International Joint Commission
Summer 2001
Volume 26, Issue 2
Canadian Commissioners appointed
On March 30, the Government of Canada appointed
Ms. Mary Gusella
, of Ontario,
and
Dr. Jack Blaney
, of British Columbia, as Commissioners of the International
Joint Commission (IJC). The Canadian Commissioners selected Ms. Gusella to
serve as chair of the Canadian Section.
Ms. Gusella joined the federal public service in 1971 and has served in a
number of senior positions, including Deputy Minister for the Leadership
Network, Commissioner of the Public Service Commission of Canada, President of
the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Chair and President of Enterprise
Cape Breton, Deputy Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada,
Associate Under Secretary of State, and Assistant Secretary of the Cabinet
(communications) in the Privy Council Office.
In over 30 years of senior administration in post-secondary education, Dr. Jack
Blaney worked with colleagues to extend degree completion opportunities to
adults throughout British Columbia; created liberal arts, public affairs and
professional continuing education programs; established the Simon Fraser
University downtown campus and Centre for Dialogue; and headed one of Canada's
premier universities. He also has worked with institutional partners to help
make the overall higher education system work well for the citizens of British
Columbia.
The IJC wishes former Canadian Section Chairman Leonard Legault and
Commissioner Frank Murphy well and thanks them for their service.
Join us in Montréal at the
Public Forum on Great Lakes~St. Lawrence Water Quality
September 14-15, 2001!
Workshop on air deposition of mercury to be held at Montréal Public Forum
Did you know that over 1,100 kilograms (2,400 pounds) of mercury are deposited
into Lake Michigan annually from the atmosphere – 86 percent of the total
loading! And that coal burning power plants and other fossil fuels are
responsible for over one half of mercury emissions in the United States.
Municipal and medical waste incineration make up close to 40 percent of U.S.
emissions.
Air deposition of toxic chemicals, such as mercury, to the Great Lakes is now
established as a major source of pollution, and one that is very difficult to
control.
To review the state of the science and move the policy discussion forward, the
IJC's International Air Quality Advisory Board and the North American
Commission for Environmental Cooperation will join together in Montréal, during
the Public Forum on Great Lakes Water Quality, for a workshop,
Addressing Atmospheric Mercury: Science and Policy
.
This workshop will be of interest to a broad scope of participants, including
policy makers, scientists and others. In addition to summarizing the harmful
impact of mercury on the ecosystem, particularly human health, the workshop
will review information on regional, continental and global sources of mercury,
including U.S., Canadian and Mexican emissions inventories. A portion of the
day will include presentations by leading modelers on their efforts to link
these sources to deposition in the Great Lakes and other bodies of water. The
workshop will conclude with a discussion of the policy implications of the
presented material.
The Public Forum will be held in Montréal, Québec on September 14-15, 2001. For
more information, visit
www.ijc.org
and click on
"Montréal Public Forum."
Great Lakes Water Quality Board reports on alien invasive species
The Great Lakes are facing a biological invasion that can displace important
native species, interfere with beneficial human water uses and cost billions of
dollars to correct. Alien invasive species (AIS) are plants or animals that
have been relocated accidently or intentionally from their original habitats to
other, often-distant locations. Not all non-native species will adjust to their
new locale, but many thrive and grow in the absence of their natural controls,
such as predators, pathogens and environmental conditions.
In May 2001, the Great Lakes Water Quality Board released a white paper with
recommendations for consideration by the International Joint Commission (IJC)
to address the AIS problem. The board was asked by the IJC to review existing
and other potential regulatory programs for attempting to control the
introduction of AIS to the Great Lakes.
Sources of AIS to the Great Lakes basin include aquaculture, escapes from
aquaria, ornamental ponds, research and educational facilities, canal and
diversion water flows and releases of live bait. However, the single most
significant source for alien invasive species in the Great Lakes is the
discharge of ballast water from ships coming from outside the United States and
Canada.
