Challenge Goals Great Lakes Toxics Strategy, Pesticides, Alkyl-Lead, &Octachlorostyrene Reports

[ttweed@wildrockies.org (Tony Tweedale)]

[Federal Register: December 31, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 251)] [Notices]
[Page 72311]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31de98-104]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6213-7]


Preliminary Draft Pesticides, Alkyl-Lead, and Octachlorostyrene Reports
Published in Response to the United States' Challenge Goals in ``The Great
Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy; Canada-- United States Strategy for the
Virtual Elimination of Persistent Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes''

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Preliminary Draft Pesticides, Alkyl-
Lead, and Octachlorostyrene Reports published in response to the United
States' challenge goals in ``The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy;
Canada--United States Strategy for the Virtual Elimination of Persistent
Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes,'' and opportunity to comment.

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SUMMARY: ``The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy; Canada-- United
States Strategy for the Virtual Elimination of Persistent Toxic Substances
in the Great Lakes (the Strategy),'' was signed on April 7, 1997. The
Strategy set forth a number of challenges to be met on the path toward
virtual elimination of the Level I Strategy substances. Two of these
challenges required USEPA to report by the end of 1998, indicating whether
the respective challenges had been met. These challenges are as follows:
U.S. Challenge: Confirm by 1998 that there is no longer use or release from
sources that enter the Great Lakes Basin of five bioaccumulative pesticides
(chlordane, aldrin/dieldrin, DDT, mirex, and toxaphene), and of the
industrial byproduct/contaminant octachlorostyrene. If ongoing, long-range
sources of these substances from outside of the U.S. are confirmed, work
within international frameworks to reduce or phase out releases of these
substances.
U.S. Challenge: Confirm by 1998, that there is no longer use of alkyl-lead
in automotive gasoline. Support and encourage stakeholder efforts to reduce
alkyl-lead releases from other sources.
Two preliminary draft reports have been prepared in response to the first
challenge, one regarding the five bioaccumulative pesticides (chlordane,
aldrin/dieldrin, DDT, mirex, and toxaphene), and one regarding the
industrial byproduct/contaminant octachlorostyrene. A third preliminary
draft report was prepared to respond to the alkyl- lead challenge.
All three of these reports can be found on the internet at the following
address: http://www.epa.gov/bns/. Commenters may transmit their comments
electronically by following the directions provided on the website, or may
send written comments to Elizabeth LaPlante at the following address: U.S.
EPA, Great Lakes National Program Office, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, G-17J,
Chicago, Illinois, 60604. Comments may also be sent to Ms. LaPlante via
facsimile at (312) 353-2018.

DATES: The preliminary draft reports will be made available to the public
by December 31, 1998. Comments on the reports must be submitted no later
than March 1, 1999.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additional information on the Great Lakes
Binational Toxics Strategy, or the draft reports, may be obtained by
contacting Elizabeth LaPlante by phone at (312) 353-2694, via E-mail at the
address ``laPlante.elizabeth@epa.gov'' or at the address or fax number
listed above.

Dated: December 23, 1998.
David A. Ullrich,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5. [FR Doc. 98-34697 Filed 12-30-98;
8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

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