Pennsylvania Coastal Zone Management Program International Joint Commission Science Advisory Board Workshop : harbor development and environmental quality : the next 20 years : February 24, 25, 26, 1988 : summary

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

PENNSYLVANIA COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM/
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION

SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD WORKSHOP

HARBOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

THE NEXT 20 YEARS

FEBRUARY 24,25,26, 1988

SUMMARY PREPARED BY:

SISTER PAT LUPO, O.S.B.

MAY, 1988

SUMMARY PREPARED BY:

SISTER PAT LUPO, O.S.B.
MAY, 1988
TC
225
.E75
L87
1988

THIS PROJECT WAS FINANCED IN PART THROUGH A FEDERAL COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT GRANT FROM

THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES WITH FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL

OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WAS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE

COUNTY OF ERIE AND THE ERIE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE.

WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS ..................................... I

APPENDIX A ............................................... 18

- SEMINAR AGENDA .................................. 19

- LOCAL STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS ................ 20

- INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION SCIENCE .......... 21
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

- SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS ............................ 22

APPENDIX B ............................................... 29
"INTRODUCTORY REMARKS" BY DR. WILLIAM GARVEY

APPENDIX C ............................................... 37
"A CLEAN HARBOR IN 20 YEARS" BY SISTER PAT LUPO

APPENDIX D ............................................... 49
SYNOPSIS OF SLIDE PRESENTATION: "ERIE HARBOR
DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY BY THE
YEAR 2008" BY FRANK ZURN

APPENDIX E ............................................... 55
"OVERVIEW OF POLLUTION PROBLEMS IN PRESQUE ISLE
BAY AND ADJACENT LAKE ERIE WATERS" BY PETER YEAGER

APPENDIX F ............................................... 67
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND RELATED MATERIALS

WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS

HARBOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

THE NEXT 20 YEARS

FEBRUARY 24f 25, 26 - 1988

THE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD (SAB) OF THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT

COMMISSION ARRIVED IN ERIE ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH. THEY

REVIEWED REMEDIAL ACTION PLANS FOR SOME OF THE AREA OF CONCERN

DESIGNATIONS FROM 1:00 TO 5:00 P.M. AT THEIR BOARD MEETING.

THE ERIE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PROVIDED A RECEPTION FOR

THE SAB FROM 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY EVENING. PAUL KNUTH

AND DICK KUBIAK PRESENTED THE FILM "SHIFTING SANDS" AND

RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS. THE SAB, MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL STEERING

COMMITTEE, AND LOCAL CITIZENS ENJOYED THE RECEPTION AND

PRESENTATION.

THE SEMINAR, HARBOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY:

THE NEXT 20 YEARS, TOOK PLACE ON FEBRUARY 25TH. NINETY-ONE

PERSONS REGISTERED FOR THE SEMINAR - THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE

SAB MEMBERS OR THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION STAFF WHICH

INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL 20 PERSONS. APPENDIX A INCLUDES AN

AGENDA FOR THE SEMINAR AND LISTINGS OF THE LOCAL STEERING

COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THE SAB MEMBERS, AND THE SEMINAR

PARTICIPANTS.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE JUDITH LYNCH WELCOMED THE SAB AND THE

PARTICIPANTS TO THE SEMINAR IN HER NAME AND IN THE NAME OF

MAYOR TULLIO WHO WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND DUE TO ILLNESS.

PRESIDENT WILLIAM GARVEY OF MERCYHURST COLLEGE GAVE AN

OVERVIEW OF THE BAYFRONT, ITS PAST AND PRESENT. HISTORICALLY,

HE DISCUSSED WHAT THE BAYFRONT HAS MEANT TO THE ERIE COMMUNITY.

HE ALSO INCLUDED HIS ASSESSMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS

PLANNED OR PROJECTED FOR THE AREA. PRESIDENT GARVEY STRESSED

THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY AND BALANCE THAT MUST BE A PART OF

ANY BAYFRONT DEVELOPMENT. A COPY OF PRESIDENT GARVEY'S REMARKS

ARE INCLUDED IN APPENDIX B.

PAT LUPO, O.S.B., THE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE

BENEDICTINE SISTERS AND THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE ERIE COUNTY

ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION, ADDRESSED THE TOPIC OF A CLEAN HARBOR

IN 20 YEARS. SHE DISCUSSED THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF

PRESQUE ISLE BAY AND CHALLENGED THE ASSEMBLY TO JOIN

PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE GREAT LAKES BASIN WHO

ARE CLEANING UP THEIR WATERS. SHE SUGGESTED THAT ERIE ENDORSE

THE IJC's AREA OF CONCERN DESIGNATION WHICH WOULD RESULT IN THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF A REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN. A COPY OF SISTER PAT

LUPO'S REMARKS ARE INCLUDED IN APPENDIX C.

FRANK ZURN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ERIE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT

GROUP, INC. AND OF THE ERIE BAYFRONT HOTEL ASSOCIATES INC., THE

DEVELOPERS OF NIAGARA PLACEr DISCUSSED BOTH PLANNED AND

PROJECTED DEVELOPMENT ALONG ERIE'S BAYFRONT. HE USED SLIDES OF

THE ENTIRE BAYFRONT TO ILLUSTRATE THAT THE WATERFRONT IS OUR

FUTURE AND EMPHASIZED THE NEED TO REVITALIZE AND REGENERATE THE

CITY'S CENTER. A COPY OF MR. ZURN'S REMARKS ARE INCLUDED IN

APPENDIX D.

THIS CONCLUDED THE MORNING GENERAL SESSION. LUNCH WAS

PROVIDED BY THE ERIE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. MR. PETER YEAGER, THE

REGIONAL WATER QUALITY MANAGER FOR PENNSYLVANIA DER WAS THE

LUNCHEON SPEAKER. HE GAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE POLLUTION PROBLEMS

IN PRESQUE ISLE BAY AND THE ADJACENT LAKE ERIE WATERS.

ACCORDING TO MR. YEAGER, THE CITY OF ERIE'S COMBINED SEWER

OVERFLOWS AND STORM SEWERS CONTINUE TO BE THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF

POLLUTANTS IN PRESQUE ISLE BAY. POLLUTANT TYPES IDENTIFIED IN

THE BAY INCLUDE SEWAGE, TOXICS, EROSION/SEDIMENTS/NUTRIENTS,

THERMAL DISCHARGES, AND ERIE WATER TREATMENT PLANT DISCHARGES.

THE PENNSYLVANIA DER IS EXPECTED TO REQUIRE GREATER LOCAL

EFFORTS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE BAY, TOWARD ACHIEVING

THE GOAL OF A "SWIMMABLE" BAY WITHIN 20 YEARS. ALL PARTIES

INVOLVED, INCLUDING GOVERNMENTS, INDUSTRIES, AND CITIZENS MUST

TAKE THE TIME AND DEVOTE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO RESTORE AND

PRESERVE THE PRESQUE ISLE AREA. A COPY OF MR. YEAGER'S REMARKS

ARE INCLUDED IN APPENDIX E.

THE AFTERNOON SESSION OF THE SEMINAR WAS DESIGNED TO FOCUS ON

THE INPUT OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THREE AREAS OR ROUND TABLES.

THE ROUND TABLES WERE:

1. THE POLLUTION STATUS OF THE HARBOR AND LAKE WHICH WAS

CHAIRED BY DR. HOWARD C. SMITH, THE DEAN OF UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE AT GANNON UNIVERSITY. THE RECORDERS WERE SISTER

DOROTHY STONER, O.S.B. A PASTORAL MINISTER AT SAINT LUKE

PARISH AND DR. ROBERT O'KICKI OF CO-ORDINATED FINANCIAL

AND A MEMBER OF THE ERIE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION.

2. THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE SOURCES OF POLLUTION IN THE

HARBOR AND LAKE WHICH WAS CHAIRED BY DR. ROBERT LIGHT,

THE ACTING ASSISTANT DEAN FOR THE RESEARCH AND INDUSTRIAL

PROGRAM AT PENN STATE BEHREND AND PAUL KNUTH AN ASSOCIATE

PROFESSOR OF GEO-SCIENCE AT EDINBORO UNIVERSITY. THE

RECORDER WAS MARY ANN KULESA, A MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE OF

WOMEN VOTERS, A STUDENT AT EDINBORO AND AN ERIE COUNTY

ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION MEMBER.

3. LAND USE AT THE LAND-WATER INTERFACE AND LAKE LEVELS

WHICH WAS CHAIRED BY SISTER LAUREACE ANTOUN, S.S.J., THE

PRESIDENT OF VILLA COLLEGE AND ANN BROCK THE HEAD OF THE

NURSING DEPARTMENT. THE RECORDER WAS SISTER HELEN HEHER,

O.S.B.j PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT GLINODO CONFERENCE CENTER AND

MEMBER OF THE ERIE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION.

THE PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTED LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT,

REGULATORY AGENCIES, BUSINESS, DEVELOPMENT, INDUSTRIAL AND

ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS. IN EACH ROUND TABLE THEY IDENTIFIED

AND PRIORITIZED THEIR TOP CONCERNS AND SUGGESTED THE GOALS THAT

A COALITION (GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL) SHOULD

INITIATE. THE ROUND TABLES DID NOT LACK FOR DISCUSSION AND A

SUMMARY OF EACH ONE FOLLOWS.

THE FIRST ROUND TABLE DEALT WITH THE POLLUTION STATUS OF THE

HARBOR AND LAKE. TWENTY-SIX PERSONS PARTICIPATED.

OUT OF THE GROUP'S DISCUSSION THE FOLLOWING TOPICS EMERGED AS

AREAS OF GREATEST CONCERN:

1. BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS THE BAY HAS
ON PRESQUE ISLE (AND VICE VERSA)

- RECREATIONAL SURVEY

- FISH SAMPLING

- POLLUTANTS:

IN SEDIMENTS AND RUN-OFF

THE EFFECTS ON WILDLIFE

2. MONITORING OF ALL STREAMS AND OVERFLOWS THAT ENTER THE

BAY

NO ADVANCE NOTICE

MORE CONSISTENT AND EXTENSIVE ENFORCEMENT

3. HUMAN HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

- STUDY BACTERIA AND CONTAMINENTS

- COMPREHENSIVE MICROBIAL STUDY

- TOXICITY STUDY

4. IMPACT STUDY

- WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT ON FISH (QUALITY AND

POPULATION OF FISH)

- INCREASED BOATING ON BAY

5. ANALYZE THE IMPACT OF INDUSTRY AND INFRASTRUCTURE ON BAY
AND LAKE POLLUTION (STORM DRAINAGE, AIR POLLUTION, ETC.)

6. CHARACTERIZATION AND SOURCE IDENTIFICATION OF SEDIMENT

CONTAMINENTS

THE FOLLOWING GOALS WERE SUGGESTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

1. TO ESTABLISH A MUCH NEEDED COALITION

2. TO HAVE A COALITION (INCLUDING EPA, IJC, AND STATE)

RECOMMEND THAT THE STATE DER SUPPORT AN AREA OF CONCERN

DESIGNATION FOR ERIE HARBOR AND BAY

3. TO DEVELOP A REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN TO CLEAN UP THE HARBOR

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DESIGNATION OF ERIE AS AN AREA OF

CONCERN

4. TO HAVE CURRENT AND FUTURE WATERFRONT PLANS INCLUDE

SPECIFIC IMPACT CONSIDERATIONS OF POLLUTANTS IN THE BAY

AND LAKE

5. TO ESTABLISH A COALITION TO IDENTIFY NEEDS FOR

ENFORCEMENT AND URGE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES TO APPLY

ENFORCEMENT

THE SECOND ROUND TABLE DEALT WITH THE IDENTIFICATION OF SOURCES

OF POLLUTION IN THE HARBOR AND LAKE. TWENTY-SIX PERSONS

PARTICIPATED. THE GROUP DISCUSSED THEIR CONCERNS REGARDING

POLLUTION AND ABOUT 25 SOURCES WERE MENTIONED. THEY WERE PLACED

IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

1. AGRICULTURAL

SEDIMENTS - HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES, FERTILIZERS,

ANIMAL WASTES, FEED LOTSr ETC.

2. INDUSTRIAL

- DUMPSITES - PERMITTED AND NON-PERMITTED

- SPILLS AND DISCHARGES - PERMITTED AND NON-PERMITTED

- OIL AND GAS DRILLING

- STORAGE AND TRANSFORMERS

- TANK LEAKS OR COLLAPSE

3. DOMESTIC

- SEWER OVERFLOWS

- PROPERTY LAND RUN-OFF

CHEMICAL LAWN SPRAYS

GOLF COURSES

4. HOME OWNERS

- CHEMICAL DUMPING - HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTES fANTI

FREEZE, USED OIL, GASj PAINT, DETERGENTS, ETC.}

- SEPTIC SYSTEMS OUT OF CODE

5. TRANSPORTATION (BY LAND, SEA, AIR)

- MISHAPS -SPILLS-ACCIDENTS/DERAILMENTS

- DISCHARGES BY COMMERCIAL AND PLEASURE BOAT OWNERS

- SALT AND BRINE SPREADING

6. OTHER

- SAND REPLENISHMENT (TESTING)

- DREDGE SPOILS

- ACID MINE DRAINAGE

- ONE-TIME LAND DISTURBANCE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPMENT

I.E. BAYFRONT

- PROPOSED FLYASH DUMPS

- THERMAL DISCHARGES

- ATMOSPHERIC SOURCES

AIR EMISSIONS

INDUSTRIAL; COAL BURNING, SMELTING, SOLVENTS

AUTO

UTILITY COMPANIES

THE GROUP THEN IDENTIFIED THE MAJOR SOURCES OF POLLUTION.

THEY WERE:

1. POINT SOURCES

- SEWER OVERFLOWS INTO THE BAY

- INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES

2. NON-POINT SOURCES

- AGRICULTURAL RUN-OFF

- DUMPSITE LEACHATE

- URBAN/SEDIMENT RUN-OFF

THE GROUP ALSO DISCUSSED THE TYPE OF INDUSTRIES THAT HAVE

IMPACTED THE BAY IN ERIE COUNTY. THEY ARE:

1. PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY

2. PLATING

3. PLASTICS MANUFACTURING

4. CHEMICALS

5. JUNKYARD - SALVAGING

6. ANIMAL PROCESSING - TANNERIES

7. FOUNDRIES

8. COKING

9. AGRICULTURAL

10. PRINTING

11. METAL FABRICATING

12. MEDICAL INDUSTRIES

13. COMMERCIAL LAUNDRIES

14. OIL EXPLORATION

15. GAS EXPLORATION

16. MINERAL EXPLORATION

NEXT THE GROUP DISCUSSED WAYS TO LESSEN INDUSTRY'S IMPACT ON

THE BAY. THEY STATED THE FOLLOWING GOALS TO THE GENERAL

ASSEMBLY:

1. TO EXPAND THE INVENTORY ANALYSIS OF SUBSTANCES THAT PASS

THROUGH THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT - INCREASED MONITORING

OF THE PLANTS EFFLUENTS

2. TO SEPARATE THE COMBINED SEWERS

3. TO ADOPT A COUNTY-WIDE SEDIMENTATION CONTROL PLAN

10 -

4. TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ABUSES OF COUNTY-WIDE LAND USES AND

AGREE TO CORRECT THE ABUSES THROUGH ZONING AND ORDINANCES

AT THE BOROUGH, TOWNSHIP OR CITY LEVEL

5. TO ADOPT A COUNTY-WIDE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AND TO

ENCOURAGE EFFECTIVE PLANNING FOR EACH MUNICIPALITY IN

ERIE COUNTY

6. TO STRENGTHEN REGULATIONS ON AGRICULTURAL AND LAWN CARE

AND INDUSTRY'S USE OF CHEMICALS THROUGH STATE LEGISLATION

7. TO RE-ESTABLISH THE STATE TESTING LAB IN ERIE COUNTY IN

ORDER TO PROVIDE MORE TIMELY AND RELIABLE DATA ESPECIALLY

DURING THE BATHING SEASON

8. TO ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY AND LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES TO MAKE

REGULATIONS/ORDINANCES AVAILABLE TO THE ARMY CORPS OF

ENGINEERS IN AN EFFORT TO GUIDE THE CORPS ON LOCAL

MATTERS

9. TO UPDATE THE INVENTORY OF DUMP SITES IN ERIE COUNTY

10. TO RESTRICT DREDGING AND TO REQUIRE AN ANALYSIS OF ALL

DREDGE SPOIL

11. TO EDUCATE AND ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO REPORT SPILLS AND

ILLEGAL DUMPING

12. TO COMPLETE THE STUDY ON THE BOAT/MARINA CAPACITY OF

PRESQUE ISLE BAY. THE CORPS CANNOT DENY PERMITS - THE

CITY MUST ZONE THE BAY

THE THIRD ROUND TABLE DEALT WITH LAND USE AT THE LAND-WATER

INTERFACE AND LAKE LEVELS. THIRTY-FIVE PERSONS PARTICIPATED.

OUT OF THE GROUPS DISCUSSION THE FOLLOWING TOPICS EMERGED AS

AREAS OF GREATEST CONCERN:

1. ECONOMIC ISSUES

- INDUSTRY

- RECREATION

- TOURISM/COMMERCIAL

- RESIDENTIAL

2. ECOLOGICAL ISSUES

- POLLUTION

- CARRYING CAPACITY - SUSTAINABILITY

3. QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES

- PUBLIC ACCESS/THE COMMON GOOD

- NATURE/RECREATION

- CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

THE INTEGRATION OF THE ECONOMIC, ECOLOGICAL AND QUALITY OF

LIFE ISSUES IS NECESSARY IN ANY PLAN THAT IS TO BE DEVELOPED.

THE FOLLOWING GOALS WERE SUGGESTED:

12 -

1. TO DECENTRALIZE AUTHORITY - TRANSFER IT FROM THE STATE TO

THE COUNTY LEVEL

2. TO INSIST THAT DEVELOPMENT ENSURES POSITIVE CASH FLOW TO

THE CITY

3. TO ATTRACT APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT

4. TO MAKE OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMON

GOOD

5. TO INTEGRATE BAYFRONT DEVELOPMENT AND PRESQUE ISLE

MANAGEMENT

6. TO ENHANCE AND MAINTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY {THIS

REQUIRES AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR EACH

DEVELOPMENT}

7. TO ESTABLISH A LOCAL COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING

REPRESENTATIVES; COUNTY AND CITY GOVERNMENT, PORT

AUTHORITYr PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE,

PENNSYLVANIA DER, CORP. OF ENGINEERSt S.O.N.S. OF LAKE

ERIE, ERIE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION, DEVELOPERS,

CITIZENS, ETC.

THE ROUND TABLE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF

LAKE LEVELS. HOWEVER, THEY MADE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:

RECOGNIZE LONG TERM LAKE LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS IN DEVELOPMENT

PROJECTS.

13 -

THE ENTIRE GROUP RECONVENED FOR A CONCLUDING GENERAL SESSION.