Regulations currently exist to guard against AIS. Vessels entering the Great
Lakes region from outside the United States or Canada are required to exchange
their ballast water outside the 200 nautical-mile zone in waters at least 2,000
metres deep.
Unfortunately, approximately 80 percent of vessels entering the Great Lakes
basin report “no ballast on board” (NOBOB). This declaration exempts them from
current ballast-water exchange requirements even though they may contain a
significant quantity of unpumpable ballast water and sediment. Living organisms
in the residual ballast water and sediment can be released into the Great Lakes
– and potentially cause environmental and economic havoc – when these ships
take on and release ballast water in the basin.
The board recommends ballast water standards be immediately developed,
implemented and enforced throughout the Great Lakes region. The board believes
it is necessary to take action and invest resources directed at developing
effective water treatment technologies for addressing this problem over the
long term. While development of long-term solutions must proceed as quickly as
possible, the board recommends that short-term emergency measures be
undertaken, including possible chemical treatment of ballast water. According
to the board, it is essential for the federal governments to work alongside
shippers and encourage modifications in the design of existing and future
shipping vessels.
The white paper highlights the need to develop contingency plans for responding
to accidental discharges or spills of untreated ballast water, as well as any
new discovery of alien invasive species. Because no single solution will
address the entire problem, the Great Lakes Water Quality Board stresses that a
binational, preventative approach is the key for efficient and cost-effective
solutions to reducing the impact of AIS in the Great Lakes.
The full text of the white paper is available at the following website:
http://www.ijc.org/php/publications/html/ais01may.html
Public group advises Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Study
by Dalton Foster and Fred Parkinson
The International Joint Commission (IJC) recently initiated a five-year study
of regulation of the water levels in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
Since completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, the levels have been
controlled with the primary objective of satisfying requirements of the
hydropower industry, commercial navigation and riparians. For a number of years
now, other people along the system, both individuals and associations, have
made it known that their interests should also be incorporated into the
regulation plan. Prime among their concerns are the environment, shoreline
erosion, recreational boating and tourism.
Recognizing the diversity of views, the IJC set up a Public Interest Advisory
Group (PIAG) to act as a contact organization between the public and the
technical/scientific working groups actually carrying out the studies. Members
of PIAG are all volunteers, and many have long been associated with efforts to
review and possibly improve the manner in which the lake and river system is
regulated.
The volunteers come from varied backgrounds and geographic areas. Some own
businesses, some have scientific training, many are primarily concerned with
the environment, and others are simply concerned residents. They come from the
western extremes of Lake Ontario down to the lower St. Lawrence River in the
east. They come from both Canada and the United States, 12 from each country.
The mission of the group is to serve as an active communications link between
the public and both the IJC and the scientific/technical working groups.
Classically, this has been a daunting task. In a recent issue of the journal
Science, Sir Robert May, president of the Royal Society of London, discusses
this challenge in an editorial entitled “Science and Society.” In this
editorial he asks how best to conduct the dialogue, as old as democracy itself,
between government policymakers and the public in complex scientific areas, in
a manner that fosters trust.
Sir Robert offers advice. “Consult widely and get the best people; but also
make sure that dissenting voices are heard; recognize and admit uncertainty;
and above all, be open and publish all advice.”
These are not easy tasks. People's subjective outlooks greatly influence their
perception of the information they receive and what they observe on the lake or
river. We on the PIAG are aware that there are varied, and sometimes
conflicting, views held by people within the system from different geographic
areas and with different water level concerns. The PIAG will need to not only
bridge the communications gap between the public and the IJC and
scientific/technical groups, but also between the various areas and interests
among the publics.
The PIAG has chosen two initial tasks. First, we have put together a general
informational presentation package that we hope will better explain the scope
of the study and what is to be done. This information will be presented in
open, public meetings, in which the people are invited to take part in active
question and answer sessions on their local situations. Secondly, and most
importantly, we will be asking the public to fill in survey questionnaires
describing how their experiences, both good and bad, are influenced by the
water levels. We will bring this information back to the study process. At the
end of the day, the results of the study should reflect the interests and
real-world of the public.
