| Approved February 10, 2005 MINUTES
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE MEETING
December 7-8, 2004
Burlington, Vermont
The International Joint Commission met in executive session at the Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington, Vermont on December 7-8, 2004, chaired by Chair Dennis Schornack.
| COMMISSIONERS |
| Dennis Schornack |
Chair, U.S. Section |
| Herb Gray |
Chair, Canadian Section |
| Robert Gourd |
Commissioners, Canadian Section |
| Jack Blaney |
Commissioner, Canadian Section |
| Irene Brooks |
Commissioner, U.S. Section |
| Allen Olson |
Commissioner, U.S. Section |
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| HEADQUARTERS' STAFF |
| Lisa Bourget |
Secretary, U.S. Section |
| Murray Clamen |
Secretary, Canadian Section |
| Frank Bevacqua |
Public Information Officer, U.S. Section |
| James Chandler |
Legal Adviser, U.S. Section |
| Nick Heisler |
Special Adviser to the Chair, Canadian Section |
| Rudy Koop |
Research Adviser, Canadian Section |
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ACTION ITEMS
- The Commission received action items from the October 13, 2004 Conference Call, October 19 Executive Meeting, and November 4, 2004 Conference Call.
2005 CONFERENCE CALL SCHEDULE
- The Commission approved the 2005 schedule of IJC Commissioners conference calls.
ANNUAL REPORT.
- The Commission approved the annual report, with minor editorial changes provided by the Commissioners.
BIENNIAL MEETING
- The Commission approved allowing students to attend at no cost, as space in the venues permits, the Thursday Workshops held in conjunction with the free public Biennial Meeting June 10 and 11, 2005.
LAKE OF THE WOODS
- The Commissioners approved and signed similar letters to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Secretary of State regarding a proposal to consider Lake of the Woods as a possible water supply to meet the needs of the Red River Valley in North Dakota.
MISSISQUOI BAY
- The Commission:
- held preliminary discussions on issues raised during the meetings held to date and noted that the second public hearing was scheduled for that evening;
- agreed to an IJC cover letter report on the Task Force report and, for final printing, bind the letter and Task Force report together;
- agreed on the format of the letter report;
- agreed that Lead Commissioners will work with lead staff to draft the report and then provide to full Commission;
- tasked staff with obtaining additional information regarding the action plan and tripartite agreement; and
- tasked staff with raising several issues with the Task Force
WATERSHED BOARD REFERENCE
- The Commission:
- provided their suggested edits to and requested restructuring of the report, including distinctions between recurring and project funding;
- agreed to ask Boards to review the report following restructuring;
- agreed to meet with government officials prior to issuing the report; and
- received an update on the St. Croix mapping project.
ST. MARY AND MILK RIVERS
- The Commission received an update regarding potential membership on the St. Mary and Milk Rivers Administrative Measures Task Force.
OTHER BUSINESS
- The Commission:
- noted a $200,000 earmark by Congress for the Red River Basin (Commission) in the pending budget for the U.S. Section of the Commission;
- received a letter concerning Coventry Dump;
- approved with minor edits invitations to the Kingston Biennial Meeting;
- agreed to a briefing on Section budgets at the February 2005 Executive meeting;
BREAKFAST MEETING - December 8, 2004
MISSISQUOI BAY
- The Commission:
- requested graphics in IJC reports and cost-effective printing;
- agreed to present the report at a press conference in the region with two Commissioners and with the report being issued embargoed to governments at least 3 days in advance and to the media 1 to 1-1/2 hours in advance; and
- agreed to invite Missisquoi Bay Task Force members to the April Semi-Annual meeting.
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