Approved June 7, 2004

MINUTES
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE MEETING
Washington, DC
April 19, 2004

The International Joint Commission met in executive session at the U.S. Section office in Washington, DC on April 19, 2004, with Chair Dennis Schornack in the chair.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

1. The Commission approved the agenda.

GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT (GLWQA) REVIEW ADVICE

2. The Commission:

1. approved discussing with governments the need for funding and what is meant by a "charge" concerning the review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement as proposed in their paper sent to the Commission just prior to the semiannual meeting;
2. approved providing early advice to the Binational Executive Committee (BEC) on the review of the GLWQA for BEC's July meeting;
3. discussed the independence of the IJC concerning the provision of advice on the review of the GLWQA and the two tracks being undertaken by the IJC and the governments through BEC and the ultimate convergence of these tracks;
4. approved the bulletin board for an IJC web-based discussion chain, with minor clarifications.

12^th BIENNIAL REPORT

3. The Commission:

1. noted the schedule for release of the report;
2. approved the cover for the report with the following changes: note Tottenham, Ontario, revise the art for the back cover;
3. approved a Commission meeting in Cornwall, Ontario, the week of May 17, 2004, for 1-2 days to discuss the draft 12^th Biennial Report.

ALIEN INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) REPORT WITH THE GREAT LAKES FISHERY COMMISSION (GLFC)

4. The Commission approved:

1. preparing an updated joint AIS report between the IJC and GLFC;
2. the timeline and writing team for the report;
3. the report be distinguished from the reference requested by the IJC;
4. that attractive, but low-cost production options be pursued, that the report note the work of the 11^th and 12^th Biennial Reports and vice versa, and what the IJC and GLFC have done since the 1990 joint report.

ST. MARY AND MILK RIVERS

5. The Commission:

1. discussed the sensitivity of the issue and public concern with respect to timing of the meetings and approved option A (the week of July 26) for public consultation meetings; and
2. approved staff providing an early media release and briefing books well in advance of scheduled public consultation meetings.

INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY

6. The Commission approved letters to the owners of dams under IJC Orders with the following changes: replacing "is considering" with "has agreed that", requesting security protocols, requesting responses by date certain, and providing a contact point and noting that the issue is not only safety, but security, and that the IJC is considering additional structures to those included in its 1998 report.

WATER USES REVIEW REFERENCE

7. The Commission received an oral update on the status of the water uses report and approved discussing the next draft at a Commission meeting in Cornwall, Ontario, the week of May 17, 2004.

BASIN COUNCIL INITIATIVE - WATERSHED BOARD REFERENCE

8. The Commission approved:

1. the principles for the Commission and its Boards regarding the watershed initiative; and
2. preparing a progress report to governments by August 31, 2004 including the need to develop a funding request as a part of the report.

INTERNATIONAL SOURIS RIVER BOARD

9. The Commission:

1. discussed the Commission's letter to governments dated December 8, 2003, the cursory initial response from the U.S. Department of State in January 2004, and the lack of response from the Canadian Government;
2. approved staff developing a reminder system for IJC letters not responded to by governments in a timely manner, and with issuing a follow-up letter to the Commission's December 8, 2003 letter informing governments that the Commission would be consulting with state and provincial governments.

INTERNATIONAL RED RIVER BOARD

10. The Commission received an oral update on Pembina River flooding and the executive summary of a newly-received report from a committee to the International Red River Board (IRRB) on the matter and approved providing the principles for the watershed initiative to the IRRB in advance of its meeting with the Commission.

OTHER BUSINESS

FedNav Meeting

1. The Commission noted the briefing note on the IJC-FedNav meeting scheduled for April 20, 2004.

Peaking and Ponding

2. The Commission received an oral update on the status public comments and approved the 2-year extension of peaking and ponding operations in St. Marys River.

Meeting with Environment Canada (EC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

3. The Commission noted the staff memo and meeting scheduled for April 21, 2004 between the IJC, EC, and EPA and suggested a followup meeting at the IAQAB workshop being planned for the summer.

Coal Development in the Flathead Basin

4. The Commission discussed the staff memo and associated issues.

Missisquoi Bay

5. The Commission approved staff asking the U.S. Department of State for clarification of its March 29, 2004 letter, and whether it was intended to be either an application or reference.

ECD Ovonics

6. The Commission approved visiting ECD Ovonics in Troy, Michigan, in conjunction with the June Executive Meeting that will be held in Windsor, Ontario.

World Water Council

7. The Commission approved becoming a member of the World Water Council.