Dalton Foster and Fred Parkinson are co-chairs of the Public Interest Advisory
Group. If you would like to receive more information, or schedule a
presentation in your area, please contact Amanda Morelli, the study public
affairs representative, at (613) 992-5727.
Osoyoos Lake regulation responds to drought
Drought operations for Osoyoos Lake, which crosses the British
Columbia-Washington boundary, were announced by the International Osoyoos Lake
Board of Control in April. Drought operations will continue until October 31,
2001, unless conditions change and no longer meet the drought criteria in the
orders of approval issued by the International Joint Commission.
During a drought, the orders allow Osoyoos Lake to be regulated between
elevations 910.5 and 913.0 feet (U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey) from April
through October in order to ensure an adequate water supply for irrigation.
Normally the lake must be kept within a smaller range of 911.0-911.5 feet.
Progress made in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern
In March, the International Joint Commission (IJC) held a public meeting and
informal consultation in Cornwall, Ontario, to begin its status assessment of
the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern (AOC). More than 60 people participated,
including representatives from Environment Canada, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and other government agencies and local organizations from
both sides of the border.
Progress is being made in many areas. The Cornwall portion of the AOC is moving
forward in the control of combined sewer overflows, fishery habitat
enhancements and agricultural nonpoint source pollution prevention. An upgrade
of Cornwall's sewage treatment plant is under consideration and a study is
underway, assessing mercury contamination in the Cornwall waterfront area.
In May, the IJC's Science Advisory Board toured the superfund cleanup
activities on the New York side of the river. The Alcoa East Plant has begun a
large sediment remediation project totaling 60,000 to 75,000 cubic metres
(80,000 to 100,000 cubic yards) of PCB contaminated sediment to be removed from
the St. Lawrence River.
This is the fifth such assessment undertaken by the IJC.
Status assessments examine progress, assess program implementation and make
recommendations on specific activities to make measurable progress in restoring
the area. They are not comprehensive environmental audits; instead, they assess
ongoing efforts and activities of the local organizations and responsible
governments. Through these assessments, the IJC facilitates constructive
interaction among various agencies providing the opportunity to exchange ideas
and advance the process toward restoration of the AOC.
People
IJC welcomes the recent appointments to its boards.
Brian Nixon
Director, Land Use and Policy
Ontario Ministry of Environment
Great Lakes Water Quality Board
Randy J. Jackiw
Director, Resources Management,
Agriculture and Rural Division
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs
Great Lakes Water Quality Board
Dr. Isobel Heathcoate, Chair
Dean of Graduate Studies
University of Guelph
Great
Lakes Science Advisory Board
And we thank those who have finished their service.
Vic Shantora
Commission on Environmental Cooperation
Great Lakes Water Quality Board
Helle Tosine
Ontario Ministry of Energy and Environment
Great Lakes Water Quality Board
E. Tony Wagner
Consultant, formerly with Waterfront Regeneration Trust
Great Lakes Science Advisory Board
What's Happening
Public meetings of the IJC and its boards:
June 19, 2001
International St. Lawrence River Board of Control
Public Meeting, Kingston, ON
June 27, 2001
Lake Superior Board
2001 Public Meeting, Port Severn, ON
September 13-14, 2001
Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence Study Board
& public meetings, Montréal, PQ
September 13-15, 2001
Public Forum on Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Water Quality
, Montréal, PQ
September 19, 2001
Niagara Board of Control
Public Meeting, Fort Erie, ON
Contact Us
The IJC is interested in your views on any of our activities. You may contact
us in the following ways:
Canadian
Section
United States
Section
Great Lakes Regional Office
Contacts
Murray Clamen
Secretary
Fabien Lengellé
Public Affairs
Gerald Galloway
Secretary
Frank Bevacqua
Public Affairs
Tom Behlen
Director
Jennifer Day
Public Affairs
Email
Commission@ottawa.ijc.org
Commission@washington.ijc.org
Commission@windsor.ijc.org
Mail
234 Laurier Avenue West
22nd Floor
Ottawa, ON
K1P 6K6
1250 23rd Street NW
Suite 100
Washington, DC 20440
100 Ouellette Avenue, 8th Floor
Windsor, ON
N9A 6T3
or
P.O. Box 32869
Detroit, MI 48232-2869
Fax
613.993.5583
202.467.7046
519.257-6740
Telephone
613.995.2984
202.736.9000
519.257.6700
or
313.226.2170
Home Page
www.ijc.org
Commissioners
Thomas Baldini,
U.S. Section Chair
Mary Gusella,
Canadian Section Chair
International Joint Commission
Summer 2001
Volume 26, Issue 2
Canadian Commissioners appointed
On March 30, the Government of Canada appointed Ms. Mary Gusella , of Ontario, and Dr. Jack Blaney , of British Columbia, as Commissioners of the International Joint Commission (IJC). The Canadian Commissioners selected Ms. Gusella to serve as chair of the Canadian Section.
