History of the Action Plan
	Phase I
	Phase II
	Ten years of achievements
	Phase III
.	• St. Lawrence Vision 2000 Action Plan
.	• Components Agriculture Biodiversity Community Involvement Industrial and urban Navigation Human health • Objectives • Results
.	• Partners

Background

Committee

Objectives

Projects

Results

Publications

 

Background

During the first two phases of the St. Lawrence action plans, extensive efforts took place between 1988 and 1998 to significantly reduce toxic effluents from 106 priority plants and to develop environmental techniques to support reduction objectives. The health of the St. Lawrence ecosystem improved ignificantly during this period.

However, the release of toxic substances into the environment through industrial activities is still an important issue, and it is vital that the cleanup that began ten years ago be completed so that the river can become a healthy ecosystem again and the public can once again have access to the traditional uses of the river.

Ten troublesome toxic substances are the focus of Phase III. These substances were selected following study by a committee composed of representatives of the departments concerned and representatives of non-governmental environmental protection and conservation organizations. They are chiefly discharged by the metallurgy, metal processing and chemical sectors and involve some small and medium-sized firms connected to municipal wastewater treatment systems.

In order to further reduce discharges of toxic substances, we must now change the way we approach the problem and introduce a preventive approach with the three industrial sectors concerned and the companies that comprise them.

New environmental cleanup technologies for air, water and soil will also be developed and demonstrated for urban, industrial and agricultural use in support of Phase III objectives.

With respect to the urban environment, the toxicity of effluents from 12 Quebec municipalities, including the three urban communities of Montreal, Quebec City and the Outaouais, will be measured in order to shed more light on this problem and determine future action.