Approved February 10, 2005

MINUTES OF DECISIONS
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE CALL
December 2, 2004
Noon EST

The International Joint Commission met by conference call on December 2, 2004, chaired by Dennis Schornack.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

1. The Commission approved the agenda with two additional updates (items 8N and 8O).

MINUTES

2. The Commission approved the minutes of the October 13, 2004 Conference Call, the minutes of the October 19 Executive Meeting, and the minutes of the November 4, 2004 Conference Call.

SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

3. The Commission approved the 2006 Schedule of Meetings and the 2005 Schedule of Conference Calls with the amendment that the Chair of the "hosting" country of an executive meeting will chair the conference call immediately prior to that meeting.

APPOINTMENTS

4. The Commission approved:
   • the re-appointments of Isobel Heathcote as Co-chair of the Canadian Section and Michael Donahue as Co-chair, and William Bowerman, J. Milton Clark, and Joan Rose as members of the U.S. Section of the Great Lakes Science Advisory Board;
   • the appointment of Jesse Davies as a member of the Canadian Section of the International St. Croix River Board; and
   • the appointment of Prad Kharé as Co-chair and the re-appointments of Craig Mather, John Carey, and Adel Shalaby as members of the Canadian Section of the Great Lakes Water Quality Board.

BRING-FORWARD SYSTEM

5. The Commission deferred discussion of this topic until the Executive Meeting scheduled for December 7, 2004.

2004 ANNUAL REPORT

6. The Commission deferred discussion of this topic until the Executive Meeting scheduled for December 7, 2004.

GLRO DIRECTOR'S REPORT

7. The Commission received the GLRO Directors Report.

UPDATES

8. The Commission:
   • received a verbal update on Annex 2001;
   • noted its December 1, 2004 decision regarding the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration;
   • received an update on the preparation of a Spills Report;
   • agreed to consider the Lake Ontario LaMP at the February 2005 executive meeting;
   • approved changes to the Biennial Meeting program as recommended by staff; directed staff to provide names, including those suggested by Commissioners, for potential speakers in Friday's 11:00am session; agreed to charge $100 Canadian for the Thursday conference and deferred discussion of any charges for students to the Executive Meeting scheduled for December 7, 2004;
   • noted the staff update on work being undertaken for the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study Board;
   • noted that U.S. Member of the International Columbia River Board of Control had replied to the Commission's request for more information concerning the Grand Coulee Dam, noted that a response from the Canadian Member was anticipated shortly, and asked staff to consider procedures for resolving the issue;
   • noted a staff update on infrastructure security;
   • noted a staff update concerning the work of the Health Professionals Task Force;
   • approved with minor edits, including an "action level" line in the letter to governments, draft letters to the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association and to governments regarding concerns raised over water quality conditions in Lake of the Woods;
   • noted a staff update regarding the Georgian Bay Association's submission of a report addressing the St. Clair River;
   • received an update on the recent UNESCO Meeting;
   • noted a staff update concerning the Canada-US Air Agreement Progress Report;
   • received an update regarding the Commission's notifying governments of concerns raised during the public meeting of the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control; and
   • received an update from Chair Gray regarding a CBC interview.