The largest multijurisdicional effort of its kind in
North America, the updated inventory compiles data collected
by the eight Great Lakes states and the province of
Ontario. Based on 1999 data, it?s the latest version
of an annual inventory that tallies toxic air emissions
in the Great Lakes region.
"This inventory is an outstanding example of binational
cooperation in managing a shared resource," said Sam
Speck, chair of the Great Lakes Commission. "It lays
the foundation for air emissions research and also provides
the knowledge base for our air management partners to
improve air quality in the Great Lakes basin."
Supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
with participation by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment,
the inventory provides extensive information to guide
air quality policy and regulatory decisions. Listing
pollutants by type, quantity and source, it covers 213
individual toxic air pollutants emitted by 674 distinct
categories of sources and 1,597 different types of processes.
This latest inventory pays special attention to mercury
emissions. It includes an overview of regional mercury
levels, identifies information gaps and suggests areas
where the inventory could be improved. Reported mercury
emissions from the eight Great Lakes states and the
province of Ontario totaled 47,000 lbs. in 1999, down
26,000 lbs. from the year before.
Sources covered in this inventory fall into two broad
categories:
- Point sources are a single, identifiable location
such as a smokestack
- Area sources are generally too small and numerous
to be individually assessed; they include gas stations,
dry cleaners and consumer products
The inventory strengthens environmental decisionmaking
capabilities by identifying inconsistencies in data
collection and analysis across jurisdictions, and encouraging
the establishment of standard procedures and protocols.
It includes the development of an automated emission
estimation and inventory system, and demonstrates the
value of the Internet as a means of exchanging environmental
data.
One of the main challenges in compiling the inventory
was maintaining consistency from one jurisdiction to
the next, given differences in data breadth, quality
and availability. As a result, the inventory should
not be used to compare emissions from one state or province
to another but rather to demonstrate the potential of
a comprehensive inventory as a decision support tool.
The project team is now compiling the mobile sources
portion of the 1999 inventory and an update using data
for the year 2000. The team is also designing a searchable
Internet database, due for release next year.
Contacts for individual state inventories and the Ontario
inventory are:
Rob Altenburg: Penn. DEP, 717-783-9248
David "Buzz" Asselmeier: Ill.EPA, 217-782-5811
Gary Baker: Mich. DEQ, 517-373-7058
Jon Bates: Ind. DEM, 317-233-4226
Bob Bielawa: N.Y. DEC, 518-457-2823
Orlando Cabrera-Rivera: Wisc. DNR, 608-267-2466
Tom Velalis: Ohio EPA, 614-644-2270
Peter Wong: Ontario MOE, 416-235-6130
Chun Yi Wu: Minn. PCA, 651-282-5855
Program Specialist, Data and Information Management
Great Lakes Commission
734-971-9135
kyam@glc.org
Web site:
http://www.glc.org/
