Number: 1993-04
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes are of major environmental and economic importance to the citizens of the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, pollution of the Great Lakes, especially by persistent toxic chemicals, has had a detrimental effect on the Great Lakes ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, historically, each of the Great Lakes states have set their own pollution standards for their waters of the Lakes, which are sometimes inconsistent and do not adequately protect people, wildlife and fish exposed to toxic pollution; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), all eight Great Lakes states, environmentalists, academics and industry representatives have cooperated in the development of the “Great Lakes Water Quality Initiative” and a “Great Lakes Guidance” which delineates pollution control requirements applicable to all U.S. waters of the Great Lakes; and
WHEREAS, the Great Lakes Guidance has been delayed by EPA and the Office of Management and Budget and has not yet been published for public review and comment as required by the Clean Water Act;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 11-14, 1993, in Crystal City, Virginia, urges EPA to publish immediately the draft Great Lakes Guidance for public review and comment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges EPA and the States to promulgate and implement as quickly as possible final Great Lakes Guidance that:
- Eliminates the discharge of the most dangerous toxic chemicals;
- Phases out mixing zones and other dilution approaches to pollution control by the year 2004;
- Protects people and wildlife from toxics that bioaccumulate in the food chain;
- Protects high quality waters from degradation; and
- Controls toxic pollution from point sources, such as municipal and industrial discharges, and non-point sources, such as polluted runoff from urban and rural areas, leaking dumpsites, contaminated sediments and atmospheric deposition.