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DELISTING DEFINITIONS OF BUI TARGETS
BUI 1: RESTRICTIONS ON FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSUMPTION
LISTING GUIDELINE
When contaminant levels in fish or wildlife populations exceed current standards, objectives or guidelines, or public health advisories are in effect for human consumption of fish or wildlife. Contaminant levels in fish and wildlife must be due to contaminant input from the watershed.
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When contaminant levels in fish and wildlife populations do not exceed current standards, objectives or guidelines, and no public health advisories are in effect for human consumption of fish or wildlife. Contaminant levels in fish and wildlife must not be due to contaminant input from the watershed.
RATIONALE
Accounts for jurisdictional; and federal standards; emphasizes local watershed sources.
REFERENCE
Adapted from Mack 1988
BUI 2: TAINTING OF FISH AND WILDLIFE FLAVOR
LISTING GUIDELINE
When ambient water quality standards, objectives, or guidelines, for the anthropogenic substance(s) known to cause tainting, are being exceeded or survey results have identified tainting of fish or wildlife flavor.
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When survey results confirm no tainting of fish or wildlife flavor.
RATIONALE
Sensitive to ambient water quality standards for tainting substances; emphasizes survey results.
REFERENCE
See American Public Health Association (1980) for survey methods
BUI 3: DEGRADED FISH AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS
LISTING GUIDELINE
When fish and wildlife management programs have identified degraded fish or wildlife populations due to a cause within the watershed. In addition, this use will be considered impaired when relevant, field-validated, fish or wildlife bioassays with appropriate quality assurance/quality controls confirm significant toxicity from water column or sediment contaminants.
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When environmental conditions support healthy, self-sustaining communities of desired fish and wildlife at predetermined levels of abundance that would be expected from the amount and quality of suitable physical, chemical and biological habitat present. An effort must be made to ensure that fish and wildlife objectives for Areas of Concern are consistent with Great Lakes ecosystem objectives and Great Lakes Fishery Commission fish community goals. Further, in the absence of community structure data, this use will be considered restored when fish and wildlife bioassays confirm no significant toxicity from water column or sediment contaminants.
RATIONALE
Emphasizes fish and wildlife management program goals; consistent with Agreement and Great Lakes Fishery Commission goals; accounts for toxicity bioassays.
REFERENCE
Adapted from Manny and Pacific, 1988; Wisconsin DNR 1987; United States and Canada, 1987; Great Lakes Fishery Commission 1980
BUI 4: FISH TUMORS OR OTHER DEFORMITIES
LISTING GUIDELINE
When the incidence rates of fish tumors or other deformities exceed rates at unimpacted control sites or when survey data confirm the presence of neoplastic or preneoplastic liver tumors in bullheads or suckers.
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When the incidence rates of fish tumors or other deformities do not exceed rates at unimpacted control sites and when survey data confirm the absence of neoplastic or preneoplastic liver tumors in bullheads or suckers.
RATIONALE
Consistent with expert opinion on tumors; acknowledges background incidence rates.
REFERENCE
Adapted from Mac and Smith, 1988 Black 1983; Baumann et al. 1982
BUI 5: BIRD OR ANIMAL DEFORMITIES OR REPRODUCTIVE PROBLEMS
LISTING GUIDELINE
When wildlife survey data confirm the presence of deformities (e.g. cross-bill syndrome) or other reproductive problems (e.g. egg-shell thinning) in sentinel wildlife species.
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When the incidence rates of deformities (e.g. cross-bill syndrome) or reproductive problems (e.g. egg-shell thinning) in sentinel wildlife species do not exceed background levels in inland control populations.
RATIONALE
Emphasizes confirmation through survey data; makes necessary control comparisons.
REFERENCE
Adapted from Kubiak 1988, Miller 1988; Wiemeyer et al. 1984
BUI 6: DEGRADATION OF BENTHOS
LISTING GUIDELINE
When the benthic macroinvertebrate community structure significantly diverges from unimpacted control sites of comparable physical and chemical characteristics. In addition, this use will be considered impaired when toxicity (as defined by relevant, field-validated, bioassays with appropriate quality assurance/quality controls) of sediment associated contaminants at a site is significantly higher than controls.
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When the benthic macroinvertebrate community structure does not significantly diverge from unimpacted control sites of comparable physical and chemical characteristics. Further, in the absence of community structure data, this use will be considered restored when toxicity of sediment-associated contaminants is not significantly higher than controls.
RATIONALE
Accounts for community structure and composition; recognizes sediment toxicity; uses appropriate control sites.
REFERENCE
Adapted from Reynoldson 1988; Henry 1988; IJC 1988
BUI 7: RESTRICTIONS ON DREDGING ACTIVITIES
LISTING GUIDELINE
When contaminants in sediments exceed standards, criteria, or guidelines such that there are restrictions on dredging or disposal activities.
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When contaminants in sediments do not exceed standards, criteria, or guidelines such that there are restrictions on dredging or disposal activities.
RATIONALE
Accounts for jurisdictional and federal standards; emphasizes dredging and disposal activities.
