In 1991, the United States and Canada committed to reduce the impact of transboundary air pollution through the United States-Canada Air Quality Agreement (AQA). This report provides a synthesis of the comments received on the 2008 Progress Report for the years 2006-2008.

For its 14^th Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality, the Commission chose to focus on programs to abate, control and prevent pollution from municipal sources entering the Great Lakes System. The objective was to survey existing programs aimed at controlling surface-water pollution and to provide an overview of the current situation.

The Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 established the International Joint Commission to help prevent and resolve disputes between Canada and the United States over shared fresh waters and other transboundary environmental issues along their 8,800-kilometre (5,500-mile) boundary, 40 percent of which is water. The report highlights the IJC's activities in each Canada-U.S. transboundary watershed during the past century and outlines the IJC's activities in 2008.

The International Watersheds Initiative (IWI) promotes an integrated, ecosystem approach to issues arising in transboundary waters through enhanced local participation and strengthened local capacity. This third report to governments on the IWI summarizes accomplishments and progress made in building local capacity for implementing a watershed approach along the international boundary. It also outlines the Commission's thinking on the future direction of the IWI, with recommended next steps.

The IJC's Science Advisory Board offers scientific insights and advice to the International Joint Commission on the research, science and policy needed to advance stewardship of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem. Key issues in this report are the impact of urban areas, new chemicals and climate change on water quality, as well as exposure to persistent organic pollutants and the risk of diabetes.

A summary of the International Joint Commission's activities in 2007.

Our two countries use more energy per capita than any other, and energy production and use are primary sources of air pollution. The IJC's International Air Quality Advisory Board draws on the theme of "energy addiction" to make recommendations in six key areas for managing transboundary air quality.

While nearly all respondents express strong support for the Air Agreement and recognize its successes, they agree that more needs to be done, and that greater attention needs be paid to developments in the western regions.

The IJC recommends that the governments of Canada and the United States create and apply an "uncommonly strong" Accountability Framework for Great Lakes restoration and protection under the Agreement.

Papers prepared by experts for a meeting convened at Wingspread, Wisconsin, by the IJC's Great Lakes Water Quality Board, the International Air Quality Advisory Board and the Council of Great Lakes Research Managers in partnership with Environment Canada, the U.S. EPA and the Johnson Foundation, as well as a summary of the experts' discussions and recommendations.

The IJC recommends that the two federal governments replace the current Agreement with a shorter and more action-oriented document.

This report examines the spill incidents in the St. Clair-Detroit River corridor to determine whether there is an increasing trend in spills that might affect the public and whether recent spills in the corridor are unique to that area or symptomatic of a more widespread problem.

This document captures the views of more than 4,100 people and organizations who participated in a public consultation the IJC led in the fall of 2005.

This guide was developed as background to the IJC public consultation process on the review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.