Approved August 11, 2006

MINUTES
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE CALL
July 6, 2006

The International Joint Commission met by conference call on July 6, 2006, with Chair Gray chairing. Chair Schornack was unable to participate due to a schedule conflict with official business of the International Boundary Commission, for which he is the U.S. Commissioner.

1. AGENDA
   Commissioners deferred discussion of issues related to the Canadian Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fishery Commission to its next face-to-face meeting and approved the remaining agenda with the addition of the following items under Other Business:
   
   1. Appointments
   2. Dr. Scott Brown
   3. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Review
   4. Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Study
   5. Upper Lakes Study
   
   
2. THUNDER BAY REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN
   Commissioners approved the draft comments regarding the Stage 2 Remedial Action Plan for the Thunder Bay, Ontario Area of Concern and agreed to forward them to governments under cover of a proper transmittal letter.
   
   
3. OSWEGO AREA OF CONCERN (AOC)
   Commissioners noted the letter from the U.S. government concerning the delisting for the Oswego Area of Concern, the plans for the July 25 event and that Chair Schornack would represent the Commission, and approved preparation of a letter of congratulations and a Commission press release to be issued at the time of the event.
   
   
4. MILLTOWN DAM
   Subject to edits and sending a second letter to New Brunswick Power, Commissions approved in principle the draft letter to governments noting potential safety concerns and that Commission/St. Croix Board annual visits should not be considered technical evaluations of dam security. (Note: Commissioners later determined that a letter to New Brunswick Power, copying governments, sufficed.)
   
   
5. GLWQA REVIEW ADVICE REPORT
   Staff provided Commissioners with an oral update, including with respect to advice from its Great Lakes advisory boards, and schedule for consideration of the final draft report as well as a communications plan; Commissioners agreed that the latest staff draft should be sent to all Commissioners for discussion on the July 14 conference call and to inform discussions between Commissioners and board members. (Note: the July 14 call was subsequently cancelled and discussions occurred during a face-to-face meeting on July 26.)
   
   
6. IJC REPORTS
   Commissioners deferred consideration of a draft communications plan for the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Review advice report, and approved in principle, subject to reviewing the final quantities, specific release dates and target audiences, draft communications plans for IJC Reports on Spills and Dam Safety.
   
   
7. OTHER BUSINESS
   
   1. Appointments. Commissioners approved the re-appointment of Charles Lalonde to the Canadian Section of the Great Lakes Water Quality Board for a three-year term of July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2008.
   2. Dr. Scott Brown. Commissioners were informed of the death of Dr. Scott Brown, a Canadian member of the Great Lakes Science Advisory Board and an eminent scientist with Environment Canada, and agreed to send a message of condolence from the Commission.
   3. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Review. Staff serving as observers on the various work groups provided Commissioners with an oral update on the review by governments of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
   4. Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Study. Staff indicated they would be providing Commissioners, for the July 14 conference call, with an overall plan of action leading up to the Commission's next meeting to continue the review of the Order.
   5. Upper Lakes Study. Commissioners noted the letter from Peter Boehm, Assistant Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Canada, approving $500,000 in interim funding to begin the study and a commitment to find the rest of the funds, and agreed that a reply letter would be sent by the Canadian Section of the Commission.