Ms. Gusella joined the federal public service in 1971 and has served in a number of senior positions, including Deputy Minister for the Leadership Network, Commissioner of the Public Service Commission of Canada, President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Chair and President of Enterprise Cape Breton, Deputy Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship Canada, Associate Under Secretary of State, and Assistant Secretary of the Cabinet (communications) in the Privy Council Office.
In over 30 years of senior administration in post-secondary education, Dr. Jack Blaney worked with colleagues to extend degree completion opportunities to adults throughout British Columbia; created liberal arts, public affairs and professional continuing education programs; established the Simon Fraser University downtown campus and Centre for Dialogue; and headed one of Canada's premier universities. He also has worked with institutional partners to help make the overall higher education system work well for the citizens of British Columbia.
The IJC wishes former Canadian Section Chairman Leonard Legault and Commissioner Frank Murphy well and thanks them for their service.
Join us in Montréal at the
Public Forum on Great Lakes~St. Lawrence Water Quality September 14-15, 2001!
Workshop on air deposition of mercury to be held at Montréal Public Forum
Did you know that over 1,100 kilograms (2,400 pounds) of mercury are deposited into Lake Michigan annually from the atmosphere – 86 percent of the total loading! And that coal burning power plants and other fossil fuels are responsible for over one half of mercury emissions in the United States. Municipal and medical waste incineration make up close to 40 percent of U.S. emissions.
Air deposition of toxic chemicals, such as mercury, to the Great Lakes is now established as a major source of pollution, and one that is very difficult to control.
To review the state of the science and move the policy discussion forward, the IJC's International Air Quality Advisory Board and the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation will join together in Montréal, during the Public Forum on Great Lakes Water Quality, for a workshop, Addressing Atmospheric Mercury: Science and Policy .
This workshop will be of interest to a broad scope of participants, including policy makers, scientists and others. In addition to summarizing the harmful impact of mercury on the ecosystem, particularly human health, the workshop will review information on regional, continental and global sources of mercury, including U.S., Canadian and Mexican emissions inventories. A portion of the day will include presentations by leading modelers on their efforts to link these sources to deposition in the Great Lakes and other bodies of water. The workshop will conclude with a discussion of the policy implications of the presented material.
The Public Forum will be held in Montréal, Québec on September 14-15, 2001. For more information, visit www.ijc.org and click on "Montréal Public Forum."
Great Lakes Water Quality Board reports on alien invasive species
The Great Lakes are facing a biological invasion that can displace important native species, interfere with beneficial human water uses and cost billions of dollars to correct. Alien invasive species (AIS) are plants or animals that have been relocated accidently or intentionally from their original habitats to other, often-distant locations. Not all non-native species will adjust to their new locale, but many thrive and grow in the absence of their natural controls, such as predators, pathogens and environmental conditions.
In May 2001, the Great Lakes Water Quality Board released a white paper with recommendations for consideration by the International Joint Commission (IJC) to address the AIS problem. The board was asked by the IJC to review existing and other potential regulatory programs for attempting to control the introduction of AIS to the Great Lakes.
