Approved October 19, 2004

MINUTES
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE CALL
September 8, 2004
12:00 pm EST

The International Joint Commission met in executive session by conference call on September 8, 2004 with Chair Herb Gray in the chair.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

1. Commissioners approved the items covered below as the agenda for the conference call.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION PLAN FOR GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT (GLWQA) REVIEW

2. Commissioners approved the draft Public Consultation Plan for the GLWQA Review with a minor amendment and agreed to send it to governments. (Note: subsequently sent on September 9, 2004.)

12TH BIENNIAL REPORT ON GLWQA RELEASE

3. Commissioners reviewed the final plans for release of the 12th Biennial Report, noted a US Congressional staff briefing scheduled for September 14, and agreed that the two Chairs would handle media requests for interviews and questions.

WATER USES REPORT

4. Commissioners noted press coverage of the report released on August 31, 2004.

ANNEX 2001

5. Commissioners agreed that staff should bring forward their analysis of the Annex 2001 documents for discussion at an executive meeting in Ennis, Ireland during the Alien Invasive Species (AIS) International Conference.

AIS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

6. Commissioners noted the arrangements that had been made for their participation in the conference and approved staff arranging for a media release of the AIS Pamphlet and its inclusion in the registration packet, and an executive session on Tuesday September 21.

ORAL REPORTS

7. Chair Gray with Commissioners Blaney and Brooks reported on the Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Study Board consultation meetings that they attended noting that attendance varied from good to sparse but that overall the meetings were considered helpful to the study process and for the public.
   
   
8. Chair Schornack with Commissioners Gourd and Olson reported on the Missisquoi Bay public meetings in Vermont and Quebec that they attended noting that both meetings were very well attended with similar speakers and that the causeway was a very emotional issue.

UNESCO/WORLD COOPERATION FACILITY MEETING

9. Commissioners noted receipt of a request for Commission participation in a meeting in Delft November 25-26, 2004 to discuss establishing a new Water Cooperation Facility and agreed that staff should obtain more information on the implications of IJC attendance before making a decision.

TRANSPORTATION BOARD OF THE U.S. NATIONAL ACADEMIES

10. Commissioners noted the study by the "Committee on the St. Lawrence Seaway: Options to Eliminate Introductions of Nonindigenous Species into the Great Lakes" and agreed that staff could respond to the request for the names of experts to participate in the study.