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

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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