Sources of AIS to the Great Lakes basin include aquaculture, escapes from aquaria, ornamental ponds, research and educational facilities, canal and diversion water flows and releases of live bait. However, the single most significant source for alien invasive species in the Great Lakes is the discharge of ballast water from ships coming from outside the United States and Canada.
Regulations currently exist to guard against AIS. Vessels entering the Great Lakes region from outside the United States or Canada are required to exchange their ballast water outside the 200 nautical-mile zone in waters at least 2,000 metres deep.
Unfortunately, approximately 80 percent of vessels entering the Great Lakes basin report “no ballast on board” (NOBOB). This declaration exempts them from current ballast-water exchange requirements even though they may contain a significant quantity of unpumpable ballast water and sediment. Living organisms in the residual ballast water and sediment can be released into the Great Lakes – and potentially cause environmental and economic havoc – when these ships take on and release ballast water in the basin.
The board recommends ballast water standards be immediately developed, implemented and enforced throughout the Great Lakes region. The board believes it is necessary to take action and invest resources directed at developing effective water treatment technologies for addressing this problem over the long term. While development of long-term solutions must proceed as quickly as possible, the board recommends that short-term emergency measures be undertaken, including possible chemical treatment of ballast water. According to the board, it is essential for the federal governments to work alongside shippers and encourage modifications in the design of existing and future shipping vessels.
The white paper highlights the need to develop contingency plans for responding to accidental discharges or spills of untreated ballast water, as well as any new discovery of alien invasive species. Because no single solution will address the entire problem, the Great Lakes Water Quality Board stresses that a binational, preventative approach is the key for efficient and cost-effective solutions to reducing the impact of AIS in the Great Lakes.
The full text of the white paper is available at the following website: http://www.ijc.org/php/publications/html/ais01may.html
Public group advises Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Studyby Dalton Foster and Fred Parkinson
The International Joint Commission (IJC) recently initiated a five-year study of regulation of the water levels in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Since completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, the levels have been controlled with the primary objective of satisfying requirements of the hydropower industry, commercial navigation and riparians. For a number of years now, other people along the system, both individuals and associations, have made it known that their interests should also be incorporated into the regulation plan. Prime among their concerns are the environment, shoreline erosion, recreational boating and tourism.
Recognizing the diversity of views, the IJC set up a Public Interest Advisory Group (PIAG) to act as a contact organization between the public and the technical/scientific working groups actually carrying out the studies. Members of PIAG are all volunteers, and many have long been associated with efforts to review and possibly improve the manner in which the lake and river system is regulated.
The volunteers come from varied backgrounds and geographic areas. Some own businesses, some have scientific training, many are primarily concerned with the environment, and others are simply concerned residents. They come from the western extremes of Lake Ontario down to the lower St. Lawrence River in the east. They come from both Canada and the United States, 12 from each country.
The mission of the group is to serve as an active communications link between the public and both the IJC and the scientific/technical working groups. Classically, this has been a daunting task. In a recent issue of the journal Science, Sir Robert May, president of the Royal Society of London, discusses this challenge in an editorial entitled “Science and Society.” In this editorial he asks how best to conduct the dialogue, as old as democracy itself, between government policymakers and the public in complex scientific areas, in a manner that fosters trust.
Sir Robert offers advice. “Consult widely and get the best people; but also make sure that dissenting voices are heard; recognize and admit uncertainty; and above all, be open and publish all advice.”
These are not easy tasks. People's subjective outlooks greatly influence their perception of the information they receive and what they observe on the lake or river. We on the PIAG are aware that there are varied, and sometimes conflicting, views held by people within the system from different geographic areas and with different water level concerns. The PIAG will need to not only bridge the communications gap between the public and the IJC and scientific/technical groups, but also between the various areas and interests among the publics.