REFERENCE
Adapted from IJC 1988
BUI 8: EUTROPHICATION OR UNDESIRABLE ALGAE
LISTING GUIDELINE
When there are persistent water quality problems (e.g. dissolved oxygen depletion of bottom waters, nuisance algal blooms or accumulation, decreased water clarity, etc.) attributed to cultural eutrophication.
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When there are no persistent water quality problems (e.g. dissolved oxygen depletion of bottom waters, nuisance algal blooms or accumulation decreased water clarity, etc.) attributed to cultural eutrophication.
RATIONALE
Consistent with Annex 3 or the Agreement; accounts for persistence of problems.
REFERENCE
United States and Canada, 1987
BUI 9: RESTRICTIONS-DRINKING WATER CONSUMPTION-TASTE/ODOR PROBLEMS
LISTING GUIDELINE
When treated drinking water supplies are impacted to the extent that: 1)densities of disease-causing organisms or concentrations of hazardous or toxic chemicals or radioactive substances exceed human health standards, objectives or guidelines; 2) taste and odor problems are present; or 3) treatment needed to make raw water suitable for drinking is beyond the standard treatment used in comparable portions of the Great Lakes which are not degraded (i.e. settling, coagulation, disinfection).
DELISTING GUIDELINE
For treated drinking water supplies: 1) when densities of disease-causing organisms or concentrations of hazardous or toxic chemicals or radioactive substances do not exceed human health objectives, standards or guidelines; 2) when taste and odor problems are absent; and 3) when treatment needed to make raw water suitable for drinking does not exceed the standard treatment used in comparable portions of the Great Lakes which are not degraded (i.e. settling, coagulation, disinfection).
RATIONALE
Consistency with the Agreement; accounts for jurisdictional standards; practical; sensitive to increased cost as a measure of impairment.
REFERENCE
Adapted from United States and Canada, 1987
BUI 10: BEACH CLOSINGS
LISTING GUIDELINE
When waters, which are commonly used for total-body contact or partial-body contact recreation, exceed standards, objectives, or guidelines for such use.
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When waters, which are commonly used for total-body contact or partial body-contact recreation, do not exceed standards, objectives, or guidelines for such use.
RATIONALE
Accounts for use of waters; sensitive to jurisdictional standards; addresses water contact recreation; consistent with the Agreement.
REFERENCE
Adapted from United States and Canada, 1987; Ontario Ministry of the Environment 1984
BUI 11: DEGRADATION OF AESTHETICS
LISTING GUIDELINE
When any substance in water produces a persistent objectionable deposit, unnatural color or turbidity, or unnatural odor (e.g. oil slick, surface scum).
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When the waters are devoid of any substance which produces a persistent objectional deposit, unnatural color or turbidity, or unnatural odor (e.g. oil slick, surface scum).
RATIONALE
Emphasizes aesthetics in water, accounts for persistence.
REFERENCE
Adapted from Ontario Ministry of the Environment 1984
BUI 12: ADDED COSTS TO AGRICULTURE OR INDUSTRY
LISTING GUIDELINE
When there are additional costs required to treat the water prior to use for agricultural purposes (i.e. including, but not limited to, livestock watering, irrigation and crop-spraying) or industrial purposes (i.e. intended for commercial or industrial applications and noncontact food processing).
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When there are no additional costs required to treat the water prior to use for agricultural purposes (i.e. including, but not limited to, livestock watering, irrigation and crop-spraying) and industrial purposes (i.e. intended for commercial or industrial applications and noncontact food processing).
RATIONALE
Sensitive to increased cost and measure of impairment.
REFERENCE
Adapted from Michigan DNR 1977
BUI 13: DEGRADATION OF PHYTOPLANKTON AND ZOOPLANKTON POPULATIONS
LISTING GUIDELINE
When phytoplankton or zooplankton community structure significantly diverges from unimpacted control sites of comparable physical and chemical characteristics. In addition, this use will be considered impaired when relevant, field- validated, phytoplankton or zooplankton bioassays (e.g. Ceriodaphnia; algal fractionation bioassays) with appropriate quality assurance/quality controls confirm toxicity in ambient waters.
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When phytoplankton and zooplankton community structure does not significantly diverge from unimpacted control sites of comparable physical and chemical characteristics. Further, in the absence of community structure data, this use will be considered restored when phytoplankton and zooplankton bioassays confirm no significant toxicity in ambient waters.
RATIONALE
Accounts for community structure and composition; recognizes water column toxicity; uses appropriate control sites.
REFERENCE
Adapted from IJC 1987
BUI 14: LOSS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT
LISTING GUIDELINE
When fish and wildlife management goals have not been met as a result of loss of fish and wildlife habitat due to a perturbation in the physical, chemical, or biological integrity of the Boundary Waters, including wetlands.
DELISTING GUIDELINE
When the amount and quality of physical, chemical, and biological habitat required to meet fish and wildlife management goals have been achieved and protected.
RATIONALE
Emphasizes fish and wildlife management program goals; emphasizes water component of Boundary Waters.
REFERENCE
Adapted from Manny and Pacific, 1988
SOURCE:
International Joint Commission
Revised: 4 February 1997
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