What is the International Red River Pollution Board?

In 1964, the IJC was requested by Governments to study and report on the extent and causes of pollution of the Red River at the boundary and to recommend remedial measures. Governments adopted the water quality objectives recommended by the Commission in its report of April 1968 and agreed that a water quality supervision board be established. The International Red River Pollution Board was established by the Commission in June 1969 to provide continuous surveillance of the water quality of the Red River at the international boundary. The Board has six members - three from the U.S. and three from Canada and reports to the Commission annually in the spring.

RED RIVER POLLUTION BOARD DIRECTIVE

INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION

Ottawa - Washington

DIRECTIVE TO INTERNATIONAL RED RIVER POLLUTION BOARD

By letters dated May 13 and 14, 1969, the Governments of Canada and the United States informed the International Joint Commission (Commission) that they approved the recommendations contained in the Commission’s report to the Governments, dated April 11, 1968, on the Pollution of the Red River.

 

The two Governments authorized the Commission to establish continuous supervision over the quality of waters crossing the boundary in the Red River and to recommend amendments or additions to the Objectives when considered warranted by the Commission.

 

The Commission established the "International Red River Pollution Board" on June 10, 1969 to assist it in complying with the authorization of the two governments. This Directive replaces that approved by the Commission in 1969.

 

The Board’s duties shall be:

 

to establish and maintain continuous surveillance over the quality of water and health of the Red River transboundary aquatic ecosystem;

to carry out such inspections, evaluations and assessments as the Board considers necessary, or as the Commission directs, to ascertain the extent to which water quality objectives are being met at the International Boundary and the state of health of the transboundary aquatic ecosystem;

to keep the Commission currently informed of:

transboundary aquatic conditions measured by indicators of aquatic ecosystem health (e.g. Alert Levels, species diversity, etc.) as may be used by the Board;

plans, policies, and developments, actual or anticipated, which have the potential to adversely affect the quality of the water and the health of the Red River transboundary aquatic ecosystem.

to notify the appropriate agency when Objectives are not met and obtain assurance that appropriate and timely corrective action will be taken and, inform the Commission of actions taken and any further action the Board deems advisable;

to anticipate unacceptable quality of water and degraded health of the Red River transboundary aquatic ecosystem, maintain awareness of basin-wide developments and conditions, and recommend appropriate strategies for the Commission;

to establish and maintain a contingency plan to ensure that, in the event of an accidental discharge of wastes or spills which may adversely affect the quality of water and health of the Red River transboundary waters, the responsible authorities are informed without delay in order that they may take appropriate action; and

to recommend to the Commission, as appropriate, amendments or additions to the Objectives for the Red River at the International Boundary.

 

The Board shall consist of a United States Section and a Canadian Section, each having the same number of members. The Commission shall appoint one member from each Section to be chair of that Section.

 

At the request of any member, the Commission may appoint an alternate member to act in the place and stead of such member whenever the said member, for any reason, is not available to act as a member of the Board. Unless otherwise provided for by the Commission, an alternative member may act as chair of a section with the unanimous consent of the Board.

 

The chairs of the two sections shall be joint chairs of the Board and shall be responsible for maintaining proper liaison between the Board and the Commission, and between their respective sections of the Board and the corresponding sections of the Commission.

 

Each Chair shall ensure that the members of his/her section of the Board are informed of all instructions, inquiries and authorizations received from the Commission and also of activities undertaken by or on behalf of the Board, progress made and any developments affecting such progress.

 

A Chair, after consulting the members of his/her section of the Board, may appoint a secretary of that section. Under the general supervision of the Chair, the secretary shall carry out such duties as are assigned by the section.

 

The Board may establish such committees and working groups as may be required to discharge its responsibilities effectively and may enlist the cooperation of other Federal, Provincial or State Departments or agencies in the United States and Canada. The Commission shall be kept informed of the duties and composition of any such committee. Unless other arrangements are made, members of the Board and committees will make their own arrangements for reimbursement of necessary expenditures for travel.

 

The Board shall submit written reports to the Commission annually, at least two weeks in advance of the Commission’s Fall semi-annual meeting, and at such other times as the Commission may request, or the Board may desire. Comprehensive detailed reports shall be prepared every other year with a short update to be submitted to the Commission in alternate years. Such reports shall normally be available only to the Commission and to members of the Board and its committees until their release has been authorized by the Commission.

 

In addition, the Chairs shall keep the Commission currently informed of the Board’s plans and progress and of any developments, actual or anticipated, which are likely to impede, delay or otherwise affect the carrying out of the Board’s responsibilities. This will enable the Commission to take such action as may be appropriate to the circumstances without the delay that otherwise would occur while the members familiarized themselves with the background of the problem.

 

If, in the opinion of the Board or of any member, there is a lack of clarity or precision in any instruction, directive or authorization received from the Commission, the matter shall be referred promptly to the Commission for appropriate action.

 

The Board shall convene or participate in public meetings annually to report on its work and to provide an opportunity for the public to express views. The Board must inform the Commission in advance of plans for such meetings, or other means of involving the public in Board deliberations, and report to the Commission on these meetings in its annual reports or in other reports as the situation warrants.

 

The Board shall provide, in a timely manner, the text of media releases and other public materials to the Secretaries of the Commission for review by the Commission’s Public Information Co-Chairs, prior to their release.

 

The Board shall comply with all policies and directives of the Commission and any amendments thereto.

 

 

 

Signed this 8 ^th day of February 1995.