Approved May 5, 2006

MINUTES
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE MEEETING
Windsor, Ontario
April 19 - 21, 2006

The International Joint Commission met in Executive Session in Windsor, Ontario April 19 - 21, 2006, with Herb Gray in the chair.

1. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
   Commissioners approved the agenda with the addition of the following items under Other Business:
   
   1. US appointment to the Health Professionals Task Force
   2. Update on arrangements for the AIS Conference in May
   3. Discharge of dry cargo sweepings or residues in the Great Lakes
   
   
   
2. 13^th BIENNIAL REPORT ON GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY
   Commissioners received a report on work undertaken to date concerning the proposed accountability theme for the report, discussed key messages and a proposed outline, and agreed that it would be useful to explain what is meant by accountability early on in the report and leave potential recommendations open until a draft text is provided as soon as possible. Commissioners noted their desire to discuss at another time the top three to six indicators.
   
   
3. GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT (GLWQA) REVIEW
   Commissioners noted governments' planned April 28 first meeting of working groups conducting the review of the Agreement and agreed that the Commission should have a significant presence through observers at that meeting. Commissioners also provided guidance to staff for use in preparing a subsequent draft for Commissioners' consideration, and agreed that the final report would be made public.
   
   
4. 2007 GLWQA BIENNIAL MEETING
   Commissioners considered the desirability of a 2007 Biennial Meeting, including possible dates and locations, and agreed that staff should provide a list of possible sites with pros and cons for decision no later than the next executive meeting in June.
   
   
5. LAKE ONTARIO - ST. LAWRENCE RIVER STUDY (LOSLR)
   Commissioners continued their discussion of issues on which they would need information to help them reach consensus on possible changes to the Commission's existing regulatory regime and approved:
   
   1. the agenda for an Adaptive Management Workshop May 18-19, 2006, and
   2. the dates and protocol for release of the Study Board's Final Report and Annexes.
   
   
   
6. UPPER LAKES STUDY
   Commissioners noted the letters of support from both governments and considered various issues associated with the start-up of the Upper Lakes study, including funding, organizational structure, study directors and mangers, the study board and board membership, and the public interest advisory group, and agreed:
   
   1. that the study should proceed,
   2. to appoint Dr. Eugene Stakhiv as the U.S. Co-Chair of the Study Board,
   3. to establish a Study Board office in the Great Lake Regional Office,
   4. that potential study board and public advisory group members should be suggested by staff for appointment by Commissioners,
   5. that staff should document accomplishments of the Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River study applicable to the Upper Lakes study, and
   6. that staff should proceed within available funding and work with governments to put in place additional funding and other needed resources.
   
   
   
7. WORLD WATER WEEK
   Commissioners discussed the invitations to participate at the World Water Week conference in Stockholm, August 20-26, 2006 noting that Chair Gray was planning to accept his invitation to address the plenary session, and agreed that the Commission should co-sponsor the proposed workshop with costs shared by the sections and with Chair Schornack and Commissioner Gourd attending and covering the workshop.
   
   
8. OTHER BUSINESS
   
   APPOINTMENT TO THE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TASK FORCE
   
   1. Commissioners approved the appointments of Dr. Patrick Levallois as a Canadian member, and Dr. Russell Lopez as a U.S. member, for three-year terms ending March 31, 2009.
   
   
   14^TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES
   
   2. Commissioners received a briefing on the program and their involvement in various aspects of the conference.
   
   
   DISCHARGE OF DRY CARGO SWEEPINGS OR RESIDUES IN THE GREAT LAKES
   
   3. Commissioners discussed dry cargo sweepings and the U.S. Coast Guard's Environmental Impact Statement towards the final rulemaking for the discharge of cargo sweepings in the Great Lakes, noted that the Commission typically does not comment on a domestic regulatory process in one country but may choose to comment on an issue and efforts in both countries, and agreed that staff should provide additional information on the Canadian and U.S. situations for the June executive meeting.