Abstract
The exposure of Great Lakes populations of fish, wildlife, and humans to persistent toxic substances has resulted in injury, particularly related to reproductive and developmental processes. TheGreat Lakes Water Quality Agreementof 1978 is a binational instrument designed by the governments of the United States and Canada to respond to this injury through the development and implementation of common water quality objectives, cooperative regulatory programs, and other measures. The implementation of theGreat Lakes Water Quality Agreementhas entered a critical phase because the ambiguously drafted purpose is interpreted differently by toxicologists and ecologists with consequent misunderstandings in preparing Remedial Action Plans and Lakewide Management Plans, selecting indicators of restoration, and selecting critical pollutants. With shrinking budgets, agencies cannot afford such misunderstandings when injury to health and property continues unabated.

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