THE CHAIRPERSONS SHARED THE CONCERNS AND GOALS OF EACH ROUND

TABLE. THE MAJORITY OF PARTICIPANTS INDICATED THAT A COALITION

SHOULD BE FORMED WITH THE GOAL OF CLEANING UP THE BAY IN 20

YEARS. MANY PARTICIPANTS FAVORED THE PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN

FORMULATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION WHICH IS A

REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN (RAP). A RAP IS REQUIRED IF AN AREA IS

DESIGNATED AS AN AREA OF CONCERN BY THE IJC. THERE WAS

SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR SUCH A DESIGNATION AT THE SEMINAR AND

IN MUCH OF THE PUBLICITY WHICH HAS FOLLOWED. (COPIES OF

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND RELATED MATERIAL ARE INCLUDED IN

APPENDIX F).

HARBOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY - THE NEXT

TWENTY YEARS ENDED WITH CLOSING REMARKS FROM DOCTOR JOHN

VALLENTYNE AND DOCTOR ALFRED BEETON, THE CANADIAN AND AMERICAN

CO-CHAIRS OF THE SAB. THE SAB HAD SPENT THE DAY WITH THE ERIE

COMMUNITY. THEY SAID THEY WOULD RECOMMEND THAT ERIE BE

DESIGNATED AS AN AREA OF CONCERN AND THAT THEY WOULD ENCOURAGE

PENNSYLVANIA DER TO SUPPORT SUCH A DESIGNATION. THEY ALSO FELT

THAT ERIE WAS AHEAD OF OTHER AREAS WITH SUCH A DESIGNATION

BECAUSE OF THE LOCAL INTEREST AND PARTICIPATION IN AN EVENT

WHOSE FOCUS WAS TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO CLEAN UP THE BAY. THEY

LIKED THE VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS REPRESENTED BY THE

PARTICIPANTS AND THEY GENERALLY FELT THE ERIE COMMUNITY WAS

READY TO EMBARK ON A REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN AND THAT THERE WAS NO

REASON WE COULD NOT CLEAN UP THE BAY IN 20 YEARS.

14 -

ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, THE SAB CONCLUDED THEIR BOARD

MEETING AT NOON. THE LOCAL STEERING COMMITTEE ARRANGED A PRESS

CONFERENCE. THE PARTICIPANTS WERE DR. ALFRED BEETON AND DR.

JACK VALLENTYNE OF THE SAB. MR. TIM EDER OF GREAT LAKES UNITED

AND PAT LUPO, O.S.B. OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE. THE MEDIA WAS

REPRESENTED BY CHANNELS 12, 24 AND 35 AS WELL AS EVELYN

ANDERSON OF THE TIMES AND GREG SPINKS OF THE MILLCREEK SUN.

THERE WAS GOOD COVERAGE ON TELEVISION AND IN THE LOCAL PAPERS.

IN A FOLLOW UP LETTER, THE SAB INDICATED THAT THEY 'WOULD BE

PREPARED TO SUPPORT ANY ERIE HARBOR AND PLANNING INITIATIVES

THAT REPRESENT CONTINUED PROGRESS TOWARD IMPLEMENTING THE GREAT

LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT."

THE LOCAL STEERING COMMITTEE MET ON MONDAY, MARCH 21ST TO

REVIEW THE PROCEEDINGS AND TO DECIDE ON THE NEXT PHASE OR

COURSE OF ACTION. THEY AGREED ON THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. THAT A BROAD BASE COALITION BE FORMED TO DEVELOP A PLAN

TO CLEAN UP PRESQUE ISLE BAY. THE COALITION TO BE CALLED

A STAKEHOLDERS' GROUP (A TERM USED BY CITIZEN GROUPS IN

OTHER GREAT LAKES CLEAN-UP PROJECTS) SHOULD INCLUDE:

LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEGISLATORS, MEMBERS OF

REGULATORY AGENCIES, REPRESENTATIVES OF BUSINESS,

INDUSTRY, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, DEVELOPERS AND

ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

2. THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE MAYOR OF ERIE CREATE

THIS STAKEHOLDERS' GROUP AND APPOINT MEMBERS INCLUDING

15 -

THOSE RECOMMENDED BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE

FEBRUARY SEMINAR; HARBOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL

QUALITY - THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

3. THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS' BE COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE

WATER QUALITY OF PRESQUE ISLE BAY. THAT THEY RECOGNIZE

THAT THE ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ARE

INEXTRICABLY INTERTWINED. CONCERN IN A STRONG ECONOMY AND

A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE - THEY

ARE INTERDEPENDENT.

4. THAT THE POLITICAL PROCESS BE USED TO PERSUADE A

COALITION OF LEGISLATORS TO WORK ON HAVING MONIES

ALLOCATED TO CLEAN UP THE BAY.

5. THAT REGULATORY AGENCIES AND THE ERIE COUNTY HEALTH

DEPARTMENT BE APPROACHED TO IDENTIFY DATA GAPS AND THAT

EXISTING CZM MONIES BE CONSIDERED A FUNDING SOURCE.

6. THAT SECRETARY DAVIS BE NOTIFIED THAT AS A RESULT OF THE

FEBRUARY SEMINAR? THERE is AN ATTEMPT TO FORM A

STOCKHOLDERS' GROUP THAT WILL DIRECT ITS EFFORTS TO

CLEANING UP PRESQUE ISLE BAY IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS, AND

THAT THE SECRETARY BE ASKED TO STATE HIS POSITION

REGARDING THIS.

7. THAT THE STAKEHOLDERS DEVELOP A CONCENSUS COMPREHENSIVE

STRATEGY THAT IS ACTION ORIENTED AND DIRECTED TOWARD

CLEANING UP THE HARBOR BY 2008.

16 -

8. THAT THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEET AGAIN ON APRIL 13, 1988

TO IDENTIFY MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE STAKEHOLDERS' GROUP

AND TO ASSESS CITY, COUNTY, AND STATE SUPPORT.

- 17 -

APPENDIX A

- SEMINAR AGENDA

- LOCAL STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

- INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION SCIENCE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS

- SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS

- 18 -

HARBOR DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY:
THE NEXT 20 YEARS
FEBRUARY 24, 25, 26 - 1988
QUALITY HOTEL PLAZA
16 West 10th Street
Erie, Pennsylvania

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24:
1:00 - 5:00 PM Science Advisory Board Meeting Room 203/205
Review of Remedial Action Plans
6:00 - 8:00 PM Presentation of "Shifting Sands" and Reception Ballroom
Welcome: Mr. Donald F. DiPlacido, Sally Miller Perdue
Introduction of the film: Mr. Paul Knuth, Mr. Richard Kubiak

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25:
10:00 - 10:30 AM Registration Lobby
10:30 AM - Noon General Session Ballroom
Welcome: County Executive Judith Lynch, Mayor Louis 1. Tullid
Introductory Remarks: Dr. William Garvey
A Clean Harbor In 20 Years: Sister Pat Lupo, O.S.B.
The Waterfront Is Our Future:. Mr. Frank Zurn
Closing Remarks: Mr. Walter Lyon
Preview of Afternoon Session: Sister Pat Lupo, O.S.B.
12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch Ballroom
Guest Speaker. Mr. Peter Yeager, Reg. Water Quality Mgr., PA DER
1-15 - 2-30 PM Roundtables,
(1) The Pollution Status of the Harbor & Lake Room 207/209/211
(2) Identification of the Sources of Pollution Room 213/215/217
in the Harbor & the Lake
(3) Land Use at the Land-Water Interface and Lake Levels Room 203/205
2:30 - 2:45 PM Break Pool Area

2:45 - 3:45 PM Roundtables continued
4:00 - 5:00 PM Concluding General Session Ballroom
Roundtable Reports
Closing remarks - Science Advisory Board
Dr. John R. Vallentyne, Co-Chairman - Canada
Dr. AlfiW M. Beeton, Co-Chairman - United States

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26:
9:00 - 10:00 AM Science Advisory Board Meeting Room 203/205
Discussion of the 1987 Protocol to the
1978 Water Quality Agreement
10:00 - 10:15 AM Press Conference Room 213/215/217
10:15 - Noon Conclusion of the Science Advisory Board Meeting Room 203/205

IA)CAL STE39RING COMMITTEE
FOR I.J.C. SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

Dick Kubiak Sister Pat Lupo, O.S.B.
2534 East 33rd St. Mount St. Benedict
Erie, PA 16510 6101 East Lake Road
(814) 899-9676 H Erie, PA 16511
(814) 825-0345 W (814) 899-0614 W
(814) 454-4846 H

Mike Campbell
119 East 41st St. Robert M. Lorantas
Erie, PA 16504 Pennsylvania Fish Commission
(814) 864-7550 H P.O. Box 531
(814) 825-0374 W Fairview, PA 16415
(814) 474-1515

Bruce Kershner
Lake Erie Coordinator Donald F. DiPlacido,
Great Lakes United Erie Area Chamber of Commerce
24 Agassiz Circle 1006 State Street
Buffalo, NY 14214 Erie, PA 16501
(716) 886-0142 (814) 454-7191

David J. Sterrett, P.E. Paul Knuth
Deputy Director, Parks & Property Edinboro University of Pa.
City of Erie Edinboro, PA 16444
626 State Street, Room 504 (814) 732-2000 W
Erie, PA 16501
(814) 870-1453
Frank Zurn, Developer
South Shore Place, Suite 410
Judith Lynch Erie, PA 16505
Erie County Courthouse (814) 453-6906
140 West 6th Street
Erie, PA 16505
(814) 459-9359

Richard N. Zinn
Regional Director - Pa. DER
1012 Water St.
Meadville, PA 16335
(814) 724-8557

Peter A. Yeager
Water Quality Program Manager Pa. DER
1012 Water St.
Meadville, Pa. 16335
(814) 724-8550

SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION

Members Present

A. M. Beeton (Co-Chair) .................... NOAA/GLERL, Ann Arbor, MI
J. R. Vallentyhe (Co-Chair) ..................... CCIW, Burlington, ON
R. J. Allan ........ National Water Research Institute, Burlington, ON
K. W. Bauer ..... S.E. Wis. Regional Planning Commission, Waukesha, WI
L. K. Caldwell ................................ Indiana University, IN
D. A. Chant .............. Ontario Waste Management Corp., Toronto, ON
K. S. Davis .............. City of Toronto, Public Health, Toronto, ON
R. Frank ............................ University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
H.E.B. Humphrey ... Michigan State Dept. of Public Health, Lansing, MI
R.A. Liroff .............. The Conservation Foundation, Washington, DC
W. A. Lyon ................. University of Pennsylvania, Camp Hill, PA
H. A. Regier ...................... University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

observers

B. L. Bandurski .................... IJC, U.S. Section, Washington, DC
C. J. Edwards ....................... IJC Regional Office, Windsor, ON
M. Gilbertson ....................... IJC Regional Office, Windsor, ON
J. H. Hartig ........................ IJC Regional office, Windsor, ON
A. R. LeFeuvre .................... Environment Canada, Burlington, ON
L. Richie, Jr .......... IJC, Great Lakes.Regional Office, Windsor, ON
G. Thornburn ........................... IJC, Cdn. Section, Ottawa, ON

21 -

I.J.C. ME:ETING ATTENDEES

Mr. Mario S. Bagnoni Mr. David Skellie
Councilman, City of Erie Director, Erie County Dept. of Planning
4423 Peach Street Erie County Court House
Erie, PA 16509 140 West 6th Street
Erie, PA 16501

Ms. Joyce Savoccio Mr. John Mong, Planner III
Councilwoman, City of Erie Erie Cnty. Planning Office
4015 Allegheny Road Erie County Court House
Erie, PA 16509 140 West 6th Street
Erie, PA 16501

Mr. Joseph Giles Mr. Bruce A. Yount, Chief
Erie County Council Bureau of Sewers
257 East 7th Street 626 State Street
Erie, PA 16503 Erie, PA 16501

Mr. Joseph S. Williams Mr. Stanley J. Prazer, Chief
PA Dept. of Environmental Resources Bureau of Water-City of Erie
Meadville Regional office 626 State Street
1012 Water Street Erie, PA 16501
Meadville, PA 16335

Mr. Michael K. Zimmerman, Sanitary Engr. Mr. Richard L. Morris, P.E.
PA Dept. of Environmental Resources Acting City Engineer
Meadville Regional office 626 State Street
1012 Water Street Erie, PA 16501
Meadville, PA 16335

Mr. Roger Kenyon Mr. Wasinder S. Mokha, P.E.
Fishery Biologist Director, Public Works, Parks & Property
Pennsylvania Fish Commission 626 State Street Rm 504
P.O. Box 531 Erie, PA 16501
Fairview, PA 16415

Mr. Joseph Trzbinski Mr. Ronald Desser
Manager, Environmental Programs Zoning Coordinator
Erie County Dept. of Health Office of Policy, Planning & Management
606 West Second Street 626 State Street
Erie, PA 16504 Erie, PA 16501

Mr. Robert Wellington
Aquatic Biologist Mr. Norb Junewicz
Erie County Dept. of Health Coordinator Physical Planning
606 West Second Street Office of Policy, Planning & Mgt.
Erie, PA 16504 626 State Street
Erie, PA 16501
22 -

Mr. Robert Waytenik Ms. Genny Volgstadt
Millcreek Township Engineer Environmental Education Specialist
P.O. Box 8268 Presque Isle State Park
Erie, PA 16505 P.O. Box 8510
Erie, PA 16505

Mr. Timothy Eder Mr. Gene Giza, Superintendent
Field Coordinator Presque Isle State Park
Great Lakes United P.O. Box 8510
24 Agassiz Circle Erie, PA 16505
Buffalo, NY 14214

Mr. Herman Weber, President Ms. Elaine Fryer
Weber, Murphy Fox Architects League of Women Voters
300 State Street, Suite 200 7225 Willow Way
Erie, PA 16507 Fairview, PA 16145

Mr. Louis Porreco, Sr. Mrs. Jean Stull & James Stull
Porreco Motors Presque Isle Audobon Society
P.O. Box 3086 661 Benson Road
Erie, PA 16508 Waterford, PA 16441

Mr. Martin P. Eisert Ms. Carolyn Sturtevant
V.P. Human Resources P. I. Audobon Society
Erie Insurance Group 8107 Cherry Street
P.O. Box 1699 Erie, PA 16509
Erie, PA 16530

Mr. Gerald J. Sedney Mr. William Welch
Owner, Bayshore Marine Sierra Club
Public Dock Association 3108 Highland Street
2423 West 37th Street Erie, PA 16506
Erie, PA 16506

Mr. James Manges, President Mr. Roger Stebbins
R.D. McAllister & Son Ltd. American Lung Association
Public Dock Association 4361 Miller
1459 West 42 Street Erie, PA 16509
Erie, PA 16509

Mr. Bruce Raimy, President Mr. Thomas Teets
Welders Supply Concerned Citizens
Erie Conference 7734 Rosina Drive
5702 Langmore Lane Fairview, PA 16415
Erie, PA 16505

23 -

Mr. Edward Masteller Mr. LeRoy Gross
Professor of Biology Manager, Erie Conservation District
Penn State - Behrend RD #5, Rte 19
Station Road Waterford, PA 16441
Erie, PA 16563

Mr. Robert Light, Ph.D. Mrs. Denise Illig Robison
Penn State - Behrend State Commission Historical Museum
Station Road 2100 South Shore Drive
Erie, PA 16563 Erie, PA 16505

Mr. Robert A. Cornesky, Sc.D. Mr. Donald Muller
Dean, Science Mgmt. & Technologies Executive Director
Edinboro University of PA Erie County Historical Society
Edinboro, PA 16444 417 State Street
Erie, PA 16501

Mr. James Jacobson
Erie Mill Manager Sally Coleman
Hammermill Paper Company 309 Andrews Park Blvd.
P.O. Box 10050 Erie, PA 16511
Erie, PA 16533

Mr. Sidney Smith Mary Ann Kulesa
President P.O. Box 305
Erie Sand & Gravel Company Union City, PA 16438
P.O. Box 153
Erie, PA 16512

Mr. Frank Marra S. Helen Heher, O.S.B.
Division Manager Prog. Dir. Glinodo Conf. Ctr.
6270 East Lake Road
Pennsylvania Electric Company Erie, PA 16511
P.O. Box 1101
Erie, PA 16558-0001

Lt. Commodore Timothy Balunis
U.S. Coast Guard
Mr. Robert Nipper Marine Safety Office Buffalo
Sr. Environmental Eng. Spec. Rm. 111 Federal Bldg.
Lord Corporation Buffalo, NY 14202
P.O. Box 10038
Erie, PA 16514-0038

August P. Schiava
Mr. Dana Lundquist, President Convention Sales Specialist
Hamot Medical Center Erie Area Chamber of Commerce
201 State Street 1006 State Street
Erie, PA 16550 Erie, PA 16501

24 -

W. Robert Chandler Dr. William Garvey
Promotions Manager President
Erie Area Chamber of Commerce Mercyhurst College
1006 State Street 501 East 38th Street
Erie, PA 16501 Erie, PA 16546

Michael Ferralli Donald J. Williams
Physics Department D.J. Williams Inc.
Mercyhurst College c/o 1146 West 35th Street
501 East 38th Street Erie, PA 16508
Erie, PA 16546

Pat Locco Thomas J. Scrimenti
Manufacturers Assn. of NW Pa. Mayor - North East
3537 West 12th Street 57 S. Pearl Street
Erie, PA 16505 North East, PA 16428

Stephanie Lasure Dr. Anna Brock
Greenpeace Dean of Nursing
265 Alexander St. Villa Maria College
Rochester, NY 2551 West Lake Road
Erie, PA 16505

Donald Koppelman Dr. Howard Smith
326 Beverly Dean University College
Erie, PA 16505 Gannon University
109 West 6th Street
University Square
Cindy Larson Rice Erie, PA 16541
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Ser.
Div. of Ecological Services Sr. Lawreace Antoun, SSJ
315 S. Allen St. Suite 322 President
State College, PA 16801 Villa Maria College
2551 West Lake Road
Erie, PA 16505

Vernon B. Wherry
Mercyhurst College S. Dorothy Stoner, O.S.B.
830 West 33rd Street
Erie, PA 16508 West 8th Street
Erie, PA

Evelyn Anderson Herm Hedderick
Presque Isle Audobon PA Electric Co.
963 Colony Drive P.O. Box 1101
Erie, PA 16505 Erie, PA 16558-0001

25 -

Mr. Rick Bain Mr. Frank Koch
PA Electric Co. Sons of Lake Erie
P. 0. Box 1101 1208 West 35th Street
Erie, Pa 16558-0001 Erie, PA 16508

Richard Boardman Mr. Bernie Kiesel
Pa DER Sons of Lake Erie
P.O. Box 2063 1351 West 42nd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17120 Erie, PA 16509

Ronald K Brumagin Dr. Ronald Larson
District Environmental Manager Erie County Resource Commission
l14O Liberty Street Edinboro University of Pa.
Franklibn, PA 16323 Edinboro, PA 16444

