC released the St. Clair River Stage 2 Recommended Plan,
which offered new information on water use goals, remedial measures, and
implementation strategies. As a consequence, BPAC’s function changed from
developing a remediation plan to implementing that plan. Today, BPAC provides
accountability by auditing implementation activities, evaluating progress toward
delisting goals, reviewing environmental monitoring results, providing advice
for implementation committees, and issuing reports on RAP progress to the
public.
Accomplishments
Through cleanup efforts by BPAC and others, as well as natural recovery
processes, environmental conditions of the St. Clair River have improved so that
there are:
• No restrictions on
drinking water consumption and no evidence of taste and odour problems
• No added cost to
agriculture or industry
• No tainted fish and
wildlife flavour
• No increased incidence of
bird or animal deformities or reproductive problems
Future Endeavors
With this progress, the future of the St. Clair River is promising. However,
efforts must continue to:
• Remove contaminated
sediments and improve sediment quality, thereby improving the benthos and fish
and wildlife habitats
• Protect, restore, and
rehabilitate fish and wildlife habitat
• Reduce or eliminate sport
fish advisories through on-going control of potential pollution sources
• Eliminate all other listed
impairments and seek opportunities for continued improvement
BPAC will continue to involve
communities and citizens so that all individuals who work, live, and recreate in
the St. Clair River watershed understand their role and responsibility for a
healthy, beautiful, and bountiful river system.
BPAC
Members
BPAC consists of 56 members from both Ontario and Michigan who represent a
cross-section of communities and who have contributed extensive knowledge and
time toward the Remedial Action Plan. BPAC members represent the public sectors
of:
• Agriculture
• Business and industry
• Citizens-at-large
• Community groups
• Conservation and
environment
• Education
• Fishery
• Health
• Labour
• Municipalities
• Native peoples
• Provincial/state agencies
• Shipping
• Tourism and recreation
Government Agencies
Government agencies participating with BPAC include:
• Environment Canada (DOE)
• Fisheries and Oceans
Canada (DFO)
• U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA or EPA)
• Ontario Ministry of the
Environment (MOE)
• Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources (MNR)
• Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
• Walpole Island First Nation |
