Approved February 3, 2006

MINUTES OF DECISIONS
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE CALL
January 13, 2006
12:00pm EST

The International Joint Commission met by conference call on January 13, 2006, chaired by Dennis Schornack.

1. MINUTES
   
   Commissioners approved draft minutes of their December 13, 2005 Executive meeting, subject to a minor edit.
   
   
2. GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO 12^TH BIENNIAL REPORT
   
   Commissioners asked staff to redraft proposed acknowledgement letters to take a more positive tone up-front, clarify that receiving responses prior to the biennial meeting would be appreciated, delete references to the review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, and suggest discussion at the April semi-annual meeting regarding a joint reference on alien invasive species and reporting requirements under the current Agreement.
   
   
3. OTHER BUSINESS
   
   
   1. RED RIVER BASIN
      
      Commissioner Olson and Secretary Clamen provided highlights of meetings this past week in the Red River basin and noted that further information would be available in a post-meeting briefing note from lead staff.
      
      
   2. PROPOSED FORUM AND VIGNETTES
      
      Commissioner Olson and Secretary Clamen highlighted two recent discussions, one on possible IJC participation in the Rosenberg International Forum in Banff, Alberta, and the other concerning the possible development of short television vignettes; Commissioners agreed to a briefing on these subjects over lunch on February 7 in Ottawa.
      
      
   3. JUNE EXECUTIVE MEETING
      
      Staff noted an apparent scheduling conflict between the Commission's June 6-7 Executive meeting in Windsor and a Canadian Water Resources Association June 4-7 conference in Toronto, Commissioners agreed to check their calendars and let Secretaries know whether or not they could accommodate rescheduling the Commission's meeting to June 7-8.
      (Note: this was subsequently approved.)
      
      
   4. LAKE ONTARIO/ST. LAWRENCE RIVER STUDY
      
      Commissioners accepted the proposed agenda for the meeting on January 26-27.
      
      
   5. AREAS OF CONCERN
      
      Commissioners requested an update at the February executive meeting on the anticipated delisting of Areas of Concern generally.