The PIAG has chosen two initial tasks. First, we have put together a general informational presentation package that we hope will better explain the scope of the study and what is to be done. This information will be presented in open, public meetings, in which the people are invited to take part in active question and answer sessions on their local situations. Secondly, and most importantly, we will be asking the public to fill in survey questionnaires describing how their experiences, both good and bad, are influenced by the water levels. We will bring this information back to the study process. At the end of the day, the results of the study should reflect the interests and real-world of the public.
Dalton Foster and Fred Parkinson are co-chairs of the Public Interest Advisory Group. If you would like to receive more information, or schedule a presentation in your area, please contact Amanda Morelli, the study public affairs representative, at (613) 992-5727.
Osoyoos Lake regulation responds to drought
Drought operations for Osoyoos Lake, which crosses the British Columbia-Washington boundary, were announced by the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control in April. Drought operations will continue until October 31, 2001, unless conditions change and no longer meet the drought criteria in the orders of approval issued by the International Joint Commission.
During a drought, the orders allow Osoyoos Lake to be regulated between elevations 910.5 and 913.0 feet (U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey) from April through October in order to ensure an adequate water supply for irrigation. Normally the lake must be kept within a smaller range of 911.0-911.5 feet.
Progress made in the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern
In March, the International Joint Commission (IJC) held a public meeting and informal consultation in Cornwall, Ontario, to begin its status assessment of the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern (AOC). More than 60 people participated, including representatives from Environment Canada, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other government agencies and local organizations from both sides of the border.
Progress is being made in many areas. The Cornwall portion of the AOC is moving forward in the control of combined sewer overflows, fishery habitat enhancements and agricultural nonpoint source pollution prevention. An upgrade of Cornwall's sewage treatment plant is under consideration and a study is underway, assessing mercury contamination in the Cornwall waterfront area.
In May, the IJC's Science Advisory Board toured the superfund cleanup activities on the New York side of the river. The Alcoa East Plant has begun a large sediment remediation project totaling 60,000 to 75,000 cubic metres (80,000 to 100,000 cubic yards) of PCB contaminated sediment to be removed from the St. Lawrence River.
This is the fifth such assessment undertaken by the IJC. Status assessments examine progress, assess program implementation and make recommendations on specific activities to make measurable progress in restoring the area. They are not comprehensive environmental audits; instead, they assess ongoing efforts and activities of the local organizations and responsible governments. Through these assessments, the IJC facilitates constructive interaction among various agencies providing the opportunity to exchange ideas and advance the process toward restoration of the AOC.
PeopleIJC welcomes the recent appointments to its boards.
Director, Land Use and Policy
Ontario Ministry of Environment
Director, Resources Management,
Agriculture and Rural Division
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs
Dean of Graduate Studies
University of Guelph
And we thank those who have finished their service.
Commission on Environmental Cooperation
Ontario Ministry of Energy and Environment
Consultant, formerly with Waterfront Regeneration Trust
What's HappeningPublic meetings of the IJC and its boards:
June 19, 2001
International St. Lawrence River Board of Control Public Meeting, Kingston, ON
June 27, 2001
Lake Superior Board 2001 Public Meeting, Port Severn, ON
September 13-14, 2001
Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence Study Board & public meetings, Montréal, PQ
September 13-15, 2001
Public Forum on Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Water Quality , Montréal, PQ
September 19, 2001
Niagara Board of Control Public Meeting, Fort Erie, ON
Contact UsThe IJC is interested in your views on any of our activities. You may contact us in the following ways:
Section
Section
Secretary
Fabien Lengellé
Public Affairs
Secretary
Frank Bevacqua
Public Affairs
Director
Jennifer Day
Public Affairs
22nd Floor
Ottawa, ON
K1P 6K6
Suite 100
Washington, DC 20440
Windsor, ON
N9A 6T3
or
P.O. Box 32869
Detroit, MI 48232-2869
or
313.226.2170
Commissioners
|
Thomas Baldini,
U.S. Section Chair |
Mary Gusella,
Canadian Section Chair |
||
|