Mr. Floyd Duncan Mr. Anthony Rugare
1001 Broad Street City of Erie
Johnstown, PA 15907 626 State Street
Erie, PA 16501

Mr. Gregory Spinks
Millcreek Sun & Erie Story U.S. Power Boat Squadron
21 Went 10th Street c/o Douglas Fisher
Erie, PA 16501 4025 Ellsworth
Erie, PA 16509

Mr. Roger O'Kicki
P.O.Box 299 Mr. David Gustafson
Erie, PA 16512 Villa Maria College
2551 West Lake Road
Erie, PA 16505
Mr. Edward Kissel
Sons of Lake Erie
P.O.Box 3605 Daniel Logar
Erie, PA 16508 Pennsylvania Electric Co.
P.O. Box 1101
Erie, PA 16558-0001
William Meyers
Hamot Medical Center
201 State Street
Erie, PA 16550

26 -

Invited to IJC/SAB Meeting

Unable to attend but received packets

Mr. Bernard J. Dombrowski U.S.Senator Arlen Spector
State Representative, lot District 118 U.S.Court House
1302 Wallace Street E.rie PA 16507
Erie, PA 16503

U.S.Senator H.John Heinz,III
Mr. Italo S. Cappabianca 130 U.S.Court House
State Representative, 2nd District Erie, PA 16507
1216 West 26th Street
Erie, PA 16508
U.S.Congrensman Tom Ridge
108 U.S.Court House
Mr. Karl W. Boyes Erie, PA 16507
State Representative 3rd District
5071 Peach Street
Erie, PA 16509 Millereek Township Supervisors
P.O. Box 8268
Erie, PA 16505
Mr. Harold E. Bowser
State Representative, 4th District
2200 N. Brickyard Road Secretary Arthur Davis
North East, PA 16428 Pa. Dept. of Environmental
Resources
9th Floor - Fulton Building
Mr. James Merry Harrisburg, PA 17120
State Representative, 5th District
316 South Mercer Street
Linesville, PA 16424 Mr. Edward Donn
Zurn Industries
Coporate Headquarters
Senator Anthony Andrezeski One Zurn Place
460 East 26th Street Erie, PA 16505
Erie, PA 16503

Mr. Joseph Rosentgak
Senator John Peterson Erie Part Authority
117 East State Street 626 State Street
Pleasantville, PA 17341 Erie, PA 16501

Honorable Louis J. Tullio Me. Bonnie Daubenspeck
Mayor, City of Erie Erie Port Authority
Municipal Building 626 State Street
626 State Street Erie, PA 16501
Erie, PA 16501

27 -

Mr. David Miller Mr. David Swanson
Great Laken United Manager Environmental Programs
24 Agassiz Circle General Electric Company
Buffalo, MY 14214 2901 East Lake Road
Erie, PA 16531

Mr. Thomas Hagan
Erie Insurance Group Mr. Robert H. Ploehn
P.D. Box 1699 Executive Director
Erie, PA 16530 Economic Development Corporation
2103 East 33rd Street
Erie, PA 16510
Mr. Thomas Hoffman,Executive Director
Erie Conference an Community Development
420 West 6th Street Reverend Steven Simon
Erie, PA 16501 247 East Front Street
Erie, PA 16507

Mr. Valdas Adaukus, Reg. Ads.
U.S. EPA - Region V Mr. Walter Osborne
230 South Dearborn Street Martin Luther King Center
Chicago, IL 60604 312 Chestnut Street
Erie, PA 16507

Mr. Charles Sapp
Basin Commissions Coordinator Mr. David Greene
U.S. EPA - Region III SEA Grant Extensions
841 Chestnut Street Farm & Home Center
Philadelphia, PA 19107 21 South Grove
East Aurora, MY 14052

Mr. Stanley Zagorski
Biology Department Me. Claudia Haller
Gannon University Manufacturers Assoc. of NW Pa.
University Square 3537 West 12th Street
Erie, PA 16541 Erie, PA 16506

Colonel Daniel Clark
U.S. Army Corps of Engineer
1776 Niagara Street
Buffalo, MY 14207-3199

28 -

APPENDIX B

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

HARBOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SEMINAR

DR. WILLIAM GARVEY

FEBRUARY 25. 1988

- 29 -

RECORDED ERIE HISTORY BEGAN BACK IN THE 18TH CENTURY WHEN THE

FRENCH SET OUT TO BUILD SOME FORTS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTIES

IN NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND THE ENTRANCE TO THE OHIO

VALLEY FROM THE ENGLISH. THEIR FIRST FORT WAS CONSTRUCTED RIGHT

HERE IN ERIE ALONG THE WATERFRONT, AT THE FOOT OF PARADE

STREET. FRENCH EXPLORERS HAD WRITTEN BACK TO THEIR SUPERIORS

ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL BAY--A BAY THAT OFFERED A PERFECT KIND OF

HARBOR, AN EXCELLENT SETTING TO LAUNCH THEIR SERIES OF

NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA FORTS. AND SO ALL OF ERIE HISTORY

BEGAN WITH THE BAY, AND ALL ERIE HISTORY HAS SINCE STEMMED FROM

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT BAY.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ME MAKE THE COMMENT BEFORE, THAT WHILE WE

ARE OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE LAKE CITY, WE ARE MORE ACCURATELY

A BAY CITY. A LOT OF COMMUNITIES OWN THE LAKE, ONLY ERIE OWNS

THE BAY. AND SO IT IS THAT BAY AND THAT HARBOR MORE THAN

ANYTHING ELSE THAT HAD DEFINED THE HISTORY OF THE COMMUNITY,

AND IT WAS ALSO THE BAY WHICH WAS THE DECISIVE FACTOR IN THE

ECONOMY OF ERIE IN THE 19TH CENTURY. IT WAS THE PORT THAT

DEFINED THE ECONOMY ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR AS ERIE

DEVELOPED A VERY STRONG SHIPPING TRADE AS DOZENS OF SHIPS DAILY

ENTERED AND LEFT THE ERIE HARBOR. IT WAS ALSO THE HARBOR THAT

PROVIDED ERIE'S GREATEST MOMENT IN HISTORY--THE BUILDING OF

PERRY'S FLEET, FOR THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE, AN EVENT TRIGGERED

BY DANIEL DOBBIN'S BELIEF THAT THE ERIE HARBOR WAS MORE SECURE

AND FAVORABLE THAN THE FACILITIES AT NEARBY BUFFALO.

30 -

AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, IT WAS THE BAY AGAIN THAT PLAYED A MAJOR

ROLE IN THE CITY'S ECONOMY AS THE FISHING TRADE TOOK OVER.

AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY ERIE WAS ONE OF THE GREAT LAKE

FRESH WATER PORTS IN THE UNITED STATES. TONS AND TONS OF FISH

WENT OUT OF ERIE TO CHICAGO AND TO NEW YORK, AS LAKE ERIE PERCH

BECAME ONE OF THE NATION'S GREAT DELICACIES.

THE PENNSYLVANIA CANAL ALSO OPENED INTO THE ERIE HARBOR, AND

AT ONE TIME WAS A GREAT HOPE FOR NURTURING THE GROWTH OF THE

CITY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ERIE EXTENSION CANAL NEVER TURNED OUT

TO BE ALL THAT INFLUENTIAL BECAUSE OF THE RAILROADS WHICH CAME

ALONG AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, AND ALSO BECAUSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF

MANUFACTURING REDUCED THE IMPACT OF THE CANAL. IN THE 20TH

CENTURY THE GROWTH OF THE AIRPLANEr THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE

RAILROAD, THE IMPORTANCE OF CARS, TRUCKS, AND THE HIGHWAY

ULTIMATELY TOOK TRAFFIC AND COMMERCE AWAY FROM THE WATERFRONT,

SO THAT SOON AFTER WORLD WAR III THE HARBOR VIRTUALLY CEASED TO

BE A MAJOR FACTOR IN ERIE'S ECONOMY.

BY 1980 THE GRAIN ELEVATORS HAD FALLEN SILENT, THE NUMBER OF

SHIPS VISITING ERIE HAD DWINDLED TO A TRICKLE AND THE BAYFRONT

HAD BECOME NEGLECTED AND IN MANY AREAS IN SAD DISREPAIR,

DISREPAIR IN THE SENSE THAT IT WAS NO LONGER THE CENTER OF

ERIE. EXCEPT FOR THE NIGHTLY TRAFFIC TO "CIRCLE" THE PUBLIC

DOCK, AN ERIE SOCIAL PHENOMENA, VERY LITTLE ATTENTION WAS

DIRECTED TO ERIE'S WATERFRONT UNTIL THE EXPLOSION OF WATERFRONT

DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY FINALLY DREW

ATTENTION BACK TO WHERE EVERYTHING STARTED. WHAT HAPPENDED IN

31 -

BALTIMORE AT HARBOR PLACE, WHAT HAPPENED IN BOSTON AT FANEVIL

HALL, AND THE EXTENSIVE WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT OCCURRING IN

EVERY MAJOR URBAN AREA WITH ANY SIGNIFICANT WATER AREA FINALLY

DREW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT ERIE'S WATERFRONT WAS A GOLDEN

OPPORTUNITY JUST WAITING FOR SIMILAR DEVELOPMENT.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS ERIE HAS REDISCOVERED WHAT THE FRENCH

AND ENGLISH FOUND TWO CENTURIES AGO--THAT THE ERIE HARBOR IS

THE HEART OF THE CITY PAST AND THE FOCUS OF ITS FORTUNE. THE

QUESTION TODAY IS HOW TO USE THAT WATERFRONT. WHEN WE WENT INTO

WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT, SOME OF US ENVISIONED A BALANCE BETWEEN

THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE GOOD--A KIND OF RECOGNITION THAT THE

BAYFRONT OFFERED A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR TOURISM--A

WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO REGENERATE THE DOWNTOWN--A REASON FOR

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, GOING RIGHT BY US ON INTERSTATE 90 TO

NIAGARA FALLS AND ON THE WAY TO NEW YORK AND NEW ENGLAND TO

STOP! THAT'S RIGHT, TO STOP IN ERIE RATHER THAN JUST DRIVING

BY, TO ENJOY THE PUBLIC SHOPSt MUSEUMS, RESTAURANTS, AND THE

PRIVATE MARINAS, CONDOMINIUMS, ETC. ON THE WATERFRONT.

THE KEY TO WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT IS, OF COURSE, THE PROPOSED

BAYFRONT HIGHWAY. WE NEED A WAY TO GET VISITORS DOWN TO THE

WATER FROM THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND THE BAYFRONT HIGHWAY IS

THE LOGICAL ANSWER. IT IS AN IDEA WHICH HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN

ERIE SINCE AT LEAST THE NOLAN REPORT IN 1913. MOST OF THE

HURDLES TO BUILDING THE HIGHWAY HAVE BEEN OVERCOME AND THERE IS

NOW A REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT IT WILL BEGIN NEXT YEAR

BRINGING TO FRUITION A 75 YEAR OLD DREAM!

32 -

THE REAL CONCERN, HOWEVER, IS JUST WHAT IS THE BAYFRONT

HIGHWAY GOING TO TAKE PEOPLE TO? SO, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK

TODAY AT THIS CRITICAL MEETING TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING

ALONG THE BAYFRONT. IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE IN ERIE, YOU GET AS

MANY ANSWERS AS THERE ARE PEOPLE. THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PLANS

ANNOUNCED, CHANGEDr ADJUSTED, DROPPED, REPLACED BY NEW PLANS

CHANGED AND ADJUSTED, THAT THE PUBLIC IS THOROUGHLY CONFUSED AS

TO WHAT IS GOING ON. VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING

ON FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER, AND MOST WOULD AGREE THAT THE

WORD THAT BEST DEFINES BAYFRONT DEVELOPMENT IS "CONFUSING." TO

HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THIS MORNING, I HAVE ADAPTED A CITY HALL

MAP TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEA OF THE CURRENT STATE OF THE BAYFRONT

DEVELOPMENT. THIS MAP AT WHICH YOU ARE LOOKING REPRESENTS THE

ERIE HARBOR AND ALL OF THE PLANNED PROJECTS, RANGING FROM THE

FAR WEST TO THE EASTERN ENTRANCE TO THE HARBOR.

(AT THIS POINT THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THE MAP WERE

EXPLAINED)

THE UPSHOT OF ALL THE DEVELOPMENT TO DATE IS THAT THE WEST

SIDE OF THE HARBORt PRIMARILY UNDER PRIVATE CAPITAL, WILL BE

ALMOST ENTIRELY DEVOTED (80%) TO PRIVATE MARINAS AND

CONDOMINIUMS. THERE WILL BE LITTLE PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC SAVE

FOR A BOARDWALK ALONG THE BAY, A POTENTIAL PHASE II OF PERRY'S

LANDING WHICH MIGHT OPEN UP SOME SHOPS AND A RESTAURANT-PARK,

AND A SMALL PARCEL OF YET UNCOMMITTED LAND NEAR THE WATER WORKS

AREA. THIS, IN ITSELF IS NOT BAD SINCE WE NEED MARINA AND

33 -

CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENT, AND WE ALSO OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO

THOSE PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, PARTICULARLY PERRY'S LANDING UNDER

HERM WEBER'S FIRM, THAT HAVE ACTUALLY INVESTED IN BAYFRONT

DEVELOPMENT AND ARE GETTING THE BALL STARTED--CREATING MOMENTUM

SO TO SPEAK.

THE REAL CONCERN IS NOT WHAT HAS HAPPENED ON THE WEST SIDE

BUT WHAT YET IS TO HAPPEN ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE BAY. THERE IS

REAL OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN THE CODAN HARBOR ENTRANCE AND THE

PUBLIC DOCK TO CREATE SOME PUBLIC PLACES WHERE RECREATIONAL

FACILITIES, CULTURAL, BUSINESS, AND HISTORICAL FACILITIES CAN

CREATE AN EXCITING CENTER FOR BOTH TOURISM AND CIVIC

INVOLVEMENT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE OF THE AREA NEAR THE

PUBLIC DOCK (THE OLD GRAIN ELEVATOR AREA) AND THE 48 ACRES

ABUTTING THE LITTON PROPERTY COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE ORE

DOCK AREA. IF THESE AREAS ARE NOT USED FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD BUT

INSTEAD UTLIMATELY ALSO BECOME MORE MARINAS AND RESIDENTIAL

UNITS, THEN A GREAT OPPORTUNITY WILL BE LOST TO MAKE A

DIFFERENCE IN THE CITY'S FUTURE. INSTEAD, ALL WE HAVE TO SHOW

FOR OUR BAYFRONT HOPES WILL BE ANOTHER 1500-2000 BOAT SLIPS AND

SOME $100,000-200,000 CONDOMINIUMS WHICH WHILE THEY WILL

PRODUCE MORE TAX REVENUE WILL DO LESS TO REGENERATE THE CITY'S

ECONOMY OR CIVIC PRIDE.

IN CONCLUSION THEN, IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THOSE OF US WHO

HAVE A CIVIC INTEREST RATHER THAN A MONETARY INTEREST TO INSURE

THAT WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT REMAINS BALANCED BETWEEN THE PUBLIC

AND PRIVATE GOOD AND THAT IT ALSO REMAINS ENVIRONMENTALLY

34 -

SOUND. IT'S AN IMPORTANT TASK SINCE THE FUTURE PROGRESS OF THE

CITY HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

- 35 -

I. MLRY'S LANDING. - WEST BAY PROPERTIES - A waterfront camiunity including: condanimium, townhouses, restaurants, professional
and
offices, Yacht club, a 66"si, a, a wetlands nature park, shops a hotel.
2. WILINA EXPANSION oppommm
3. D MARI k cEvELOpmm
4. PKPOSED MARINA DEVELOPMEM
5. MCPOSED MARINA DEVELopmLw
6. wl@ PIER DEVEWPMENT - Construction of 51 condminiums, a public prorrenade and boardwalk, 8 small camiercial shops, 50 public
and 56 jil. @te bo@atstalls.
7. FEARRANGING ExISTING MARLVS
8. L-111_70N PROJECT - A 175 roan hotel, recreation center, boat sales, service and repair, a museun, restaurant, shops, and a
historic related village. 13
9. F =-- PUBLIC ACCESS AND RECREATION AREA - (40 Acres) - playing fields for soccer, baseball, touch-football, tennis courts,
141FUNE
fitness Uills. -picnic grounds, boat rmrps, bandstand, ice-skating area, boardwalks and fishing piers.
10. PICCIPOSED MRINA AND SUPPC.RTING FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT - Comstruction of a marina; floating breakwall, boat launch ranp,
and parking i ilities.
11. W_-F_@ HANMING AREA (76 Acres) 10
12. U%sm-S MARINA EXPANSICN OPPORTUNITY

9
13. PAFX AND RECREATION AREA (Once land filling is caTplete)

2 3 4 5 PIER 12

rR 0 IFAI
LJ K%WWE NS ZFetcE 0
S E Z. M
&
E I-mon P

C LJ1

ED IL
01

APPENDIX C

A CLEAN HARBOR IN 20 YEARS

REMARKS: GENERAL SESSION

PAT LUPO, O.S.B.

FEBRUARY 25, 1988

- 37 -

INTRODUCTION

I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO ADDRESS THE TOPIC OF A CLEAN HARBOR IN

20 YEARS. I HAVE TRIED TO INCLUDE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT HAVE

BEEN RAISED IN THIS COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST TWO OR THREE

DECADES. THIS PRESENTATION IS A SYNTHESIS OF NUMEROUS REPORTS

AND VIEWPOINTS AND IT DEALS WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF

PRESQUE ISLE BAY. SINCE I HAVE HARDLY BEEN AROUND FOR THREE

DECADES I HAVE RELIED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OTHERS WHO

WORKED ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN THE HARBOR FOR MANY YEARS.

THESE PERSONS ARE ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND SPORT ENTHUSIASTS,

RECREATORS, AND MEMBERS OF REGULATORY AGENCIES AND LOCAL

GOVERNMENT. THEY REPRESENT GROUPS SUCH AS THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF

SPORTSMEN, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, THE SIERRA CLUB, THE

AUDUBON SOCIETY, THE AD HOC WATER QUALITY STUDY COMMITTEE OF

THE ERIE COUNTY WATER RESOURCE COMMISSION, THE PRESQUE ISLE

ADVISORY COMMITTEEr AND CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

BEFORE I BEGIN THE DISCUSSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS I

WANT TO REMIND US OF WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. BY OUR

PARTICIPATION, WE HAVE AGREED TO CONSIDER FORMING A PARTNERSHIP

IN ORDER TO DEVELOP GOALS TO CLEAN UP THE HARBOR. I BELIEVE

THAT THIS MEANS THAT WE MUST BE OPEN AND LISTEN TO WHAT WE ARE

SAYING TO EACH OTHER; WE MUST DEVELOP PRIORITY THINKING -

IDENTIFY THE MAJOR ISSUES, AGREE ON THE COMMON GOALS AND

SOLUTIONS, COMMIT RESOURCES, AND IMPLEMENT THE NECESSARY

ACTION. WE MAY HAVE TO AGREE AND TO DISAGREE ON SOME POINTS,

- 38 -

BUT IF WE TRULY SEE THIS RESOURCE AS PART OF OUR FUTURE, WE

HAVE TO ACT - AND THE ACTION MUST BEGIN NOW. WE HAVE A VALUABLE

RESOURCE - BUT IT IS A RESOURCE IN TROUBLE.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SEE TODAY AS A FIRST STEP, THE BEGINNING

OF A PROCESS WHICH COULD ENABLE THIS COMMUNITY TO CLEAN UP

PRESQUE ISLE BAY IN 20 YEARS. YOU WILL DECIDE WHAT STEPS, IF

ANY, TO FOLLOW DURING THE ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS THIS

AFTERNOON.

