Remedial Action Plan (RAP)

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What is a RAP?

A RAP or Remedial Action Plan is required for each Area of Concern (AOC). It is a cleanup plan for restoring the environmental quality of an AOC such as the St. Clair River. The RAP is administered locally in accordance with the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) and the Canada-Ontario Agreement (COA). The RAP is an ongoing collaborative effort implemented by federal, provincial, and local governments, including First Nations, as well as industry and public partners.

The ultimate goal of the RAP is to identify and complete restoration actions in order to remove an AOC from this list.

Three Key Stages of a RAP

Stage 1 - Assessing the Problem
This involves a detailed description of the environmental challenges and extent.
Stage 2 - Recommending Action and Securing Commitments
The Rap Team recommends actions and options for addressing the environmental challenge.
Stage 3 - Achieving Goals and Delisting as an Area of Concern
When criteria for delisting have been achieved and water uses restored, the RAP Team prepares a final document providing evidence that the beneficial uses have been restored and the AOC can be recommended for “delisting”.

Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI) – A BUI is a common use or feature of a waterway that has been negatively impacted due/by to local environmental degradation.

Delist – The removal of an Area of Concern (AOC) from the list of AOCs achieved only when the criteria for the restoration of beneficial uses as defined by the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) are met and agreed upon by agencies and the local community.

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) – Combined storm and sanitary sewer systems.

What is a RAP?

Three Key Stages of a RAP

Stage 1 - Assessing the Problem

Stage 2 - Recommending Action and Securing Commitments

Stage 3 - Achieving Goals and Delisting as an Area of Concern

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Glossary

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