110 environmental, health and other advocacy groups nominated radionuclides in 2016 and again in 2022 to be named Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs) under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA).
In June 2025, the Annex 3 co-leads from the Canada Water Agency and the United States Environmental Protection Agency recommended to the Great Lakes Executive Committee (GLEC) not to pass radionuclides for further screening and consideration as CMC. Their approach and evaluation reflect a failure to use the GLWQA as their guide.
Groups concluded and urged GLEC to send radionuclides for “detailed screening and Binational Summary Report.”
The summary commentary as well as a series of reports that support our summary critique was submitted to GLEC on behalf of over 125 organizations urging the Canadian and U.S. governments to pass radionuclides for further screening under the GLWQA.
The cover letter, summary commentary, and background documents are also found on the Canadian Environmental Law Archive website; click here to open them in a new tab.
Joint Letter: Advocacy Groups Urge Radionuclide Screening Under GLWQA
110 environmental, health and other advocacy groups nominated radionuclides in 2016 and again in 2022 to be named Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs) under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA).
In June 2025, the Annex 3 co-leads from the Canada Water Agency and the United States Environmental Protection Agency recommended to the Great Lakes Executive Committee (GLEC) not to pass radionuclides for further screening and consideration as CMC. Their approach and evaluation reflect a failure to use the GLWQA as their guide.
Groups concluded and urged GLEC to send radionuclides for “detailed screening and Binational Summary Report.”
The summary commentary as well as a series of reports that support our summary critique was submitted to GLEC on behalf of over 125 organizations urging the Canadian and U.S. governments to pass radionuclides for further screening under the GLWQA.
Cover Letter to Great Lakes Executive Committee co-chairs – signed by John Jackson (Toxics Free Great Lakes Binational Network); Fe de Leon (Canadian Environmental Law Association); Cindy Folkers (Beyond Nuclear)
Summary Commentary to the Great Lakes Executive Committee, September 5 2025
Additional Background Papers referred in Summary Commentary:
2016 Nomination of Radionuclides as a Chemical of Mutual Concern
2022 Renomination of Radionuclides as Chemicals of Mutual Concern
The cover letter, summary commentary, and background documents are also found on the Canadian Environmental Law Archive website; click here to open them in a new tab.
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