IN 1986, THE AD HOC WATER QUALITY STUDY COMMITTEE OF THE ERIE

COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION, SET A GOAL TO DETERMINE WHAT

MUST BE DONE TO RETURN PRESQUE ISLE BAY AND LAKE ERIE WATERS IN

THE VICINITY OF THE PENINSULA OF PRESQUE ISLE TO A CONDITION IN

WHICH THEY MAY BE SAFELY USED FOR SWIMMING AND FISHING FOR FOOD

WITHOUT RISK OF CONTACTING TOXIC SUBSTANCES OR DISEASE CAUSING

AGENTS ASSOCIATED WITH SEWAGE WASTES. THEIR TIME FRAME WAS 20

YEARS. THE ERIE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION APPLAUDED THIS

REPORT AND SEES 20 YEARS AS A REALISTIC GOAL. A GOAL THAT IS

CONSISTENT WITH THE MANDATES OF THE FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT,

AND WHICH WOULD ENHANCE BAYFRONT DEVELOPMENT AND BENEFIT THE

CITIZENS OF ERIE.

AS I DISCUSS THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF THE HARBOR, I WILL

RELY HEAVILY ON THE AD HOC COMMITTEE'S REPORT. IT WAS PREPARED

BY KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE AND SERVES AS AN EXCELLENT PRIMER FOR

WATER POLLUTION PROBLEMS.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

1. SEWAGE

THE FIRST ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN IS NOT A NEW ONE. THE
MANAGEMENT OF SEWAGE IN ERIE IS AN OLD PROBLEM AND THOUGH IT IS
IMPROVING, IT HAS TAKEN A LONG WAY TO GO, AND THIS WEEK WE
FOUND OUT JUST HOW FAR. IT SEEMS THAT TELEPHONE CALLS STILL
HAVE THE POWER TO FIX CONSENT AGREEMENTS.

THE OVERFLOW FROM THE COMBINED SEWERS CARRY UNKNOWN AMOUNTS OF
OXYGEN - DEMANDING ORGANIC MATTER, FECAL COLIFORM AND PROBABLY
PATHOGENIC BACTERIA, NUTRIENTS, PRETREATED AND UNTREATED
INDUSTRIAL WASTES, RAW HUMAN SEWAGE AND MATERIALS WASHED BY
RUNOFF FROM LAWNS, SIDEWALKS, AND STREETS INTO BAY AND LAKE
WATERS. THE RUNOFF MAY INCLUDE A WIDE RANGE OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES
SUCH AS PESTICIDES, GASOLINE, OIL, ANTIFREEZE, ETC.

WE NEED TO SEPARATE THE COMBINED SEWERS AND HALT THE OVERFLOWS
THAT ENTER THE BAY DURING SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION. IF SEWER
IMPROVEMENTS CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE BAYFRONT DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED, THEN LOCAL LEADERS SHOULD ENCOURAGE
DEVELOPERS TO EARMARK SOME OF THE PROFITS FROM THEIR PROJECT
FOR SEWER IMPROVEMENTS OR BAY CLEAN-UP. REGARDLESS, LOCAL
GOVERNMENT MUST SECURE FUNDING, OTHER PENNSYLVANIA
MUNICIPALITIES HAVE IT (EPHRATA AND CARLISLE, LWV 1986), ERIE
WILL HAVE TO DO THE SAME.

RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE EXACT SOURCES OF BACTERIAL
CONTAMINATION OF BEACHES AT PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK. DOES IT
ORIGINATE FROM THE BAY, FROM THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT'S
DISCHARGE PIPE, FROM SAND MOUNDS, OR FROM MANY SOURCES
COMBINED? AFTER WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE SOURCE(S) THEN
CORRECTIVE MEASURES OR ENGINEERING CHANGES NEED TO BE EXPEDITED
TO REDUCE FUTURE BEACH CLOSINGS.

2. TOXICS

FROM THE BEGINNING OF TIME, SOCIETIES HAVE THROWN AWAY THEIR
WASTES IN THE CHEAPEST AND MOST CONVENIENT MANNER. OUR
INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY HAS BEEN NO DIFFERENT. AND SO OUR WASTES
WERE DISCARDED INTO WATERS OR DUMPED INTO PITS. FOR A WHILE THE
THEORY OF DILUTION, KEPT PACE, BUT THE ADVENT OF THE SYNTHETIC
CHEMICALS HAS RAISED SOME VERY SERIOUS QUESTIONS. 'TODAY MORE
THAN 60,0000 CHEMICALS ARE USED IN COMMERCE, BUT VERY LITTLE IS
KNOWN ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM IN THE
ENVIRONMENT OR ON HUMAN HEALTH." (U.S. GENERAL ACCOUNTING
OFFICE, "EPA's EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY AND CONTROL HARMFUL
CHEMICALS IN USE", RCED - 84-100, JUNE 13, 1984, PP. 1-2).

EACH DAY NEW-PRODUCTS ARE PRODUCED AND NEW CHEMICALS ENTER THE
MARKETPLACE. EVENTUALLY THESE SUBSTANCES BECOME PART OF THE
WASTE STREAM AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN

40 -

HEALTH ARE MADE COMPLEX BY TWO POTENTIAL REACTIONS. SYNERGISTIC
ACTION WHICH RESULTS WHEN NON-TOXIC AMOUNTS OF TWO OR MORE
CHEMICALS INTERACT AND FORM ANOTHER SUBSTANCE WHICH IS LETHAL
OR BIOCONVERSIONA METABOLIC REACTION WHICH OCCURS WHEN
NON-TOXIC AMOUNTS OF A SUBSTANCE CHANGES INTO MORE TOXIC FORMS.

MANY OF OUR LOCAL INDUSTRIES PRODUCE TOXIC WASTES AND THEREFORE
ARE PART OF THE INDUSTRIAL PRE-TREATMENT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED BY
THE CITY OF ERIE IN 1984 TO MONITOR AND LIMIT THE AMOUNTS OF
TOXIC MATERIALS ENTERING THE CITY'S WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
OF THE 300 INDUSTRIES DISCHARGING WASTE INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM,
46 HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS MAJOR AND 4 AS MINOR DISCHARGERS.
THEREFORE, 50 OF THE 300 MUST NOW MONITOR THEIR WASTEWATER.
THEY ARE INSPECTED FOUR TIMES PER YEAR IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONTROL
THE LEVELS OF TOXICS IN THEIR EFFLUENTS.

THE CITY ALSO MONITORS ITS OWN EFFLUENT TWICE A YEAR FOR 128
"PRIORITY POLLUTANTS" WHICH INCLUDE TOXIC SUBSTANCES. SEVERAL
QUESTIONS COME TO MIND: HAVE WE IDENTIFIED ALL THE MAJOR AND
MINOR DISHCARGERS? IS THE CITY TESTING OUR EFFLUENT FOR THE
RIGHT 128 PARAMETERS - HOW DO WE KNOW? SHOULD WE BE TESTING IT
MORE THAN TWICE A YEAR? DO WE TEST IT WHEN THE PLANT IS
OPERATING AT CAPACITY? WHAT ABOUT THE SANITARY LANDFILL, WHERE
DOES IT FIT IN THIS PICTUREt IS ITS PRETREATMENT PROGRAM
ADEQUATE?

TOXIC SUBSTANCES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE BAY. EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

- TOXICS FOUND BY THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IN
WHOLE FISH SAMPLES FROM THE BAY AT LEVELS WHICH EXCEEDED
NAS/NAE CRITERIA FOR THE PROTECTION OF FISH AND FISH
EATING WILDLIFE. THE TOXICS INCLUDED PCB's AND PESTICIDES
(COMBINED ORGANOCHLORIDES1 CHLORODANE, TOXAPHENE AND
DIELDRIN) (U.S. FWS 1986).

- TOXIC FOUND IN BAY SEDIMENTS BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS AT LEVELS WHICH ARE CONSIDERED "HEAVILY OR
MODERATELY POLLUTED" BY EPA GUIDELINES FOR GREAT LAKES
HARBOR SEDIMENTS, INCLUDED ARSENIC, CADMIUM, CHROMIUM,
COPPER, IRON, LEAD, MANGANESE, NICKLE, ZINC (ALL HEAVY
METALS) AND CYANIDE (APPLIED BIOLOGY, INC. 1982, AQUA TECH
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS, INC. 1986). WE NEED TO IDENTIFY
THE NATURE OF BAY SEDIMENTS AND DETERMINE THE SOURCES OF
THE TOXIC SUBSTANCES.

- THE ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOUND ARSENIC, SILVER
AND SELENIUM IN BAY SEDIMENTS AT LEVELS APPROACHING
PENNSYLVANIA LIMITS CONSIDERED HAZARDOUS (ECDH 1985). HIGH
METAL CONCENTRATIONS WERE IDENTIFIED AS A SUSPECTED OR
CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN TUMOR FORMATION IN BAY FISH. THE
SAME STUDY BY ECDH FOUND 'ELEVATED" LEVELS OF PAH's IN BAY
SEDIMENTS, PARTICULARLY IN "HOT SPOTS" INSIDE THE ERIE
YACHT CLUB MARINA, THE BAY HARBOR MARINA AREA, AND IN THE
WEST SLIP NEAR THE FOOT OF STATE STREET.

41 -

- ELEVATED LEVELS OF PAH's WERE ALSO FOUND IN THE MOUTHS OF
CASCADE CREEK AND MILLCREEK IN PRESQUE ISLE BAY (PLOWCHALK
AND ZAGORSKI, 1986)

ALTHOUGH STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE WHICH SUGGEST POTENTIAL SOURCES
FOR THE TOXICS FOUND IN FISH AND BAY SEDIMENTS, NONE OF THEM
ARE CONCLUSIVE. THE SAMPLING OF THE FISH HAS BEEN INADEQUATE.
WE NEED SAMPLING THAT WILL LOOK AT INDIVIDUAL SPECIES OF FISH,
BEGINNING WITH BOTTOM DWELLERS AND PROGRESSING UPWARD WITH
PERCH, WALL-EYE AND SALMONIDS. THIS MUST BE A COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY INCLUDING HUNDREDS OF FISH. THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH SHOULD HIRE AN ANIMAL PATHOLOGIST AS NEW YORK AND
OTHER STATES ON THE GREAT LAKES HAVE DONE. IN FACT IN NEW YORK,
70 GREAT HORNED OWLS FOUND DEAD ALONG THE SHORE LINE WERE
EXAMINED BY A PATHOLOGIST WHO IDENTIFIED HIGH LEVELS OF A WIDE
VARIETY OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES.

THE AD HOC WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE SUGGESTS THAT A GENERAL
SURVEY OF THE ENTIRE BAY, ESPECIALLY AREAS THAT WOULD BE PRIME
LOCATIONS FOR RECREATIONAL USES, SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO
DETERMINE WHERE THE "HOT SPOTS" ARE AND TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT
AND EFFECTS OF POSSIBLE BIOACCUMULATION IN FISH AND AQUATIC
INVERTEBRATES.

WE NEED A PROGRAM TO MONITOR CONTAMINANT LEVELS IN WILD GAME
AND FISH IN ORDER TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH. PENNSYLVANIA OR
ERIE COUNTY SHOULD ENACT A CONSUMPTORY ADVISEMENT PROGRAM. WE
NEED TO ESTABLISH WHAT LEVELS ARE SAFE LEVELS AND TO DETERMINE
IF SAFE LEVELS ARE THE SAME FOR ALL SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION.
THEN WE NEED A DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT WILL GET THE INFORMATION
OUT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC - THE PEOPLE EATING THE FISH.

THE ECDH SHOULD HAVE AUTHORITY, FUNDS AND PERSONNEL TO OVERSEE
AND COORDINATE TOXIC MONITORING ACTIVITIES. THE AMOUNTS OF
TOXIC SUBSTANCES ENTERING THE BAY AND LAKE THROUGH VARIOUS
SOURCES INCLUDING STREAMS, RUNOFF OF STORM WATERr SEWER
OVERFLOWS AND GROUND WATER INFLOWS, SHOULD ALL BE MONITORED
REGULARLY SO THAT PRUDENT MANAGEMENT PLANS CAN BE FORMULATED TO
PREVENT THE ENTRY OF ADDITIONAL TOXICS IN THE FUTURE. SOILS
DISTURBED IN BAYFRONT DEVELOPMENT AREAS SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR
TOXICS AND DISPOSED OF PROPERLY. DREDGE SPOIL CANNOT BE USED AS
UPLAND FILL. DEVELOPERS AND DER SHOULD REALIZE THE POTENTIAL
FOR TOXICS THAT EXIST IN ALL SPOIL ALONG THE BAYFRONT, AN AREA
BUILT OF INDUSTRIAL FILL. THEREFORE, CORE BORINGS TO DETECT
TOXICS SHOULD BE MANDATORY AT EVERY DEVELOPMENT SITE.

IF FISH TAKEN FROM THE BAY ARE TO MEET ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS,
THEN EXISTING HOTSPOTS OF TOXICS MUST SOMEHOW BE ELIMINATED,
COVERED OR NEUTRALIZED. EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES WILL HAVE TO
DETERMINE WHAT METHODS ARE EFFECTIVE.

3. NON-POINT SOURCES OF POLLUTION

- 42 -

NONPOINT POLLUTION - RUNOFF DUE TO RAINWATER AND SNOW MELT
FLOWING OFF OF STREETS, SIDEWALKS, PARKING LOTS, ROOFS, LAWNS
AND FIELDS - CARRY A VARIETY OF CHEMICALS, SALT, SEDIMENT AND
TRASH INTO THE STREAMS THAT FLOW INTO THE BAY AND LAKE WATERS.
NONPOINT POLLUTION IS DISTINGUISHED FROM POINT SOURCE POLLUTION
WHICH IS THE DIRECT DISCHARGE FROM INDUSTRIES AND THE MUNICIPAL
SEWAGE PLANT. DATA FROM NON-POINT POLLUTION SOURCES IS VERY
LIMITED AND ALMOST NON-EXISTENT FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES. THE
COLLECTION OF DATA IS A MONUMENTAL TASK WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT
OUR WATERSHED EXTENDS TO ALBION, BUT WE WILL NOT MEET OUR GOAL
OF CLEAN WATER IF WE DO NOT IDENTIFY THE TOXIC AND CONVENTUAL
POLLUTANTS THAT ARE ENTERING OUR STREAMS AND LAKE WATERS FROM
NONPOINT SOURCES AND IMPLEMENT CORRECTIVE ACTION. ACTION THAT
DEPENDS ON THE COMMITMENT OF ALL OF US TO USE THE BEST
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ALL LAND USES.

RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE EXACT ORIGIN AND AMOUNT OF
SEDIMENT AND PHOSPHORUS ENTERING THE BAY FROM NONPOINT SOURCES
AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE BAY ECOSYSTEM. IN 1986 A CASE STUDY
WAS DONE ON NONPOINT SOURCES FOR THE LAKE ERIE WATERSHED AS A
BASIS FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S PHOSPHORUS REDUCTION PLAN BY THE ERIE
COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
RESOURCES ELIMINATED THE MONEY THAT WAS DESIGNATED FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STUDY FROM THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET. WE
NEED TO LOBBY DER TO REINSTATE THE $250,000 INTO THE BUDGET SO
THAT THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT CAN IMPLEMENT THIS ESSENTIAL
WATERSHED PROJECT.

ACCORDING TO THE PLUARG STUDY (INTERNATIONAL REFERENCE GROUP ON
GREAT LAKES POLLUTION FROM LAND USE ACTIVITIESt 1978) WHICH WAS
ESTABLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION, 'THE REMEDY
FOR NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION WILL NOT BE SIMPLY NOR
INEXPENSIVELY ACCOMPLISHED. THIS IS DUE TO THE SEEMINGLY
INSIGNIFICANT NATURE OF THE INDIVIDUAL SOURCES, THE DAMAGING
EFFECT OF THEIR CUMULATIVE IMPACT, THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF
THE INPUTS, THE COMPLEX SET OF NATURAL PROCESSES ACTING TO
MODIFY THEM AND THE VARIETY OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INTERACTIONS
WHICH EFFECT THEM."

"PLUARG ALSO NOTED THAT THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS AMONG GREAT
LAKES BASIN RESIDENTS, WITH RESPECT TO POLLUTION FROM NONPOINT
SOURCES, IS INADEQUATE AT PRESENT. CONTROL OF NONPOINT SOURCES
WILL REQUIRE ALL BASIN RESIDENTS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN REDUCING
THE GENERATION OF POLLUTANTS THROUGH CONSERVATION PRACTICES.
IMPROVED PLANNING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ARE PREREQUISITES TO
LONG TERM SOLUTIONS TO LAND DRAINAGE PROBLEMS." MANAGEMENT
PLANS TO REDUCE LOADING FROM NONPOINT POLLUTION SOURCES IS LONG
OVERDUE.

4. DISCHARGES FROM THE CITY WATER TREATMENT PLANT

SINCE THE 1987 AD HOC WATER QUALITY STUDY, THE CHESTNUT STREET
WATER TREATMENT PLANT HAS ELIMINATED THE DISCHARGE OF SLUDGE
INTO THE HARBOR. ALL SLUDGE IS INTERCEPTED AND TREATED AT THE

- 43 -

WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. THOUGH THE PLANT STILL DISCHARGES
BACKWASH WATER CONTAINING ALUM (ALUMINUM SULFATE) AND CHLORINE
DIRECTLY INTO THE BAY, THIS WILL BE ELIMINATED WHEN THE PLANT
BUILDS ITS NEW FACILITY THAT WILL TREAT THE WASTES IT
GENERATES. THMs (TRIHALOMENTHANES) ARE BY-PRODUCTS OF
CHLORINATION. THE CHEMICALS ARE CREATED WHEN CHLORINE REACTS
WITH ORGANIC MATTER WHICH IS ALREADY IN THE WATER SUPPLY. A
KNOWN CARCINOGIN, THE POSSIBLE HEALTH EFFECTS OF THMs ALARM
MANY SCIENTISTS. THMs CAN BE CONTROLLED AND THE ERIE PLANT HAS
TAKEN STEPS TO SEE THAT THEY ARE. THE BUREAU IS ALSO STUDYING A
TECHNIQUE THAT WOULD ELIMINATE CHLORINE. INSTEAD IT WOULD USE
OZONE. A LOCAL INDUSTRY, ZURN, IS STUDYING THE FEASIBILITY OF
PRODUCING OZONE EQUIPMENT.

