INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORKS TO DIRECT DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GREAT-LAKES REMEDIAL ACTION PLANS

Locally designed, institutional frameworks are being used to develop a nd implement remedial action plans (RAPs) to restore beneficial uses i n 43 Great Lakes areas of concern, A 1993 Canada-United States roundta ble was convened to learn from case studies and to develop recommendat ions regarding essential characteristics of RAP institutional framewor ks, guidance to ensure linkages to other related plans, and ways of em bracing new institutional frameworks from RAP development to implement ation. Major roundtable recommendations are: (1) RAP institutional fra meworks should be empowered to pursue their mission of restoring uses. Empowerment would be demonstrated by: a watershed focus, inclusive an d shared decision-making, clear responsibilities and sufficient author ity, creative funding capability, flexibility and continuity in the pr ocess, an iterative process of continuous improvement, and commitment to education and outreach. (2) RAP institutional frameworks should be used as mechanisms to coordinate programs at the local level. Such loc al coordination should be complemented with governmental commitments t o intra- and interagency coordination in work plans. (3) RAP instituti onal frameworks can help build the capacity of governments to achieve their goals. Therefore, governments must adopt long-term, visionary go als and commit to a customer-driven RAP process of continuous improvem ent.