Battelle—Dioxin Policy Support
for the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy

Dioxin is one of 12 substances targeted for virtual elimination under a 1997 agreement signed by Canada and the U.S. entitled: The Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy: Canada-United States Strategy for the Virtual Elimination of Persistent Toxic Substances in the Great Lakes. Battelle has provided ongoing strategic support to the Great Lakes

U.S. challenge goal for dioxins/furans as stated in the GLBTS: Seek by 2006, a 75 percent reduction in total releases of dioxins and furans (2,3,7,8-TCDD toxicity equivalents) from sources resulting from human activity. This challenge will apply to the aggregate of releases to the air nationwide and of releases to the water within the Great Lakes Basin. (baseline: 1987 final U.S. EPA Dioxin Reassessment).

Binational Toxics Strategy (GLBTS) since its inception, including support for the GLBTS Dioxin/ Furans Workgroup in their development of a strategy to meet the GLBTS challenge goals for reductions in dioxins/furans releases air and water. The Dioxin/Furans Workgroup relies heavily on the involvement of key stakeholders – including representatives of State, industrial, and non-governmental organizations. Resources are focused primarily on the facilitation voluntary activities. One of the initial challenges for the workgroup, however, has been the issue of limited resources, resulting in the need to prioritize workgroup reduction efforts. To address this concern, Battelle recently assisted the Dioxin Workgroup in the development of a decision-tree ranking process to systematically evaluate major sources of dioxin emissions in the Great Lakes region. This process helps to define priority areas for initial workgroup focus, and helps to determine if the GLBTS workgroup can add value to the reduction processes already in place for a given sector. workgroup, in conjunction with Battelle technical support and facilitation services, developed this decision-tree ranking system within a twoyear period, beginning late 1999.

The decision-tree process includes both threshold criteria (which dismiss sources or sectors if the probability of a significant benefit is too low) and ranking criteria (which address the relative value of potential reduction opportunities). The process is used to assign a GLBTS priority ranking of high, medium, or low to each candidate sector, or to identify significant information gaps that need to be filled before a final ranking is assigned. Priority-level designation is determined by the multi-stakeholder workgroup through teleconferences and in-person meetings, and is based on available source and release information and existing regulatory and programmatic frameworks. The GLBTS analysis is focused on dioxin reduction opportunities that continue beyond programs and efforts already in place. As a result of this process, the workgroup has designated four sectors for initial priority focus. The process has also identified several sources as high priority for further investigation. Battelle continues to help the GLBTS Dioxin Workgroup with implementing reduction projects for sectors designated high and medium priority, gathering information, and encouraging coordinated activities and sector-based solutions.

For more information on GLBTS and its dioxin policy support, please contact John Menkedick at (614) 424-3699, menked@battelle.org.