IT APPEARS THAT THE CHESTNUT STREET WATER PLANT WILL CEASE TO
BE A SIGNIFICANT POLLUTER OF THE BAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE. A FACT
WE ARE ALL VERY PROUD OF.

THOUGH THE PLANT HAS NO DIFFICULTY MEETING THE SAFE WATER ACT
STANDARDS, WE MUST REALIZE THAT NEW SUBSTANCES ARE BEING
CREATED WHILE WE ARE TALKING. SOME OF THEM WILL EXHIBIT
SYNERGISTIC OR METABOLIC (BIOCONVERSION) PROPERTIES. HOW DO WE
TEST FOR THESE SUBSTANCES AND THE UNKNOWN TOXICS THAT MAY BE
FLOWING INTO THE BASIN? HOW DO WE DECIDE IF OUR PARAMETERS FOR
TESTING SHOULD EXCEED THE SAFE WATER ACT STANDARDS OR DO WE
JUST WAIT FOR STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ACT?

5. ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION

RACHEL CARSON'S SILENT SPRING, PUBLISHED IN 1962, WARNED US OF
THE PROBLEMS OF PESTICIDES AND BY EXTENSION, OF ALL TOXIC
CONTAMINENTS IN THE ENVIRONMENT. IN 1972 DDT, A PESTICIDE WHICH
WAS USED THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA, WAS BANNED IN THE UNITED
STATES AND CANADA. WHERE IS IT COMING FROM? ACCORDING TO AN
ARTICLE TOXIC FALLOUT IN THE GREAT LAKES BY STEVEN J.
EISENREICH WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN ISSUES IN SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY, FALL, 1987, RECENT STUDIE� SUGGEST THAT DDT IS
BEING TRANSPORTED THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE FOR THOUSANDS OF
KILOMETERS FROM MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA, WHERE THE PESTICIDE
IS STILL WIDELY USED.

THE ARTICLE CONTINUES: UNTIL RECENTLY, WATER POLLUTION WAS SEEN
AS A FAIRLY LOCALIZED PROBLEM. BUT THE PRESENCE IN THE GREAT
LAKES OF DDT AND OF THE PESTICIDE TOXAPHENE, WHICH IS USED
ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN SOUTHERN STATES, HAS REVEALED THAT TOXIC
CONTAMINENTS MAY ENTER THE LAKES FROM DISTANT SOURCES THROUGH
THE PROCESSES OF ATMOSPHERIC TRANSPORT AND DEPOSITION. IT
APPEARS THAT ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION REPRESENTS A MAJOR, AND IN
SOME CASES A DOMINANT, SOURCE OF TOXIC CONTAMINANTS.

THESE CONTAMINANTS ENTER THE ATMOSPHERE FROM A VARIETY OF
SOURCES INCLUDING EMISSIONS FROM INCINERATORS, EVAPORATION FROM
AGRICULTURAL LANDS, AND THE COMBUSTION OF COAL AND MUNICIPAL
WASTES. TRANSPORT DEPENDS ON ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS AND ON THE

44 -

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE TOXIC CONTAMINANT.
CONTAMINANTS OF GREATEST CONCERN - DDT AND PCB's - ARE
TRANSPORTED AS GASES OR ATTACHED TO SMALL DUST PARTICLES. IN
FACT, VOLATILIZATION OF CHEMICAL TOXINS IS ANOTHER DIMENSION OF
ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION. SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THAT CHEMICAL TOXINS
RECYCLE THEMSELVES FROM LAKE TO LAKE IN GASEOUS FORM.
DEPOSITION RESULTS DURING PRECIPITATION.

EISENREICH CLAIMS THAT THE GREAT LAKES ARE PARTICULARLY
SUSCEPTIBLE TO ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION BECAUSE THEY ARE NEAR AND
DOWNWIND OF MAJOR POLLUTION SOURCES SUCH AS CITIES, INTENSELY
TILLED AGRICULTURAL LANDS, MAJOR CHEMICAL COMPLEXES, AND
COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS. THE LAKES HAVE LARGE SURFACE AREAS TO
RECEIVE DEPOSITION AND THE RESULTANT CONTAMINANTS CAN
BIOCONCENTRATE IN FISH AND PREDATOR BIRDS IN THE LAKES.

ACCORDING TO GREAT LAKES UNITEDr AIRBORNE TOXIC POLLUTION
ACCOUNTS FOR 25% OF THE TOXIC POLLUTION ENTERING ALL OF THE
GREAT LAKES. THE PLUARG STUDY OF 1978 CALLED FOR FUTURE STUDY
OF ATMOSPHERIC LOADSt INCLUDING THEIR MAGNITUDE, SOURCES, AND
EFFECTS ON WATER QUALITY IN THE GREAT LAKES. THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THROUGH ITS GREAT LAKES
NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE, HAS AS ITS FIVE-YEAR OBJECTIVE (FOR
1986-90) TO DETERMINE THE FRACTION OF TOTAL CONTAMINANT INPUT
TO THE LAKES DERIVED FROM ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION, TO RECOMMEND
REMEDIAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES TO CONTROL ATMOSPHERIC
POLLUTION SOURCES, AND TO PRODUCE SOURCE INFORMATION FOR
REGULATORY ACTION.

AIR MONITORING STATIONS IN ERIE ARE INADEQUATE. WE NEED TO
ESTABLISH BASE LINE DATA FOR AIR QUALITY. I SUGGEST THAT NEW
INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED WASTE-TO-ENERGY PLANT,
SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MODEL THE IMPACT OF THEIR AIR EMISSIONS
ON THE HARBOR. THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION SHOULD
EXAMINE THE FIGURES FOR THE NUMBER OF EXISTING AND PROPOSED
INCINERATORS THROUGHOUT THE GREAT LAKES BASINS AND EVALUATE THE
IMPACT OF THEIR AIR EMISSIONS ON OUR WATERS.

ERIE IS A NON-ATTAINMENT AREA FOR OZONE. THIS MEANS THAT IF A
NEW SOURCE OF OZONE IS INTRODUCED INTO THE BASIN, AN EXISTING
SOURCE(S) SHOULD BE RESTRICTED. THE PROPOSED BAYFRONT HIGHWAY
WILL BE A NEW OZONE GENERATOR. WHAT WILL THE OFFSETS BE FOR THE
HIGHWAY OZONE? NEW DATA SEEMS TO LINK OZONE CONTAMINATION AND
FOOD CROPS. IS THIS A CONCERN IN ERIE COUNTY?

6. STATE FUNDING

PENNSYLVANIA IS SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE CLEAN-UP OF
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BUT WHAT IS PENNSYLVANIA SPENDING ON THE
CLEAN-UP OF LAKE ERIE BAY? THE CONSEQUENCES OF DER's IMBALANCE
IN REGARDS TO FUNDING ARE SIGNIFICANT. THIS RESOURCE IS JUST AS
VIABLE TO THE HEALTH AND ECONOMY OF THE PEOPLE IN NORTHWESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND THEREFORE WE DESERVE A PIECE OF THE PIE.

45 -

SUMMARY

"WE STAND NOW WHERE TWO ROADS DIVERGE." BUT UNLIKE THE ROADS IN
ROBERT FROST'S FAMILIAR POEM, THEY ARE NOT EQUALLY FAIR. THE
ROAD WE HAVE LONG BEEN TRAVELING IS DECEPTIVELY EASY, A SMOOTH
SUPERHIGHWAY ON WHICH WE PROGRESS WITH GREAT SPEED, BUT AT ITS
END LIES DISASTER. THE OTHER FORK OF THE ROAD - THE ONE "LESS
TRAVELED BY" - OFFERS OUR LAST CHANCE TO REACH A DESTINATION
THAT ASSURES THE PRESERVATION OF OUR EARTH. fRACHEL CARSON,
SILENT SPRING1962}

THE WATERS OF LAKE ERIE AND PRESQUE ISLE BAY PROVIDE DRINKING
WATER, WATER FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING AND COMMERCIAL
NAVIGATION. THESE WATERS ARE USED FOR FISHING AND SWIMMING AND
RECREATIONAL BOATING. THEY PROVIDE A SETTING FOR URBAN
WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT, PARKS, AND HOME SITES.

I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS WHICH
IMPACT THIS ECOSYSTEM. THESE ARE NOT NEW PROBLEMS, SOME OF THEM
ARE DECADES OLD. WHY HAVEN'T WE SOLVED THEM?

IS IT A LACK OF POLITICAL WILL ON THE PART OF OUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND APPOINTED BUREAUCRATS TO ASSIST WITH THE
AMELIORATION OF THE PROBLEMS?

IS IT A FALSE ECONOMY? AN ECONOMY THAT HAS NO MONEY FOR
CORRECTIVE MEASURES, BUT CONTINUES TO ADD TO THE PROBLEMS BY
INDISCRIMINATE DEVELOPMENT.

IS IT BECAUSE THE CONTINGENT OF RESIDENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY
WORKING TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IS TOO MEAGER?

IS IT BECAUSE OPPOSING LOBBYING FORCES ARE TOO POWERFUL?

WHATEVER THE REASON, I BELIEVE IT IS TIME TO CHANGE OUR
STRATEGY. LET US BEGIN THE DISCUSSION IN EARNEST. PROGRESSIVE
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE GREAT LAKES BASIN ARE CLEANING UP
AND ARE DOING IT SUCCESSFULLY - IT IS TIME FOR ERIE TO JOIN
THEIR RANKS.

THE PROCESS BEING USED IS CALLED A RAP - REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN -
AND IT IS PREPARED ONCE A CITY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS AN AREA
OF CONCERN BY THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION.

THE REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN FEDERAL, STATE
AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITH THE SUPPORT OF AREA CITIZENS TO
RESTORE WATER QUALITY AND THE BENEFICIAL USES OF THE WATERS IN
THE AREA OF CONCERN. IT SHOULD INCLUDE COMMITMENTS BY ALL
PARTIES TO IMPLEMENT THE GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT.
THE REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN CALLS FOR REPRESENTATION FROM ALL
MAJOR ECOSYSTEM INTERESTS (SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL).
- 46 -

THE WATERS OF PRESQUE ISLE BAY AND LAKE ERIE ARE A VALUABLE
RESOURCE -- BUT A RESOURCE IN TROUBLE. WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
CORRECT PAST PROBLEMS AND TO PREVENT FUTURE ONES. WE HAVE THE
TECHNOLOGY TO ACHIEVE A CLEAN HARBOR AND A SWIMMABLE BAY IN 20
YEARS. THE QUESTION IS DO WE HAVE THE COMMITMENT?

CAN WE AFFORD NOT TO? ENVIRONMENTAL WELL BEING REFLECTS THE
ECONOMIC HEALTH OF A COMMUNITY. OUR FUTURE PROSPERITY IS BEING
LINKED WITH A GROWING TOURISM INDUSTRY - AN INDUSTRY WHICH
RELIES ON KEEPING POLLUTION THREATS IN THE HARBOR UNDER
CONTROL. WE MUST CHOOSE TO ACT FOR THE FUTURE.

47 -

BIBLIOGRAPHY

CARSON, RACHEL. SILENT SPRING. NEW YORK: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN, 1962.

COBB, CHARLES E., JR. "THE GREAT LAKES' TROUBLED WATERS," NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
172 (JULY 1987): 2-31.

EISENREICH, STEVEN J. "TOXIC FALLOUT IN THE GREAT LAKES," ISSUES IN SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY, FALL 1987, 71-5.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY FOR THE GREAT LAKES SYSTEM. WINDSOR, ONTARIO:
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION, 1978.

KING, JONATHAN. TROUBLED WATER. EMMAUS, PA: RODALE PRESS, 1985.

KUBIAK, DICK, "WILL ERIE BECOME NEW AREA FOR CONCERN?" GREAT LAKES UNITED, 2
(WINTER 1988): 1+

UNFULFILLED PROMISES: A CITIZENS' REVIEW OF THE INTERNATIONAL GREAT LAKES WATER
QUALITY AGREEMENT. BUFFALO: GREAT LAKES UNITED. i-987

"WATER POLLUTION IN PRESQUE ISLE BAY AND LAKE ERIE WATERS NEAR PRESQUE ISLE STATE

PARK," REPORT OF THE AD HOC WATER QUALITY STUDY COMMITTEE TO THE ERIE COUNTY WATER

RESOURCES COMMISSION, ERIE, PA: SEPTEMBER 1987.

APPENDIX D

SYNOPSIS OF SLIDE PRESENTATION

ERIE HARBOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

BY THE YEAR 2008

FRANK W. ZURN, DEVELOPER

FEBRUARY 25, 1988

- 49 -

LAND AND WATER RIGHTS BORDERING ERIE HARBOR (PRESQUE ISLE

BAY) OFFER SUBSTANTIAL DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES

COMPARED WITH MOST MUNICIPALITIES OR PUBLIC PARKS CONTIGUOUS TO

REASONABLY LARGE BODIES OF WATER. TOTAL ACREAGE IS ABOUT 450

WHEN TAKEN FROM WEST AND EAST SECOND STREET NORTH TO THE U.S.

HARBOR LINE, BORDERED ON THE WEST BY CASCADE STREET AND ON THE

EAST BY WAYNE STREET. OF THE 450 TOTAL OF LAND AND WATER LOTS,

ABOUT 250 ACRES ARE CONTROLLED BY THE ERIE-WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA

PORT AUTHORITY, AND THE CITY OF ERIEt WITH THE BALANCE OF ABOUT

200 ACRES PRIVATELY HELD. THE LINEAR FRONTAGE IN THIS SAME

LOCAL, ALONG THE WATER'S EDGE IS ABOUT 6 MILES.

THE ATTACHED MAP DATED FEBRUARY 25, 1988 CLEARLY INDICATES

THE PLANNED MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND CONSTRUCTION START

DATES. THE TOTAL VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION FOR THESE VARIOUS

PROJECTS IS ABOUT $225,000,000 TO BE INVESTED DURING THE NEXT

FIVE YEARS. JOB CREATION WILL BE ABOUT 11500 FULL-TIME, 200

PART-TIME, AND 400 FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK. IF PROPOSED FUTURE

EXPANSION OF THE HAMOT MEDICAL CENTER IS INCLUDED, THEN THE

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION VALUE APPROACHES $300,000,000.

THE PROPOSED BAYFRONT PORT ACCESS ROAD IS ESSENTIAL TO MOST

ALL OF THE MENTIONED DEVELOPMENTS, AND IS PLANNED FOR

CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN IN THE SPRING OF 1989, WITH COMPLETION TO

WAYNE STREET AND THE PORT ACCESS ROAD BY THE FALL OF 1990. IN

ADDITION THE COAL FIRED "PENELEC" FRONT STREET PLANT IS

SCHEDULED TO BE SHUT DOWN AND DEMOLISHED BY NO LATER THAN THE

FALL OF 1990.

REFERRING TO THE ATTACHED ERIE BAYFRONT HOTEL ASSOCIATES,

INC. ANALYSIS OF MARINAS, REVISED FEBRUARY 25, 1988 THE TOTAL

NUMBER OF EXISTING MARINA BOAT SLIPS IS SHOWN AS 21249. WITH

PROPOSED EXPANSION OF 2,443 NEW SLIPS, THE GRAND TOTAL PLANNED

BY 1992 IS 4,692.

USING 40 SLIDES, A PICTORIAL REVIEW OF THE ABOVE REFERENCED

DEVELOPMENT SITES, AS WELL AS EXISTING MARINAS, TOWNHOUSES,

PRIVATE RESIDENCES, AND INDUSTRIAL SITES WAS PORTRAYED TO HELP

THE AUDIENCE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE PRESENTLY AND WHAT THE

FUTURE FORETELLS.

51 -

ERIE BAYFRONT HOTEL ASSOCIATES, INC.

ANALYSIS OF EXISTING AND FUTURE PROJECTIONS OF MARINAS IN PRESQUE ISLE BAY, INCLUDING LAMPE MARINA AT ENTRANCE TO THE BAY.

PROPOSED EXPANSION
LAUNCH AREA NO. OF SLIPS RATING OWNERSHIP WAIT TIME *AVERAGE RENTAL ADDED FEES NUMBER OF SLIPS START

BAYSHORE 75 FAIR PRIVATE I YEAR $ 600 NONE NONE NIA

BAY HARBOR 250 VERY GOOD PRIVATE 6 YEARS S 800 NONE NONE NIA

BROCKWAY 100 FAIR PRIVATE 2 YEARS $ 1,000 NONE NONE NIA

CHERRY STREET 240 GOOD PRIVATE 6 YEARS $ 750 HOME NONE N/A

COMMODORE PERRY Y.C. 139 GOOD PRIVATE 6 YEARS $ 200 $1,000 INITIATION NONE N/A
$ 250 DUES

DOBBINS LANDING WEST 52 FAIR PRIVATE 3 YEARS $ 900 NONE 48 1988

ERIE YACHT CLUB 439 VERY GOOD PRIVATE 7 YEARS $ 400 $2,300 INITIATION 70 1990
$ 350 DUES X 2-IST YR.

GEN CITY 38 FAIR PRIVATE 5 YEARS $ 900 NONE 10 1988

HAMOT MEDICAL 8 FAIR PRIVATE 5 YEARS s 950 HOME 20 1988

HIDDEN HARBOR 34 FAIR PRIVATE 1 YEAR $ 750 NONE NONE N/A

LAMPE MARINA 250 VERY GOOD PUBLIC 5 YEARS $ 750 NONE HOME N/A

MCALLISTER 36 FAIR PRIVATE 1 YEAR $ 750 NONE 30 1988

NIAGARA MOORINGS 0 ---- PRIVATE N/A $ 1,000 N/A 500 1988

NIAGARA PLACE 0 ---- PRIVATE N/A $ 900 $2,000 INITIATION 425 1988
SPLIT OVER 2 YEARS
$ 300 DUES

AVERAGE RENTAL BASED ON 28' BOAT IN WATER

PROPOSED EXPANSION
LAUNCH AREA NO. OF SLIPS RATING OWNERSHIP WAIT TIME *AVERAGE RENTAL ADDED FEES NUMBER OF SLIPS START

PERRY'S LANDING 0 ---- PRIVATE NONE s 1,000 $2,000 INITIAL FEE 700 1988
$ 350 SECURITY

PRESQUE ISLE MARINA 498 GOOD PUBLIC 4-7 YEARS $ 500 NONE NONE N/A

PRESQUE ISLE Y.C. 90 FAIR PRIVATE 5 YEARS $ 200 $1,000 INITIATION 40 1989
$ 240 DUES

WATERWORKS MARINA 0 ---- PRIVATE N/A N/A N/A 500 1988

TOTAL EXISTING 2,249 TOTAL EXPANSION 2,443

Ln GRAND TOTAL EXISTING AND EXPANSION BY 1992 ------ 4,692 SLIPS

INVENTORY OF EXISTING SLIPS OBTAINED FROM PENNSYLVANIA FISH COMMISSION AND HAMMER, SILER, GEORGE ASSOCIATES (CONSULTANTS) FOR PERIOD 1981-82.

