U.S.-Canada Cooperation in the Salish Sea

The U.S. and Canadian federal governments have a unique responsibility to address the environmental challenges of our shared Salish Sea ecosystem (including Puget Sound, Georgia Basin, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca).

In 2000, EPA and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) signed a Joint Statement of Cooperation that commits us to work collaboratively to achieve our common goals. This agreement calls for our two agencies to develop and periodically update action plans to achieve the goals outlined in the Statement of Cooperation.

The 2021-2024 Action Plan focuses on:

1. Promoting information exchange and coordination, including the Health of the Salish Sea Ecosystem Report and the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference.
2. Supporting coordination and information sharing at the tribal/First Nation, state/provincial, and federal levels.
3. Support information sharing activities relating to major federal initiatives and environmental assessments.

Documents

• Action Plan
• Joint Statement of Cooperation
• Statement of Intent on Airshed Strategy

Staff from EPA and ECCC also hold periodic meetings to discuss issues relating to the Joint Statement of Cooperation. For copies of proceedings from these meetings, contact Lisa Chang (chang.lisa@epa.gov), 206-553-0226, or Michael Rylko (rylko.michael@epa.gov), 206-553-4014.