Resolution: Spill Reporting in the Binational St. Clair River-Lake St. Clair-Detroit River Corridor
Adopted on May 16, 2001

Whereas, the St. Clair River-Lake St. Clair-Detroit River corridor is a vitally important binational resource shared by the United States and Canada; and

Whereas, water resources in the binational corridor are heavily used for recreational boating and angling, commercial navigation, drinking water, and many other purposes; and

Whereas, numerous water intakes are located along the corridor from which drinking water is taken for millions of residents in Michigan and Ontario; and

Whereas, binational agreements and protocols are in place between the United States and Canada to report hazardous materials spills and facilitate a coordinated, multi-agency response, including, among others, the Joint Marine and Inland Pollution Contingency Plans, and the Southeast Michigan Area Contingency Plan; and

Whereas, concerns have been raised about the adequacy of existing procedures for reporting hazardous materials spills in a timely manner to protect public water supplies; and

Whereas, important local initiatives are in place to protect water quality in Lake St. Clair and its watershed including, among others, the Macomb County Water Quality Board, the St. Clair County Blue Water Task Force on Water Quality, and the St. Clair Channel Keeper organization.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission calls for enhanced dialogue among all parties involved in water quality management in the binational St. Clair River-Lake St. Clair-Detroit River corridor to clarify existing mechanisms and procedures for preventing, reporting and responding to hazardous materials spills; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission endorses efforts to assess and strengthen binational arrangements for reporting hazardous materials spills, with a particular emphasis on safeguarding public water supplies; and

Be It Finally Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission calls for the development of a comprehensive binational water quality monitoring and surveillance system in the corridor to provide resource managers and the public with accurate and timely data on pollutant levels, contaminant sources, flow conditions, aquatic plant distribution and associated information necessary to protect public health and promote commercial and recreational uses in the corridor.

Unanimously adopted by the eight member states of the Great Lakes Commission at the 2001 Semiannual Meeting in Ann Arbor, Mich., May 16, 2001.