SINCE THEN, THERE HAS BEEN ONE NEW MARINA, BAY HARBOR WITH 250 SLIPS, AND EXPANSION OF LAMPE MARINA BY 135 TO A TOTALOF 250 SLIPS.

ADDED FEES SHOWN ARE FOR REGULAR INITIATION FEES AND DUES. MOST MARINAS CHARGE RELATIVELY SMALL ADDED FEES FOR UTILITIES. ONLY THE ERIE YACHT CLUB OFFERS

FULL TIME BEVERAGE AND EATING FACILITIES. NO MARINAS OFFER HEALTH SPA OR FITNESS TYPE CENTERS, INCLUDING INDOOR SWIMMING POOL, TENNIS AND RAQUET BALL.

NIAGARA PLACE WILL HAVE ALL OF THESE AMENITIES, INCLUDING FOOD AND BEVERAGE, AND WILL BE AVAILABLE BY PAYMENT OF THE $2,50o INITIATION FEE AND $300

ANNUAL DUES.

IN ADDITION TO THE 525 SLIPS PROPOSED FOR NIAGARA PLACE, THERE WILL BE INDOOR DRY RACK STORAGE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR 300 BOATS UP TO 26- LONG. YEAR ROUND

DRY RACK STORAGE RATES WILL AVERAGE $850/BOAT.

ENCLOSED ARE COPIES OF 1983 AERIAL PHOTOS AND RECENT MAP OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS SHOWING EXISTING MARINAS ALONG THE ERIE WATERFRONT.

AVERAGE RENTAL BASED ON 28' BOAT IN WATER

NIAGARA MOORINGS, INC
500 SLIP MARINA
START CONSTRUC-.-'ION
$4.7 MILLION
SPRING 1989

WATERWORKS MARINA---7 DOBBINS LANDING WEST
PERRY S LANDING DEVELOP
'MENT 500 BOAT SLIPS/RESTAURANT 43 CONDOMINIUMS
94 TOWNHOUSES /CONDOMINIUMS START CONSTRUCTION COMMERCIAL SHOPS
START CONSTRUCTION JUNE, 1987 $ 4.6 MILLION' $12 MILLION
$ 120 MILLION SPRING 1989 100 SLIP MARINA
700 SLIP MARINA START MAY NIAGARA PLACE
1988
HOTEL.COMMERC
SHOPS, MUSEUM
PR-.----OUE ISLEE SAY MILLION
SLIP @rk'
MARINA
AR I Y 1988
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PERRY'S LANDING
PROFESSIONAL VILLAGE
START CONSTRUCTION JUNE, 19ST
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PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS
ERIE WATERFRONT
FEBRUARY 25.1988
FRANK W.ZURN

APPENDIX E

OVERVIEW OF

POLLUTION PROBLEMS IN

PRESQUE ISLE BAY AND

ADJACENT LAKE ERIE WATERS

PETER YEAGER

REGIONAL WATER QUALITY MANAGER

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES

FEBRUARY 25, 1988

TODAY I WILL BE TAKING A FEW MINUTES TO PRESENT AN OVERVIEW

OF POLLUTION PROBLEMS IN PRESQUE ISLE BAY AND ADJACENT LAKE

ERIE WATERS. I'LL DESCRIBE THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED

AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE UNCERTAINTIES WE FACE. THOSE UNCERTAINTIES

WILL LEAD US TO YOUR CHALLENGE FOR TODAY AS WELL AS THE FUTURE.

THE CORNERSTONE OF THIS PROGRESS HAS BEEN THE CITY OF ERIE.

UNFORTUNATELY, ERIE HAS ALSO BECOME THE VERY ROOT OF POLLUTION

PROBLEMS THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE BAY. SINCE THE LATE 19TH

CENTURY, ERIE HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS THE GEM CITY, IN PART

BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. LASALLE

EXPLORED THE SOUTHERN SHORE OF LAKE ERIE IN 1679. HE DISCOVERED

THE LAND THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE KNOWN TO US AS PRESQUE ISLE,

WHICH WAS HOME FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS TO A TRIBE OF ERIEZ

INDIANS. THE ERIEZ WERE SOON GONE. OVER TIME, SETTLERS OF

VARIED HERITAGES MOVED INTO THE AREA. AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE

SETTLED IN THE CITY OF ERIE, PERSONAL HYGIENE BECAME A LARGER

CONCERN.

IN THE LATE 1800s, ERIE BUILT ITS FIRST SEWERAGE COLLECTION

FACILITIES. PRIOR TO THIS TIME THERE WAS NO COLLECTION IN

PLACE. REALIZE THAT THIS SYSTEM WAS A COLLECTION SYSTEM ONLY:

NO TREATMENT OF DISCHARGES TOOK PLACE.

THROUGHOUT THE STATE,TYPHOID EPIDEMICS BECAME WIDESPREAD. IN

1911 ERIE HAD ITS OWN EPIDEMIC WHEN TYPHOID FEVER CLAIMED 135

LIVES AND INFECTED OVER ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE. THE CITY RESPONDED

BY CONSTRUCTING A TREATMENT PLANT FOR DRINKING WATER, SINCE THE

56 -

CITY'S PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY CAME DIRECTLY FROM PRESQUE ISLE BAY.

RAW SEWAGE CONTINUED TO DISCHARGE INTO PRESQUE ISLE BAY AND

LAKE ERIE UNTIL THE FIRST PRIMARY TREATMENT PLANT WAS BUILT IN

THE 1930s. THIS PLANT WAS DESIGNED TO TREAT 20 MGD AND REMOVE

35% OF THE ORGANIC LOAD IT RECEIVED. THEN IN 1954 THE CITY'S

TREATMENT PLANT WAS ENLARGED TO 46 MGD AND DESIGNED TO PROVIDE

85% REMOVAL. TODAY THIS IS KNOWN AS SECONDARY TREATMENT.

DURING THIS ENTIRE TIME PERIOD THE INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGERS

WERE LARGELY UNREGULATED. THE FIRST INDUSTRIAL WASTE ORDINANCE

IN ERIE WAS ENACTED IN 1966. IT HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND UPDATED

SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

PRESENTLY MAINTAINS OVERSITE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INDUSTRIAL

WASTE PRE-TREATMENT PROGRAM IN THE CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE

COMMONWEALTH.

IN 1974 ANOTHER MAJOR TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION AND UPGRADE

WAS COMPLETED. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT HAMMERMILL, NOW

INTERNATIONAL PAPER, AND THE CITY JOINED EFFORTS TO MUTUALLY

SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT FACED THEM. SOME SAY THIS HAS NOT BEEN

A MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN. BUT ALL SAY THE PARTNERSHIP HAS BEEN AND

CONTINUES TO BE IN BOTH OF THEIR BEST INTERESTS. THIS EXPANSION

PROVIDED A FACILITY CAPABLE OF TREATING 66 MGD AND FOR THE

FIRST TIME THE REMOVAL OF PHOSPHORUS.

PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN ARE TWO NUTRIENTS PRIMARILY FOR PLANT

GROWTH IN OUR ECOSYSTEM. EXCESSIVE PLANT GROWTH, WHEN IT OCCURS

IN A LAKE ENVIRONMENT, CAUSES THE LAKE TO AGE PREMATURELY. THIS

57 -

PROCESS IS KNOWN AS EUTROPHICATION. A HIGHLY EUTROPHIED LAKE IS

A VERY PRODUCTIVE LAKE BUT CAUSES WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS SUCH

AS TASTE AND ODOR IN DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS, IMPAIRED FISH AND

AQUATIC LIFE USES, AND LOW AMOUNTS OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN. PROPER

AMOUNTS OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN ARE NECESSARY FOR A HEALTHY FISH

AND AQUATIC LIFE COMMUNTIY TO SURVIVE.

NOW MAY BE A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO DIGRESS A MINUTE. (AND DON'T

WORRY SR. PAT/DON I'LL STAY ON SCHEDULE). BUT I THOUGHT A

LITTLE HISTORY OF LAKE ERIE RELATIVE TO PA'S POLICY ON

PHOSPHORUS AND THE INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION IS IMPORTANT

FOR PERSPECTIVE.

PENNSYLVANIA FIRST BEGAN REGULATING POINT SOURCE DISCHARGES

OF PHOSPHORUS THROUGH ITS 1969 LAKE ERIE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

THIS PLAN REQUIRED ALL EXISTING DISCHARGERS TO PROVIDE

PHOSPHORUS CONTROLS AT SPECIFIED LEVELS. THOSE MUNICIPAL

DISCHARGERS IN EXCESS OF 1 MGD WERE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE AN

EFFLUENT CONTAINING MG/L OF PHOSPHORUS OR LESS. THEN IN 1972, A

BI-NATIONAL AGREEMENT ON GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY WAS SIGNED

BY PRESIDENT NIXON AND PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU. THIS AGREEMENT

SPECIFIED PHOSPHORUS LOAD REDUCTIONS FOR BOTH THE U.S. AND

CANADIAN SIDES PRIMARILY OF POINT SOURCES. THE 1978 AGREEMENT

AGAIN AFFIRMED THE NEED FOR PHOSPHORUS CONTROLS TO LEVELS THAT

PREVENT NUISANCE CONDITIONS FROM OCCURRING. THIS AGREEMENT

SPECIFIED MORE STRINGENT LOAD OBJECTIVES FOR THE GREAT LAKES

AND WAS BROADENED IN 1983 TO CONTROL NON-POINT SOURCES IF

REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET LOADS. THE AGREEMENT WAS AGAIN

AMENDED IN TOLEDO IN NOVEMBER 1987. THE 1987 AGREEMENT KEPT THE

PHOSPHORUS OBJECTIVES THE SAME AS IN 1983 WHILE EXPANDING

RESPONSIBILITIES IN TOXICS, NON-POINT SOURCES, AREAS OF

CONCERN, CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS, ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION AND

CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER.

NOW BACK TO SOME MORE HISTORY OF ERIE'S WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

PROGRAM. ERIE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED YET ANOTHER TREATMENT

PLANT EXPANSION DURING THE EARLY 80's SO THAT THE CITY'S

PRESENT PERMIT ALLOWS THEM TO DISCHARGE 68.6 MGD. I'M SURE THEY

ARE PLEASED AS WE ARE THAT THE EFFLUENT THAT IS DISCHARGED TO

LAKE ERIE HAS BEEN IN COMPLIANCE SINCE JUNE OF 1987 AND REMAINS

THAT WAY TODAY.

REMAINING IN OPERATION, LET ALONE ACHIEVING COMPLIANCE, DOES

NOT COME EASY. NOR DOES IT COME CHEAPLY. THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT, THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND ERIE AREA

RESIDENTS HAVE SPENT IN EXCESS OF $41 MILLION IN GRANT MONEY

AND LOCAL FUNDS ON WASTE WATER TREATMENT IN ERIE ALONE.

THE CITY CONTINUES, AS FUNDS ALLOWr TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN

THEIR ANTIQUATED COLLECTION SYSTEM. PART OF THE SYSTEM

APPROACHES 100 YEARS OF AGE. SEWERS DO NOT LAST FOREVER.

RECENTLY, THE CITY FLOATED A THREE MILLION DOLLAR BOND ISSUE TO

CORRECT PROBLEMS IN SPECIFIC AREAS OF THE CITY. TODAY,

APPROXIMATELY 30 PERCENT OF THE SEWER SYSTEM REMAINS COMBINED.

COMBINED SEWERS ARE, BY DEFINITION, DESIGNED TO CONVEY BOTH

STORMWATER AND SEWAGE JOINTLY THROUGH THE SEWERS. PENNSYLVANIA

- 59

NO LONGER ALLOWS THE CONSTRUCTION OF COMBINED SEWERS BECAUSE OF

THE PROBLEMS THEY CAUSE.

ERIE ISN'T THE ONLY MUNICIPALITY IN THE AREA TO HAVE INVESTED

IN WATER POLLUTION CONTROL. THE BOROUGHS AND TOWNSHIPS

SURROUNDING THE CITY HAVE ALSO SPENT THEIR OWN FUNDS, AS WELL

AS STATE AND FEDERAL MONIES, IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEWAGE

COLLECTION AND CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS. TODAY, SEWAGE FROM

WESLEYVILLE, LAWRENCE PARK, AND THE TOWNSHIPS OF MILLCREEK,

HARBORCREEK, SUMMIT, AND FAIRVIEW IS CONVEYED TO - AND TREATED

BY - THE ERIE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT.

THE ERIE AREA INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY ALSO SHOULDERS A

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR WASTE WATER WHICH EVENTUALLLY FINDS

ITS WAY INTO LAKE ERIE WATERS. MANY OF THE ERIE INDUSTRIES

PROVIDE, AT A SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE TO THEM, PRE-TREATMENT OF THE

WASTES THEY GENERATE BEFORE DISCHARGING TO THE CITY'S SEWERS.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT GENERAL ELECTRIC IN THE EARLY 70's

SPENT OVER $5 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A TREATMENT FACILITY THAT HAS

GREATLY IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF THEIR DISCHARGE.

THAT'S WHERE WE'VE BEEN. WHERE ARE WE NOW? ONLY IN THE RECENT

PAST HAVE STUDIES FOCUSED ON THE EXTENT OF POLLUTION IN WATERS

OF PRESQUE ISLE.

AS WE HAVE SEEN, IMPROPERLY TREATED SEWAGE AND INDUSTRIAL

WASTES HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED INTO THE BAY OVER A LONG PERIOD OF

TIME. SOME OF THOSE CONTAMINANTS MAY BE WITH US YET TODAY. A

REPORT OF THE AD HOC WATER QUALITY STUDY COMMITTEE TO THE ERIE

60 -

COUNTY WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION, DATED SEPTEMBER 1987,

IDENTIFIES 5 POLLUTANT TYPES IN THE BAY. THEY ARE: SEWAGE;

TOXICS; NON-POINT SOURCES OF EROSION, SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENTS;

THERMAL DISCHARGES; AND DISCHARGES FROM THE CITY WATER

TREATMENT PLANTS.

A STUDY COMPLETED IN 1972 FOR THE CITY BY DALTON, DALTON &

LITTLE, INC. ESTIMATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 109,000 POUNDS OF

ORGANIC LOAD (IN TERMS OF BOD) ARE DISCHARGED TO THE BAY FROM

THE CITY'S COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM ANNUALLY. THE STUDY

RECOMMENDED THE ELIMINATION OF THESE DISCHARGES BY THE

CONSTRUCTION OF TUNNELS PARALLEL TO THE MILLCREEK TUBE AND

ALONG THE ERIE SHORELINE WEST AND EAST OF THE TREATMENT PLANT

TO INTERCEPT THE OVERFLOWS. THE WASTEWATER WAS TO BE

TRANSPORTED TO HOLDING BASINS AT THE ERIE SEWAGE TREATMENT

PLANT FOR SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT AND DISCHARGE. THE COST IN 1974

DOLLARS WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $50 MILLION.

TODAY, WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT RESOLUTION OF THESE PROBLEMS

WILL REQUIRE A MUCH HIGHER DOLLAR FIGURE. YOU ARE ALSO AWARE

THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNIQUE, IT AFFECTS NOT ONLY ERIE, BUT

MUNICIPALITIES OF ALL SIZES THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. IN

THIS REGARD, GOVERNOR CASEY HAS RECOGNIZED THAT SEWER AND WATER

INFRASTRUCTURES ARE NECESSARY ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDING BLOCKS FOR

THE SUPPORT OF A STRONG AND GROWING ECONOMY IN THE

COMMONWEALTH. TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS, HE HAS PROPOSED AN

INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, PENNVEST. PENNVEST MAY BE A

SOURCE OF FUNDS TO BEGIN A PROGRAM HERE IN ERIE. DEVELOPMENT OF

- 61

A PROGRAM TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUCH FUNDS CAN BE AN OUTGROWTH

OF OUR EFFORTS HERE TODAY. JUST LAST EVENING THE HOUSE AND

SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REACHED A COMPROMISE AGREEMENT AND

PASSED PENNVEST LEGISLATION. THIS AGREEMENT WILL ALLOW A

REFERENDUM TO BE PLACED ON THE SPRING PRIMARY ASKING FOR

CITIZEN APPROVAL TO FUND A $300 MILLION BOND ISSUE.

THE LAKE ERIE BASIN STUDY COMPLETED IN 1976 ESTIMATED THAT

COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS CONTRIBUTED 89% OF THE FECAL COLIFORM

LOAD TO THE BAY WITH THE REMAINDER DUE TO URBAN RUNOFF FROM THE

ERIE METROPOLITAN AREA. THAT REPORT ALSO STATED, AND I QUOTE

"BETTER MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL OF THE COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOWS

AND URBAN RUNOFF WOULD REDUCE THE COLIFORMS TO A LEVEL CAPABLE

OF SUPPORTING WATER CONTACT SPORTS THROUGHOUT THE BAY" END

QUOTE. THE REPORT IDENTIFIED ABATEMENT STUDIES FOR COMBINED

SEWERS AND URBAN RUNOFF AS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE LAKE ERIE

BASIN.

A DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES PRIORITY WATER BODY

SURVEY CONDUCTED IN PRESQUE ISLE IN 1985 SHOWED THE PRESENCE OF

FECAL COLIFORM STANDARDS VIOLATIONS. D.E.R. IS EXPECTED TO

CHANGE ITS WATER QUALITY STANDARDS DESIGNATION OF PRESQUE ISLE

BAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHICH WILL REQUIRE GREATER LOCAL EFFORTS

TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE BAY.

MOST OF THE FECAL COLIFORM PROBLEMS FOUND IN THE BAY TODAY

COME FROM THE CITY'S COMBINED SEWERS, WHICH ALLOW INADEQUATELY

TREATED SEWAGE TO BE DISCHARGED DURING PERIODS OF PRECIPITATION

62 -

EVENTS, SNOW MELTS AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. COMBINED SEWERS

AND THE PROBLEMS THEY CAUSE ARE NOT NEW. THEY ARE AS OLD AS THE

PROFESSION OF SANITARY ENGINEERING ITSELF. WHAT IS UNIQUE TO

THIS SITUATION IS THE FACT THAT THEY DISCHARGE TO A CAPTIVE

BODY OF WATER WHICH TRAPS THE POLLUTANTS.

MOST OLDER COMMUNITIES IN PENNSYLVANIA, LIKE ERIE, HAVE

COMBINED SEWERS. HOWEVER, UNLIKE ERIE, MOST DISCHARGE TO A

FLOWING STREAM OR TO A RIVER. FLOWING WATERS HAVE MORE

ASSIMILATIVE CAPACITY OR DILUTION AVAILABLE TO CARRY THE

POLLUTANTS AWAY. RIVERS AND STREAMS CAN RENDER THESE EFFECTS

UNNOTICEABLE AND LESS HARMFUL TO THE ENVIRONMENT. THIS TENDENCY

IS SIMILAR IN MANY RESPECTS TO THE RECENT ASHLAND OIL SPILL

WHERE EXTREME HARDSHIP WAS CAUSED TO THOSE IN THE IMMEDIATE

VICINITY BUT WAS HARDLY NOTICEABLE IN THE OHIO RIVER BY THE

TIME THE PLUME REACHED KENTUCKY.

