Characterization of Toxic Substance Problems in the Great Lakes

Forty-two Areas of Concern have been identified in the Great Lakes basin where 1978 Great Lakes Water Qualtiy Agreement Objectives or jurisdictional (state/provincial) standards, criteria or guidelines have been exceeded. Thirty-nine sites have toxic substance problems. Due to the difficulty and expense of dealing with these heavily contaminated areas, a protocol was developed to aid jurisdictions in defining quantitive and qualitative aspects of the toxic substance problem(s) and to aid in developing remedial action plans. A three phase approach (I: compile all available data; II: field verification; and III: field study) was established to provide the minimum amount of information necessary to characterize toxic substance problems (i.e. establish the cause-and-effect relationship).