At its Seventh Biennial Session late in 1971, the Intergovernmental 

 Oceanographic Commission (IOC) endorsed the Global Investigation of 

 Pollution in the Marine Environment (GIPME) as a major IOC project. 

 The purpose of GIPME is to provide the research base for planning pol- 

 lution monitoring and control programs throughout the world ocean. The 

 environmental quality programs of the IDOE are described in chapter VI. 



Environmental quality in the Great Lakes was also a subject of interna- 

 tional concern in 1971. The United States-Canada ministerial meeting on 

 Great Lakes pollution in June resulted in the decision to establish common 

 water-quality objectives based on recommendations of the International 

 Joint Commission. The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, signed on 

 April 15, 1972, and contingent upon appropriate legislative action, com- 

 mits the two Governments to the development of compatible water-quality 

 standards and to the implementation of a variety of pollution control pro- 

 grams within agreed time periods. These controls include construction 

 of treatment facilities for municipal and industrial wastes and animal hus- 

 bandry operations; reduction of phosphorous discharge; elimination of 

 mercury and other toxic heavy metals from discharges; control of thermal 

 pollution ; control of pollution from radioactive wastes ; control of pollution 

 from pesticides; and development of controls for pollution from combined 

 sewer overflows. The two Governments had earlier agreed on assigrmient 

 of additional responsibility and authority to the International Joint Com- 

 mission, strengthening efforts to restore and protect Great Lakes water 

 quality. The Commission would be given a greater role in surveillance of 

 water quality in the Great Lakes, monitoring of the effectiveness of govern- 

 mental programs to achieve the common water-quality objectives, making 

 recommendations for legislation and programs, and coordinating activities 

 to achieve improved water quality in the Great Lakes. 



27 