ON THE LAKE SIDE WATER QUALITY IS GENERALLY GOOD AND

IMPROVING. THE LAKE ERIE WATER QUALITY NETWORK STATION HAS

CONSISTENTLY MET PENNSYLVANIA'S WATER QUALITY STANDARDS. DURING

THE LAST DECADE THIS STATION HAS SHOWN A STEADY DECLINE IN THE

AMOUNT OF PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN IN THE LAKE. THIS IMPROVEMENT

IS LARGELY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION OF

MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL WASTE TREATMENT FACILITIES ACROSS THE

BASIN INCLUDING ERIE. LAKE ERIE FISH CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED

FOR TRACE ORGANICS AND HEAVY METALS. ALL RESULTS TO DATE HAVE

BEEN BELOW FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ACTION LEVELS.

63 -

THE BEACHES ON PRESQUE ISLE HAVE BEEN CLOSED ON OCCASION DUE

TO BACTERIA CONTAMINATION. SEVERAL FACTORS WERE IDENTIFIED IN

THE AD HOC REPORT AS POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THIS. THEY

ARE:

1. SEWAGE CARRIED EASTWARD TO BEACHES ONE AND TWO BY LAKE

CURRENTS FROM STREAMS WEST OF THE PENINSULA.

2. EFFLUENT FROM THE CITY SEWAGE TREATMENT DISCHARGE PIPE

CARRIED TO BEACH ELEVEN.

3. SEWAGE-CONTAMINATED WATER FROM THE BAY TO BEACH ELEVEN BY

PROLONGED EAST WIND.

4. OPERATION OF THE SAND MOUND SYSTEM .... RESULTING IN

BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF BEACH TEN THROUGH GROUNDWATER.

5. STRIKING OF LAKE SEDIMENTS BY WAVE ACTION.

6. BACTERIA FROM SEAGULLS, BATHER LOAD, AND BOAT SEWAGE.

SEWAGE IS NOT THE ONLY POLLUTANT BEING CONVEYED BY THE CITY'S

AND MUNICIPALITIES' STORM SEWERS AND COMBINED SEWERS TO THE

BAY. THESE SEWERS PROVIDE THE CONDUIT FOR ANY CONCEIVABLE TYPE

OF WASTE KNOWN TO MANKIND IF IT CURRENTLY EXISTS OR WAS ONCE

USED IN THE ERIE AREA, EVEN HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO. THE

ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE POLLUTANTS ARE LARGELY

THEORETICAL DUE TO LACK OF DATA AND ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT.

WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY EXPOSING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE

COUNTRY TO THE UNCERTAINTIES OF UNKNOWN CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS;

64 -

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS ARE TODAY DOMINATING MANY DISCUSSIONS

CONCERNING WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT. THE EVERYDAY USE OF

PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY AND CONTAINING COMPLEX CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS

HAS INCREASED MANY-FOLD THE LAST HALF-CENTURY. OUR SOCIETY

STILL CONTINUES TO GENERATE MATERIALS FOR WHICH DISPOSAL

METHODS ACCEPTABLE TO THE PUBLIC ARE UNKNOWN.

THERE ARE REPORTS BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS OF

TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTAINED IN BAY SEDIMENTS FOR HEAVY METALS

SUCH AS ARSENIC, CADMIUM, CHROMIUM, CYANIDE, ETC. TOXICS HAVE

BEEN FOUND IN WHOLE FISH SAMPLES COLLECTED IN THE BAY BY THE

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. PAH'st POLYCYLIC AROMATIC

HYDROCARBONS, HAVE BEEN DETECTED IN MEASURABLE LEVELS IN BAY

SEDIMENTS. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS

INFORMATION IS DEBATEABLE, I'M SURE, BY THE SCIENTISTS AND

PROFESSIONALS HERE TODAY. FOR AS MANY LAWYERS YOU ASK YOU'LL

RECEIVE DIFFERING OPINIONS. SO, TOO, FOR AS MANY CONSULTANTS

YOU HIRE YOU'LL RECEIVE DIFFERING CONCLUSIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS.

BUT WHAT DO THEY HAVE AT STAKE? NOTHING, UNLESS THEY LIVE

HERE OR USE THE BEAUTIFUL PRESQUE ISLE PENINSULA. ALL OF YOU

HAVE SOMETHING AT STAKE OR YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE. AND THAT'S

WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT TODAY. THESE ARE WONDERFUL RESOURCES THAT

YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU. WHETHER YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WATER

RELATED ACTIVITIES, SUNBATHING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BIRD

WATCHING OR SIMPLY BECOMING ONE WITH NATURE, THE OPPORTUNITIES

EXIST TO MAKE THE PENINSULA ALL IT CAN BE IF YOU ARE WILLING TO

- 65 -

WORK TOGETHER. REGARDLESS OF YOUR PERSONAL MOTIVES, A CLEAN,

HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.

- 66 -

APPENDIX F

HARBOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

THE NEXT 20 YEARS

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND RELATED MATERIALS

- 67 -

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VOL 11 NO. 4 GREAT LAKES UNITED, 24 AGASSIZ CIRCLE, BUFFALO. NY 14214 (716) 886-0142 WINTER 19M
Erie As New Area of Concern?
continued from page I
Will Erie Become New "hotspots" inside two marinas.
0 More than half of the Army Corps'
sediment sampling sites in the bay were
Area of Concern? classed as moderately or heavily polluted
with arsenic, cyanide and heavy metals.
0 Presque Isle State Park, U.S.'s third
by Dick Kubiak, Penn. Sporismen Fedmtion & water quality evidence tha t Eric deserved most heavily visited park, has had
Brute Kershner, Lake Erie Coordinator such a designation. One of the figures repeated closings of its beaches because
they used to support this was that the of bacterial contamination and swimmers'
t would be the first newly- incidence of fish cancers "was only 11% of gastroenteritis.
designated Great Lakes Area of fish sampled" (italics ours) and doubted Despite DER's previous opposition,
Concern in three years - and the whether this "indicate(s) a real problem." one good sign is a change in DER's top
first in Pennsylvania. That's what Lake Instead, they supported the passive view administration last spring. Because of
Erie advocates want to achieve for the of Erie's harbor only as "an emerging this, CLU and Erie's Coalition have
City of Erie's Presque Isle Bay. issue." requested a meeting with Commissioner
Although Pennsylvania has the second However, the facts demonstrate that Arthur Davis to seek his support toward
shortest Great Lakes coastline (44 miles), Erie is already fully "emerged" as an making Erie a new Area of Concern.
the toxic contamination at Erie, Pa. is as issue. In 1984, bay fishermen reported
Another favorable opportunity is a
bad as, or worse than, conditions at exist- skin and lip tumors on brown bullheads. change in the Great Lakes Water Quality
ing Areas of Concern. Despite this, the A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service study Agreement between the U.S. and Can-
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has not that year collected 46 bullheads and five ada. Previously, Area of Concern nomi-
supported its recognition as an Area of bluegills afflicted with a wide array of nations had to come from the states or
Concern. skin abnormalities, including lesions and provinces, such as Pennsylvania. The
In 1986, Great Lakes United held one tumors. The next year, 40% of brown new 1987 Agreement now allows the IJC
of its 19 Basin-wide citizens' hearings in bullheads had visible skin abnormalities. Water Quality Board to directly nomi-
Erie. GLU, together with the Erie Furthermore, fish samples exceeded nate Areas of Concern also. GLU has just
County (Pa.) Environmental Coalition National Academy of Sciences (NAS) requested the Board to consider such a
(see separate aritcle) and some members criteria for toxaphene, chlordane and nomination at their next meeting.
of the International Joint Commisson dieldrin, and PCBs far exceeded NAS GLU and the Coalition are now prepar-
MC), decided that designation of Erie's criteria and FDA Action Levels, as well as ing to hold an all-day workshop of the
harbor as an Area of Concern would add Great Lakes WQ Agreement objectives. Science Advisory Board on how to get
impetus and support to the cleanup of its Other evidence of the severity of the harbor cleaned up within 20 years.
waters. Presque Isle Bay's contamination are: The February workshop, as well as a
GLU adopted a resolution in May, 0 There are three Superfund sites near press conference, are expected to
1987 for the IJC to designate it as an Area the Bay, and two proposed Superfund increase community awareness and
of Concern. Because Pennsylvania's sup- sites. Their contaminants includechloro- support.
port was required, the IJC referred form, benzene, toluene, trichlor- Pennsylvania may have one of the
GLU's request to the state's Department
of Environmental Resources (DER) and ethylene and heavy metals. shortest coastlines, but that is even more
to Gov. Bob Casey. * Bay sediments are high in PAHs, PCBs, reason for it to be proactive in restoring
In July, 1987 the DER stated its opposi- arsenic, cyanide, zinc and cadmium, with and enhancing such a limited resource. If
tion, claiming there was insufficient Continued on page 5 an Area of Concern designation is ulti-
mately achieved, it will clearly accelerate
the process of cleaning up Erie's Presque
Isle Bay. 0

C.@

VOLU14E 6. -Mo. -15 14PAGES ERIE'S SUBURBAN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER %%TEX OF 14 A R2-MA-R.-S. 1988 25 CEKTS
is ".,n convnice arbo'r
ER?'.A* "' 0--':-*-"'-".-,:- -'-@,;7*- 1
D dh
a . ark: a'r e. areas concern'
nd f

By Greg Spinks false. The cleanup could begin Erie, It is the community which is
1@. '! : becoming actively involved. v.
almost immediately."
The Pennsylvania Department of Attempts* to reach 'officials at The water quality" P*roblems'of
Environmental Resources (DER) is DER were unsuccessful; the state- the Eric Harbor and Lake Erie
still not'convinced Erie Harbor and ment was made by David were the focus of attention at the
Presque Isle.State Park should be Brockman, assistant deputy direc' -Quality Hotel during a series: of
designated an "area of concern"
tor of DER, according to Kershner. workshops and conferences spon.
by the International Joint Comaus-
sored by the Erie County En-
sion. A designation as an "area of
The statement by DER was made concern" could result in partial vironmental Coalition and the Erie
during a three day series of funding from the state and federal Chamber of Commerce. The
workshops and conferences rcgar- government for cleanup efforts and meetings were held in conjunction
ding the water quality of Lake Eric would initiate the process of a with a board meeting of the Science
and the Erie Bay. Remedial Action Plan (RAP).. .'.Advisory Board which was formed
"The department dismissed the . "We are concerned add surpris- after a treaty was signed between
notion of designating Eric as a 'hot cd by what we saw and heard con- the United States and Canada,
spot'," Bruce Kershner, of Great cerning the pollution problems here which established the International
Lakes United Inc., of Buffalo, in Erie," Dr. John R. Vallentyne, Joint Commission to monitor
N.Y., said. "They believe the toxic. the co-chairperson of the Canadian water quality on the Great Lakes in
waste problems here are not serious Delegation of the Great Lakes 1977. The treaty has been updated
and the major problem is the Science Advisory Board. said. several times in the last decade.
overflow from the combined "The grassroots support for a Dick Kubiak, a member of the
sewage system. Additionally, they clean bay in Eric is tremendous. It Eric Coalition and a professor at
felt that the paperwork involved in is usually a government body which Mercyhurst College, was critical of
such a designation would hamper designates an area as a hot spot or t'he DER position.
cleanup efforts. However, this is an area of concern, but here in (Continued on Page 2A)
A

DER.-M 0A,,colivin,ced

(Confinued from Page.11A) Stan Prazcr, the water Bureau .'.during periods of heavy rain and peninsula," Supervisor Art Detisch
"There are three Superfund cites Chief. in Erie, was somewhat snow melt. stated, "one coricern would like to
near the bay, and two proposed critical of the figures, although he '-- Others voiced concerns regar- establish a marina along Scott.Park
Superfund sites. I Their con-.- did recommend beach 11 remain 'ding waterfront 'development and with the possibility-of **a road
faminants include chloroform, closed until lite problems with the the impact or recreational activity 'leading to the waterfront in the
benzene, toluene, trichlorethylene, .'sewage waste treatment plant are on the bay and the peninsula. In a future."
and heavy metals," Kubiak wrote. corrected. keynote address, Dr. William .:- No immediate decisions are ex-'
."Bay sediments are high in PAHs ::;()"According to my experience Garvey, president of Mercyhurst 'pccted.on the waterfront develop-
PCBs,'arsenic, cyanide. zinc an@ @arid -research, most of the beaches College, displayed maps of the pro- ment in * Millcreek , Township,
cadium, with,'hot spots inside two are free from serious pollution," posed development which indicated although meetings ;will be held
marinas'." Ae 'said, "except for Beach 11, large parcels of land which will be sometime in March to discuss the
;'In addition to the presence of -which receives contaminants from used for marinas. issue. Delisch indicated the issues
.7t,toxic chemicals in (he bay waters. the sewage treatment plant. Beach "As you can see, much of the .,of public access and the pollution
Kubiak noted that several beaches I I should be closed until those pro- 'development of the west side is problems in the bay will come into
at Presque Isle had to be closed last :blems are corrected." private development and em- the ' discussions * Of waterfront
summer because of bacterial con- `i.-'Throughout the series of phasizes marinas," Garvey noted. development along the Millcrcek
tamination ..and swimmers' -workshops and conferences, "Eventually, restaurants will be shoreline.
gastroenteritis. -several problems and Issues wert built along with the marinas. On The Erie County Environmental
. "I was surprised to read a report, 'continually voiced by '' many the east side there is a parcel for a Coalition is expected to continue to
which indicated the percentage of members of local and state govern- public park, but it is close to the seek approval from DER to
people who come in contact with ment agencies, environmental sewage treatment plant. There are designate the Eric Bay as a toxic
bay and lake waters who then re- -groups, and community leaders. many questions that have to be "hot spot." ' - ' :-
quire medical treatment," Dr. The need for more research and answered about the amount of boat "This is 'vital to the local
Henry A. Reigicr, a member of the study into the pollution problems traffic and public access." * . economy," - Sister Pat Lupo,
advisory board and a professor at and the effects on human heallh The same issues will soon be fac- , chairperson of the coalition stated.
the University of Toronto, stated. and [lie relationship between the ed by Millcreek Township officials "The slate is spending millions of
."if 2% or lite people who visit the bay and the peninsula were fre- as developers are looking at parcels dollars in cleaning up the
park require medical treatment, quently mentioned. Many speakers west of Pittsburgh Avenue. :-Chesapeake Bay area. I think we
and if last year there were five to urged immediate action (o correct "We have had a request for should have some consideration
six million people who visited the the sewage which flows into the bay marina expansion at the neck of the here in.Eric.",
park, that means almost' 10,000
people required medical -
treatment."

THE MILCREEK SUN

~'~.~'~-w1th~"~-~'~;~,::~:~'w` ater ~0qx~0qtisaste~6qf
;11P the `problems ~* of years"~of "T dy of
By Greg Spink~s here is a significant bo
neglect It is an investment in the evidence that water quality condi-
Water. future not 'just another financial tions in the Bay (Erie) are among
It has ~q1pn~qg been recognized as sink hole for the government. How the worst in the Great Lakes Basin.
~qI~the Eric ~ar~ea's.~'-most~ valuable. `.can we have- waterfront d~qcv~clop- "'.There are numerous inactive hazar-
~t along toxic waterfronts?" dous waste sites which drain into
resourc~e.~~.Ye~t,~* according to a grow- ~v men
n
ing number of people, water is our 1 the fall of 1987, the or~qganiza- the Bay, including at least three on
~qmos~t.n~e~qg~qlect~ed and perhaps ab ~, used tion was granted observer status the Superfund list. The city's
.for..th~e bilate~qial negotiation bet- municipal treatment plant is the
r~esource.-~'...~' - ~q"~'~' ~- ~* ~1~. . ~:~
!."We are ~skir~ti~.ng with a major ~-~qw~ee~n the United States and Canada longest-running continuous
disaster unless we take i~rnm~ed~iaEe -under 'the Anternation~al Great violator of water quality standards
~4qM~e~qk~- ~qK~uhink~. a ~8qM~er- ~'~ql~.nk~e~% Water ~2qOua~qli~(~qv Agreement. on the Great Lakes. The harbor
cyhurst professor and a ~- l~ea~u~Lng The treaty was first s~ign~eu ue~tw~een contains co~n~tami~l~i~UL~C~U ~S~CL~!~A~1~1~C~1~1~k~z
member of the Eric County En- the U.S. and Canada in 1978. The which are suspected cause of
vironmenEal Coalition said. "What agreement established an Interna- tumors in fish. In general, the~S~e
happened with the oil spill outside tional Joint Commission (IJC) to water quality conditions far ~e~xc~le~ed
of Pittsburgh will look like a Sun- monitor the progress of the clean the goals and objectives of the
dav school picnic unless we develop
Up Of ~the Great Lakes. ~- Great Lakes Water Quality Agree-
plans to protect our, water ~* "The observer status granted to ~'m~en~t,~" the GLU report stated.
supplies." GLU is a very important According to Kubiak, if Eric is
..Kubiak is also an active member s~t~ep~,~"Kubiak noted. "For the first designated as a "hot spot" along
in an international or~-~ganiz~ati~on~, time now, both governments ~N~vil~qV Lake Eric by the IJC~, it will open
Great. Lakes United ~q(GL~0qU), which have public input. The GLU is the door ~to additional funding to
held public hearings last year con- essentially ~the representative of the help solve the pollution problems
cerning the pollution problems people. Before, there was no public in the Erie harbor and at Presque
throughout the Great Lakes Basin. representation. Now we will have Isle.
GLU, an ~enviro~t~im~en~ial citizens some direct input into future revi- ~- "We do have some very, very,
group, was established in May of sions of the treaty and be able to serious problems here whic~'h must
198~q2 when representatives of con- recommend courses of action to b~e addressed. For example, there
servation and environmental both governments." are any number of hazardous waste
groups and community action One course of action th~e GLU is sites sites which are leaching toxic
~or-anizations m~e~t on Mackinac pursuing is to have the Erie Harbor substances into our water. If we are
island, Mi~chi~a~un. designated as one of the emerging designated as a hot spot, ~qw~e will
The coalition ~' established it's areas of~.concern along the shor~cs have monies available to locate
headquarters in-Buffalo, NY and of Lake Eric. Presently, there are these and come up with some sort
began ~t~o focus on t~qhe critical en- 44 areas in the Great Lakes Basin of solutions to our water qualit~%
vironmental problems not only of designated as areas of serious problems here," Kubiak- said*.
Lake' Eric but of all ;he ~8qdr~eaE concern. "The GLU and ~t~qhe IJC %%ill be able
Lakes. of action to take
The G~qLU concluded in May to present courses
"Eric, like many of th~e c~qo~qm~- 19~q8~q7~, after a series of public which we call RAPS (Remedial Ac-
muni~qd~es on the Great Lakes suffers meetings throughout the Great tion Programs.) "It will be a major
from a natural resource deficit," Lakes ~4qiasin, one of which was h~qe!d step in cleaning tip ~qt~6qhe harbor and
Dave Miller, executive director of in Eric. that this area faces some Possible, ~qw~qe %Jill again be able to
GLU said in a recent telephone in- extremely significant problems a~qn~2qd swim in our harbor and eat fish
terview. "The water quality is bad should be added to the list of "hot without worrying about cancerous
and ~q%~qv~qe need more funding to clean spots." tumors."

72 -

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Vur Mplftwo
'Special concern' M"'W/JV3 wews 2/1&18F
Recently we reported that the Erie- area hadn't been named to
a list of 42 "areas of special concern ' on the Great Lakes com-
piled by the International Joint Commission.
Apparently, Erie would have been named, except that a DER
official wrote the commission that things weren't so bad here.
"We don't think the state knows what the situation is up here,
and that they're afraid of getting into some financial black hole if
they agree to. the listing," commented Richard Kubiak of the
Erie County Environmental Coalition.
e We have long had the impression that Harrisburg just
doesn't understand the Erie area and its unusual, delicate ecolo-
gy.
* Local groups'such as the Coalition and, the Presque Isle
Advisory Committee have done more. for the Erie area than
many people thought possible.
DER Secretary Arthur Davis told the Coalition he's looking'
into the problem@ .
That's good. Under Davis, we have more hope that the DER
will respond to Erie's needs.
We continue to hope that the DER will take the time and make
the effort to understand this area's problems, and then take ap-
propriate, hard action.
We're counting on Art Davis to do the job.

7,@

'41L-

Dr. Afted Beeton, co-chairman of the U.S. delegation to the 1JC
Science Advisoty Board, Erie nature coluinnist Evelyn Anderson,
John VallentYne, Canadian CO-ChBirman of the science board, and
Sr. Pat Lupo, president of the Etie Environmental Coalition, take a
look at Vallen"e's "Global Pick" used to teach children about me
earth's biosphere.
Great Lakes science board
meet seen as start for Erie

The first-ever meeting in Erie of She noted that representatives of
the International Joint Commis- the three groups have been meeting
sion's Science Advisory Board could since November to bring this about.
spark the first step towards forming "We all have a common goal: that
a coalition aimed at getting Erie's good water is good business," she
harbor cleaned up 20 years. said. "We need to have a clean har-
Sister Pat Lupo, president of the bor.
Erie Environmental Coalition said a "We hope to set goals Thursday
series Of rOundtables and speeches that a coalition can implement."
planned for Thursday at the Quality The general public is invited to a
Hotel Plaza is hoped to be the first series of talks that will run from
step to setting up the coalition of 10:30 a.m. to noon at the hotel ball.
business, government and environ- room and to- a concluding session
m,ental interests. from 4 to 5 p.m. at the ballroom. -
74

Meetings Set On Harbor Development
The International Joint Commis- mon goals to clean up the harbor sion is a bi-national institute which
sion's Science Advisory Board wdl and to correct pollution problems reports on the progress and imple-
meet Wednesday through Friday at that impair the beneficial uses of the mentation of the Great Lakes Water
the Quality Hotel Plaza. The theme bay. Quality Agreement that was signed
of the meetings ii "Harbor Develop- Topics include remedial action in 1978.
ment and Environmental Quality: plans submitted by communities For information on the interna-
The Next 20 Years." The board will around the Great Lakes Basin and tional Joint Comn-tission, contact
meet Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m., the implications of the 1987 protocol Sally Cole-Misch, public information
Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and to the 1978 Great Lakes Water Qual- officer, or Peter Boyer, secretary to
Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet- ity Agreement. the Science Advisory Board, at (313)
ings are open to the public. The International Joint Commis- 226-2170.
Donald F. DiPlacido, president of
the Erie Area Chamber of Com-
merce, and Sister Pat Lupo of the
Erie County Environmental Coali-
tion are co-chairing the local steer-
ing committee that is coordinating
the meetings, along with Walter
Lyon, a Pennsylvania member of the
Science Advisory Board.
On Thursday, the Science Advi- 2-12.15'Iff 11AE
sory Board will meet with 75 to 80
members from Erie and surround-
ing communities, including officials
"m local and state government,
regulatory agencies, and represent-
atives from local business, industry,
development and environmental in-
terests.
The meeting will focus on how
this partnership can develop com-

--l- '10

EW DAILY TIMES PHOTO
Group wants to clean up Erie harbor
The Science Advisory Board of the International Joint Commission is
meeting at the Quality Hotel Plaza today and Friday to form a coali-
tion, the goal of which is to get Erie's harbor cleaned up in 20 years.
Sister Pat Lupo, second from right, president of the Erie Environ-
mental Coalition, said a series of roundtables, and speeches
planned for today will be held as a first step to establishing a coali-
tion of business, government, and environmental interests. Also
shown are, from left, Bruce Kershner, a member of Great Lakes
United (a coalition to help cities monitor and improve water quality)
Dr. Alfred Beeton, co-chairman of the U.S. delegation to the IJC
Science Advisory Board, and John Vallentyne, Canadian co-chair-
man of the science board. Lupo said those meewting today hope to
set goals for implementation. The talks were to run from 10:30 a.m.
to noon and from 4 to 5 at the hotel's ballroom. The science board
began their work on Wednesday..

MPON2 06W Thursday, March 3,1988 205 W. 12th St., Erie, Pa. 16534 58 vages @4- 25 Cents
tab
V
Massteve reat akes
cleanup effort urged
WASHINGTON (AP) - Toxics lingering in resuspended and reintroduced into the food He pointed out that industry can be made
the sediment and water of the Great Lakes chain much more rapidly and much more con- to cooperate by effective policing by federal,
basin form a stable cycle of pollution that if left sistently than we have ever known." state and local environmental groups.
undisturbed will threaten life for a thousand Stan Prazer, director of the Erie City Wa- "This pollution has to be stopped and if in-
years, a House subcommittee was told Wednes- ter Bureau and a member of the Presque Isle dustry has to turn around and put in facilities
day. State Park Advisory Committee, said he and clean it up, then that's what we have to
Environmentalists called for creation of a new thinks the cleanup is an "excellent idea.,, do. This is a legacy we're going to leave for
federal fund to begin a decades-long cleanup of our grandchildren and our great-grandehil-
,ythe mess. "This is water that we depend on for our dren," Prazer said.
Strong regulations governing dumping dis- livelihood. We drink, we bathe in it; and we're Paul Knuth, a geology professor at Edin-
posal of toxic substances have helped stem the just taking and indiscriminately dumping boro University, said that the Erie area is for-
flow of new pollution into the Great Lakes, said chemicals, nuclear wastes in it," Prazer said. tunate in that the waters of Lake Erie here
-Glenda Daniel, executive director of the Lake "The Great Lakes is the largest fresh water haven't become as polluted.
Michigan Federation, in testimony before the supply in the world. Once we foul that up, it's "Erie has been very lucky. When -you look
water resources subcommittee of the House a detriment to the entire country," Prazer at the lake pollution. when these kinds of
Public Works Committee. said. "If we contaminate the last fresh water things are sampled, we end up-looking pretty
"While this progress continues, however, it supply, water is going to cost as much as gas- good. Sometimes to the east of us, toward
will not achieve maximum effect while mistakes Oline," Prazer added. "if we allow this to hap- Buffalo, you get a lot of concentrations of
from our past continue to haunt us," Ms. Daniel pen, Ijust feel for our future generations." some of these chemicals.
said. "Evidence is increasing that not only do With the proposed development of the wa- "Most of the problem is in the western
these lake and river bottom contaminants fail to terfront, the harbor should be cleaned up "as basin," Knuth stated, adding that the Erie
stay where they've sunk, but they are quickly as possible," Prazer said. area falls in the central basin of Lake Erie.

Thursday, March 3,1988
Environmentalists seek
cleanup of Great Lakes
WASHINGTON (AP) - Toxics Lupo, chairman of the Erie Coun-
lingering in the sediment and water ty Environmental Coalition, said
of the Great Lakes basin form a today-
stable cycle of pollution that if left Last week the Science Advisory
undisturbed will threaten life for a Board of the International Joint
thousand years, a House subcom- Commission met in Erie on
mittee was told Wednesday. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Environmentalists called for cre- to discuss water quality problems
ation of a new federal fund to begin throughout the Great Lakes basin.
ess. Developers, environmentalists,
a decades-long cleanup of the m
Strong regulations governing dis- government agencies, and repre-
posal of toxic substances have sentatives of local business and
helped stem the flow of new pollu- industry met to discuss water
tion into the Great Lakes, said Glen- quality problems, Lupo said.
da Daniel, executive director of the It was decided to form a coali.
Lake Michigan Federation, mi testi- tion which would set a goal of
mony before the water resources cleaning Presque Isle Bay within
subcommittee of the House Public 20 years.
Works Committee. The pollutants in the bay, which
"While this progress 'continues, include a wide variety of hydrocar-
however, it will not achieve maxi- bons, have the potential for mak-
mum effect while mistakes from our ing their way into the lake to pol-
past continue to haunt us," Daniel lute that body of water, Lupo said.
said. "Evidence is increasing that She said that later this month, a
not only do these lake and river bot- water quality steering committee
tom contaminants fail to stay where will meet. Lupo said the steering
they've sunk, but they are committee is composed of repre-
resuspended and reintroduced into sentatives of city and county gov-
the food chain much more rapidly ernment, developers, the Erie
and much more consistently than Area Chamber of Commerce, the
we have ever known." academic community, and the
Among the sites having the most Erie County Environmental Coali-
heavily contaminated sediment are tion. "The meeting will be held to
the Fox River in Wisconsion, which decide where to go from here,"
accounts for up to 40 percent of the she said.
cancer-causing PCBs that enter David Miller, executive director of
Lake Michigan, and the Grand Calu- Great Lakes United, wiled on Con-
met River and Indiana Harbor gress to appropriate $52 million over
Canal in northwest Indiana, where five years to pay for pilot cleanup
sediments 10 feet to 12 feet deep are projects. Congress authorized the
contaminated with heavy metals money last year but so fair has ap-
and organic chemicals, she.said. propriated only $4.1 million for the
"The Kalamazoo River in Michi- projects.
gan contains at least 220,000 pounds Miller also called for establish-
of PCBs in its bottom sediments," ment of a national Aquafund to deal
Daniel said. "Unless it is cleaned up with contaminated sediment, not
now, it wiQ disperse into Lake Mich- only on the lakes but in all U.S. wa-
igan and continue to be a problem ters, on top of the present federal
for the environment for a thousand Superfund that pays for pollution
years to come." cleanup. Work should begin by the
The Erie area already has a year 2000, he said.
head start on coping with lake pol-
lution it might cause, Sister Pat

it
,Panel seeks
s I "Ot tv
s VOW
d ers
..clean
The Erie County Water Resources county commission will attempt to
Commission Thursday passed a res- qualify for further government stud-
olution to seek government designa- ies and grants for specific pollution
tion of Presque Isle Bay as an envi- problems.
ronmental "area of concern." One project already approved is
The designation could mean ma- an examination this summer of 250
jor cleanup projects in and around fish ftni the bay and take to test
the bay. It could also require some them for various diseases and in-
local funds. take of harmful chemicals in their
The commission debated whether food chain.
it is the right time for such an effort. Joseph Trzybinski of the Erie
in view of city projects already pro- County Health Department noted
grammed to keep sanitary sewage that a determination was not made
out of the Mill Creek Tube and to last year if bullheads taken from the
improve operations of the
sewage bay actually had cancerous lesions.
treatment plant. But he said only a few fish were test-
But commission member Richard ed and they did have skin lesions.
Kubiak said, "We're going to look Trzybinsld said the more exten-
like a laughing stock if we don,t ad- sive tests this year, sampling sever-
mit there's a problem." He also ar- al species of fish, should provide an-
gued there "is a cost" to not doing swers concerning the health of the
anything - possible worsening of fish and any potential harm eating
water quality and a possible nega- them could do to humans.
tive impact on tourism." County Councilman Joseph Giles,
Those favoring the designation haison to the commission, said far
noted statements made by members more extensive studies of fish life,
of the International Joint Commis- pollution sources and water quality
sion's Science Advisory Board when might be possible with the "area of
it met in Eric last week. The scien- concern" designation. He said the
tists, too, said the bay needed fur- designation would force state and lo-
ther evaluation and local partici. cal officials to develop an action plan
pants formed a coalition to seek a with a specific strategy for cleaning
cleanup @qort over 20 years. up the bay. And he said the designa-
By gaining the designation from tion should open the door for grant
both the International Joint Com- money for the bulk of the funding for
mission and the state Department of various Projects.
Environmental Resources, the
wat

78 -

Panel backs 'concern' status for bay
By JOHN GUERRIERO The designation would force state the peninsula; the sediments in the The commission's action Thurs-
Morning News staff reporter and local officials to develop a reme- bay, the effects of the bay on human day followed a similar theme voiced
The Erie County Water Re- dial action plan outlining the strate- heolth; an impact review of bayfront last week in Erie by the co-chairmen
sources Commission unanimously gy for cleaning up the bay within a development; and monitoring re- of the International Joint Commis-
approved a resolution Thursday that specific period. The plan also would views of the overflow of streams and sion's Science Advisory Board.
urges the state to officially desig- detail the financing for the cleanup. other systems that enter the bay. They said they would recommend
nate Presque Isle Bay as an "area of Giles said that once the bay was Giles said the resolution would be that the bay be placed on that com-
concern" for environmental pur- designated as an area of concern, sent to the state Department of En- mission's list of areas of special con-
poses.. funding from the federal and state vir(olmnental Resources. cern. The designation has been
The designation, if granted, would governments would become more The olitics of the state seems sought by local environmental and
give the bay a "Priority status" for available to complete five recom- orientedptoward the southeast part sportsmen's groups for more than
studies and cleanup, said County mended areas for more study. of the state ... We don't want to be one year, and one that state environ-
Councilman Joseph Giles, a liaison They studies would include: the excluded from that focus," Giles mental officials have tried to fore-
to the water panel. relationship between the bay and said. stall.

Our opinion 1APtW1j AfEws 3jglfr
Swimmable bay
in 19 years?
Environmentalists are calling for a massive cleanup Of the
Great Lakes. They told a House panel March 2 that "toxins
lingering in the sediment and water of the Great Lakes basin
form a stable cycle of pollution, (one) that if left undisturbed will
threaten life for a thousand years." tami-
Ohio Gov. Richard Celeste told the panel that "toxic con
nation is widespread and a threat to human health that com
promises our quality Of life. It is implicated in genetic damage,
cancer and disorders of the reproductive system, among others."
According to the Associated press, "among the sites having
the most heavily contaminated sediment are the Fox River in
which accounts for up to 40 percent of the cancer
Wisconsin,
causing PCBS that enter Lake Michigan; and the Grand Calumet
River and Indiana Harbor Canal in northwest Indiana, where
sediments 10 feet to 12 feet deep are contaminated with heavy
metals and organic chemicals." But its sediment is
Presque Isle Bay is not as heavily polluted
the product of years of uncontrolled industry
Last year, the Erie County Environmental Coalition called for
a,,swimmable bay" in 20 years.
Well, now it's a swimmable bay in 19 years, but we haven't
state, or federal officials.
seen any action from local,
The House panel Was urged to create another superfund to
what choice do we have?
deal with this problem. Really,
Are we going to have a swimmable bay, or not? Our tourist
industry and our new Bayfront force that question on us

Mr. Bagnoni SECONDED BY:
By ----------------------------------------- Mr. - 11omhrovski- ---------------
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Erie, Pa - ------ March -23,- 1988 --------------

Resolved, by the Council of the City of Erie,

WHEREAS, the Science Advisory Board of the International Joint Commission
and the Water Resources Co=aisaion of Erie Co=ty lave made the formal
recommendation that Presque isle Say, Lake Erie, b-a designated an araa of
special concern by the Commonwealth of PennsylvnAia, Department of EnTrironmental
Resources, and
WHEREAS, this governmental designation will add state focus and state
funding and federal funding and grant money toward the revitali.-ation of
Presque Isle Bay; so
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Erie that
we enjoin the efforts of the International Joint Commission and the Erie
County Water Resources Commission and Erie County Council of the County of
Erie, and the Erie County Environmental Coalition and strongly oncou-rage
the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources to designate
Presque Isle Bay as an area of special concern in the Great Lakes.

March 23, 1988. City Council adopt by yeas Messrs. Brabender, Dombrowski,
Dougherty, Maras, Mifsud, Savocchio, and Bagnoni. 7. Nays. 0.
March 23, 1988. Signed by the President. Attested by the City Clerk.

County Council Resolution

March, 1988

loint
:ommission Mr. Giles reported on the International Joint Commission Meeting
sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce and the Environmental
Coalition at the Quality Inn February 24, 25. 26. The Great Lakes
Science Advisory Board from the International Joint Commission has
representatives from the Scientific community and the basis For
discussion was a report prepared by the Ad Hoc Water committee of the
Water Resources Commitslon and the round table discussion centered on
the report: So, it was a great compl4ment to the community and to the
Water Resources Commission. As a result five goals were agreed upon.
(1) Th-ire should be a biological study on the ecological effects of
the, bay on the Peninsula. and vice versa; (2) there should be a study
an all streams that enter eresque Isle bay: (3) there should be
biological studies conducted on the effect of the bay an human health;
(4) impact study of waterfront development on marine life along the
bay; and (51 d study of sediment in the bay. A report on these goals
will be avai'lable in approximately thirty days. Mr. Giles said hr- was
grhteful to the Chamber of.Commerce for co-sponsoring the meeting ant
was proud of the leadership roll of the '.later Resources Commission in
the presentation and the discussions.

RESOLUTION NUMBER 7. 198.8

'Requested State Designation of Presque Isle Bay
as an "Area of Special Concern"

WHEREAS, the Science Advisory Board of the International
Joint Commission and the Water Resources Commission f Erie County
have made the formal recommendation that Presque Isle Bay, Lake
Erie, be designated "an area of special concern" by the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Department of Environmental
Resources, and

WHEREAS, this governmental designation will add state focus
and state funding toward the revitalization of Presque Isle Bay;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the County Council of the
County of Erie, pursuant to Article 11 �3B(l) of the Home Rule
Charter for the County of Erie, to enjoin the efforts of the
International Joint Commission and the Erie County Water
Resources Commission and strongly encourage the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Resources to designate "Presque Isle
Bay" as an area of special concern in Pennsylvania.

On the motion of Mr. Giles -, seconded by Mri. _KaSL__,

this resolution was passed on this 15th day of March

19 88 , by a vote of 6 0.

ATTEST: APPROVED BY:

orin 0 Fab A@3 io J,udith-T-1-.L-ynEh T-
Cou ty C rk County Executive
Date Ild Date
K
6
ori d@o

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3 6668 14101 1991 _ _