AOCs AND LaMPs

Remedial Actions Plans (RAPs) for the Great Lakes Areas of Concern

The U.S.-Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) identified 43 U.S. and Canadian Areas of Concern or AOCs in the Great Lakes (see map below). They are impacted areas with specific environmental problems, or beneficial use impairments (most have several use impairments):

• restrictions on fish and wildlife consumption
• tainting of fish and wildlife flavor
• degradation of fish wildlife populations
• fish tumors or other deformities
• bird or animal deformities or reproduction problems
• degradation of benthos
• restrictions on dredging activities
• eutrophication or undesirable algae
• restrictions on drinking water consumption, or taste and odor problems
• beach closings
• degradation of aesthetics
• added costs to agriculture or industry
• degradation of phytoplankton and zooplankton populations
• loss of fish and wildlife habitat

In order to restore AOCs and their use impairments, the GLWQA also directed that Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) be developed by U.S. and Canadian federal governments in cooperation with state and provincial governments. RAPs are typically compiled by a state or provincial department in charge of natural resources; then they are signed by the secretary or minister of that department and submitted to the International Joint Commission for comment.

http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/index.html

Lakewide Management Plans or LaMPs

Lakewide Management Plans (LaMPs) also arose from the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (the 1987 amendments). LaMPs are to be developed and implemented for the open Great Lakes, while RAPs are for specific geographic Areas of Concern (AOCs), usually tributaries of the Great Lakes. LaMPs identify critical pollutants, beneficial use impairments, and loadings to the Great Lakes and then develop strategies to restore those beneficial uses and improve the Great Lakes ecosystem. LaMPs for lakes Erie, Michigan, Ontario and Superior have been developed with guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada.