Approved May 5, 2006

MINUTES
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE MEEETING
Seattle, Washington
April 3-6, 2006

The International Joint Commission met in Executive Session in Seattle, Washington, on April 4, 2006 and met with its Boards and Task Forces, and with Governments and invited presenters, on April 3, 5, and 6, 2006, with Chair Dennis Schornack in the chair.

1. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
   Commissioners approved the agenda with the addition of the following items under Other Business:
   
   1. Shared Air Summit invitation letter
   2. Rosenberg Forum
   3. Executive Meetings
   4. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Public Synthesis Report Release
   5. Follow-up Letters regarding the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Review
   
   
   
2. IJC CENTENNIAL
   Commissioners discussed various initiatives associated with the upcoming centennial of the Boundary Waters Treaty and agreed that:
   
   1. staff should follow up with primary authors concerning a revised proposal on a history,
   2. staff should follow up with the Canadian Postal Committee to inform it of consideration being given to a joint stamp proposal in the United States,
   3. the Commission would pursue issuing a centennial coin and that staff should further develop the proposal, including a distribution plan, possible graphic for the back of the coin, and refined cost estimate, and
   4. Commissioners support a watershed atlas and would consider exploring with governments possibilities for mechanisms to receive funds for atypical special projects to support the work of the Commission.
   
   
   
3. INTERNATIONAL LAKE ONTARIO - ST. LAWRENCE RIVER STUDY
   Commissioners noted the schedule for the release of the Study Board final report with its annexes and the final report of the Public Interest Advisory Group. Commissioners also noted letters received regarding the not-yet-released study, asked to be kept apprised of all letters received, and authorized Secretaries to sign responses following Commission approval of content. Commissioners discussed materials being collated for internal informational meetings in April and May.
   
   
4. UPPER LAKES STUDY
   Commissioners discussed the status of the Upper Lakes Study, including schedule and funding, and noted the possible receipt of a letter from the Canadian Government at the scheduled meeting with governments on Thursday, April 6.
   
   
5. WATERSHED INITIATIVE
   Commissioners noted the difference between watershed initiative goals and the funding to carry them out and agreed to raise the subject with governments at the meeting with them on April 6, 2006.
   
   
6. "TWINNING" WITH AFRICAN ORGANIZATIONS
   Commissioners agreed to continue the dialogue with the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission (GLFC) and the Global Environment Facility on twinning the IJC and GLFC with the Lake Victoria Basin Commission and Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization to facilitate inter-basin knowledge exchange, and to bring back a joint proposal for further Commission consideration. Commissioners also agreed to invite Dr. Hecky (United Nations University Chair in African Great Lakes and Rivers at the University of Waterloo) to brief them at their June executive meeting.
   
   
7. IJC POLICIES AND PRACTICES
   
   1. IJC Translation Practice. Commissioners discussed current IJC translation practices.
   2. Proposed Policy on IJC Decision-Making. Commissioners approved a proposed policy confirming how the IJC makes and documents its decisions.
   
   
   
8. UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER WEEK, STOCKHOLM, AUGUST 20-26, 2006
   Commissioners requested additional information from staff and agreed to reconsider the invitation to participate at its April 19-21 executive meeting.
   
   
9. OTHER BUSINESS
   
   1. Shared Air Summit invitation letter. Commissioners agreed to issue a proposed letter of support for the Shared Air Summit 2006.
   2. Rosenberg Forum. Commissioners agreed that staff would establish a bulletin board as a means by which Commissioners and staff could contribute ideas through April to those drafting papers for the Rosenberg Forum.
   3. Executive Meetings. Commissioners agreed to meet until noon Friday at its April 19-21 and June 7-9 Executive meetings.
   4. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Public Synthesis Report Release. Commissioners agreed to release the Public Synthesis report on April 20 while Commissioners are available for interviews in Windsor, Ontario.
   5. Follow-Up Letters regarding Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Review. Commissioners approved a proposed follow-up letter to President Bush and Prime Minister Harper, addressed separately in each country but indicating that a letter was sent in the other country, subject to final editing.
   
   
   
10. INTERNATIONAL COLUMBIA RIVER BOARD OF CONTROL
    Commissioners noted the letter dated March 29, 2006 received from the U.S. government regarding the Canadian-Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Commission and agreed that they would await a response from the Canadian Government, post both letters on the web simultaneously, and then consider advice from the Commission's legal advisers on both responses.
    
    
11. INTERNATIONAL AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD (IAQAB)
    Commissioners discussed their meeting the following day with the IAQAB and agreed that the proposed energy symposium's focus on electricity from coal-fired plants should be broadened to encompass other forms of energy production.

Decisions made during discussion/appearances of Boards/Task Forces reporting at the Spring semi-annual meeting on Thursday, April 6, 2006.

12. INTERNATIONAL RAINY LAKE BOARD OF CONTROL
    Commissioners agreed to issue a directive to the hydropower companies, to be developed by staff in consultation with the Board for consideration by the Commission, to cease peaking and ponding operations during the spawning season, effective next year.
    
    
13. INTERNATIONAL SOURIS RIVER BOARD
    Commissioners agreed to appoint all current members of the International Souris River Board and the former governments' Bilateral Water Quality Monitoring Group, plus a member from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to its International Souris River Board for staggered three-year terms, while a directive is finalized that encompasses the board's expanded mandate.