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THE US Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) has finally come up witha full-fledged plan to combat pollutionat the Great Lakes on the US-Canadianborder. The basin-of the 5 lakes, whichIretches across over 1,200 kilometrescovering 8 states ofthe US and aCanadian province,provides drinkingwater to 23 millionpeople. The lakesare infected bytoxic chemicals WW Browner emanating from adjacent factory chimnneys, municipal incinerators, kemical spills as well as industrial and wicipal wastewaters. But now all ist will change, assures the EPA. bder the plan, in 2 years, the states id the tribes settled around the basin 0 set water quality standards and lentify the most cost-effective way of Wding pollution. "Through a consensus-buildling process, we have arrivedat this programme," says EPA administrator Carol Browner. According to pre liminary estimates, the governmentand industry are expected to spendarround US $100 million a year if theplan materialises.