Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada and the United States have agreed to identify chemicals of mutual concern (CMC) that originate from anthropogenic (human) sources, and that are agreed to by both countries as being potentially harmful to human health or the environment and develop strategies to reduce their release into the waters […]
Posted: May 14, 2026Chemicals of Mutual Concern (Annex 3)
This is an archive of all information related to Chemicals of Mutual Concern (Annex 3).
Canada and the United States determine that sulfate releases are not causing transboundary impacts in the Great Lakes
Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Canada and the United States have agreed to identify chemicals of mutual concern (CMC) and develop strategies to reduce their release into the waters of the Great Lakes. Canada and the United States have completed the screening of the nomination of sulfates as a possible CMC. Canada and […]
Posted: June 6, 2025Advice from Canadian and U.S. Nuclear Agencies on the Renomination of Radionuclides as a Chemical of Concern
Radionuclides were nominated for consideration as candidate substances for designation as a Chemical of Mutual Concern (CMC) under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 2016. In response to that nomination, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) sought advice from their respective nuclear regulatory agencies. […]
Posted: February 29, 2024Canada’s Great Lakes Strategy for PFOS, PFOA, and LC-PFCAs Risk Management
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) commits Canada and the United States to prepare and issue binational strategies for Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs), which may include research, monitoring, surveillance, and pollution prevention and control provisions. Canada’s Great Lakes Strategy for Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), and Long-Chain Perfluorocarboxylic Acids (LC-PFCAs) Risk Management […]
Posted: March 24, 2022Great Lakes Binational Strategy for Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs) Risk Management
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) commits Canada and the United States to prepare binational strategies for Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs), which may include research, monitoring, surveillance, and pollution prevention and control provisions. The Great Lakes Binational Strategy for Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs) Risk Management is comprised of 10 management options to address […]
Posted: December 1, 2021Canada and United States Finalize Documents to Support the Annex 3 Chemical Nomination Process
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) commits Canada and the United States to prepare and issue Binational Strategies to reduce the release and impact of Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs). The Binational Screening Criteria for nominated CMCs are now available. These screening criteria were developed to provide a consistent framework for reviewing nominated CMCs […]
Posted: June 28, 2021Great Lakes Binational Strategy for Mercury Risk Management
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) commits Canada and the United States to prepare binational strategies for Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs), which may include research, monitoring, surveillance, and pollution prevention and control provisions. The Great Lakes Binational Strategy for Mercury Risk Management includes a compilation of management options, some of which are being […]
Posted: June 28, 2021Binational Screening Criteria for Nominated Chemicals of Mutual Concern
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) commits Canada and the United States to prepare and issue Binational Strategies to reduce the release and impact of Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs). The Binational Screening Criteria for nominated CMCs are now available. These screening criteria were developed to provide a consistent framework for reviewing nominated CMCs […]
Posted: March 3, 2021Draft Binational Screening Criteria for Nominated Chemicals of Mutual Concern Available for Public Review
The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) commits Canada and the United States to prepare and issue Binational Strategies to reduce the release and impact of Chemicals of Mutual Concern (CMCs). The draft Binational Screening Criteria for Nominated CMCs is now available for public review on binational.net. These draft screening criteria were developed to provide […]
Posted: November 15, 2019