Approved May 23, 2007

MINUTES

INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
SEMI-ANNUAL MEEETING
APRIL 16-20, 2007

The International Joint Commission met in Executive Session at the U.S. Section office in Washington, DC on April 16 and 17, 2007, and with its Boards and Task Forces, Governments and invited presenters, on April 18, 19 and 20, 2007 with Dennis Schornack in the chair.

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

   The Commission approved the agenda.

2. MINUTES

   The Commission approved the minutes of the Commissioners' Conference call on March 16, 2007.

3. APPOINTMENTS

   The Commission noted membership considerations associated with the Science Advisory Board and deferred further consideration to its May 2007 executive meeting.

4. MACKINAC EXECUTIVE MEETING

   Commissioners discussed the agenda for the Mackinac Island Executive Meeting, which will focus on four major subjects: the Lake Ontario- St. Lawrence River Study, membership considerations associated with the Science Advisory Board, identification of Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement priorities, and meeting with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Great Lakes Commission. Commissioners were briefed on the discussions with staff of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission in preparation for the meeting.

5. BOUNDARY WATERS TREATY CENTENNIAL

   Commissioners received an update on activities associated with the 2009 centennial of the Boundary Waters Treaty. Commissioners approved the design of a commemorative coin and agreed to order 500 coins; requested that staff arrange for a Commission briefing in conjunction with the June 2007 Biennial Meeting on the status of the January 2008 conference and history text project; asked staff to explore specific sites in the Niagara Region in consideration of an invitation to join in an event in that area in 2009 and to contact the two Seaway organizations to see what they may have planned, and asked staff to inquire about the schedule of meetings between the two foreign ministers that may be anticipated in 2009.

6. IJC APPLICATIONS AND REFERENCES ON THE WEB

   Commissioners reviewed a framework for including applications and references issued to the Commission on the web; asked for inclusion of a lead-in paragraph referencing the centennial of the Treaty and specification of whether each application or reference is open or closed; and requested that staff determine with authors whether the document might be appropriate for inclusion in the history of the Treaty.

7. MAJOR COMMISSION INITIATIVE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS

   Commissioners reviewed and discussed prioritized major initiatives.

8. GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITYAGREEMENT GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONS AND ACCOUTABILITY ISSUES.

   Commissioners discussed governance and institutions issues and accountability issues associated with the review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, including both internal and external considerations, and agreed it would be useful to suggest when meeting with governments on April 20 getting together to talk further about the nature of an accountability summit as suggested in the Commission's 13th Biennial Report.

9. 2007 GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT BIENNIAL MEETING

   Commissioners approved the selection of the Scientist of the Biennium, who will be contacted and asked to present at the Biennial Meeting.

10. 2007 SUMMARY REPORT - "PARTA" OF THE 2008 BIENNIAL REPORT

    Commissioners reviewed a proposed table of contents and schedule for preparation of a 2007 Summary Report as provided for in the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, discussed the Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) process and documents, asked staff to determine who is formally designated to receive the LAMP reports and manage the LAMP process, and asked staff to continue with efforts to produce a short report as planned.

11. NEW PROCESS FOR 2007-09 PRIORITIES WORK FOR GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT

    Commissioners reviewed an initial list of subjects being considered by Boards supporting work under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in preparation for meeting with Board Co-Chairs on April 18. The initial list focuses on where the Commission can best contribute given its unique role.

12. ST MARY AND MILK ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES TASK FORCE

    Commissioners discussed issues associated with water allocation in the S1.Mary and Milk River basin.

13. JOINT RELEASE OF ATSDR REPORT

    Commissioners reviewed the process concerning a draft report by the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) regarding U.S. Areas of Concern in preparation for a conference call with staff of ATSDR on April 18.

14. OTHER BUSINESS
    1. Survey for Chicago Biennial Meeting.

       Commissioners discussed the proposed survey, suggested that it should ask which body of water one lives closes to, and directed staff to ensure that the survey be very clear about what it is (a survey) and what it is not (a scientifically-based poll).

    2. Board Reports.

       Commissioners asked staff to consider possibly staggering receipt of board reports, and to consider any other associated issues that might improve report preparation and consideration.

    3. St. Mary and Milk River Gauging Needs.

       Commissioners concurred with the U.S. Section of the Commission providing additional funding to the U.S. Geological Survey for gauging needs in the St. Mary and Milk Rivers ($20,000 in U.S. Fiscal Year 2007 and subsequently an estimated $10,000 annually).

    4. Osoyoos Lake Science and Public Forum.

       Commissioners agreed to provide funding for the Osoyoos Lake Science and Public Forum of approximately $5,000 to $7,000 Canadian, and asked that the Kootenay and Osoyoos Boards schedule their public meetings during the same week as the Science Forum if possible.

15. LAKE ONTARIO - ST. LAWRENCE RIVER STUDY

    Commissioners considered issues associated with the Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Study during executive session on April 16, including detailed discussion of draft documentation prepared by staff, ongoing consultations with the federal governments, and anticipated schedules for public release and comment.

Decisions made during discussion/appearances of Boards/Task Forces reporting at the meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, April 18-19, 2007.

17. INTERNATIONAL UPPER GREAT LAKES STUDY BOARD

    The Commission agreed that the International Upper Great Lakes Study Board could consider the official start of its efforts to be March 2007 with the appointment of the full Board, and that its formal six-month report would therefore be due a few weeks in advance of the Fall 2007 Semi-Annual Meeting. The Commission agreed that some remaining outstanding issues would be addressed in May via a conference call.

18. BOARD REPORTS

    Commissioners agreed that the reports of the following boards could be posted to the web: St. Lawrence River Board of Control, Niagara Board of Control, and Lake Superior Board of Control, Rainy Lake Board of Control and Rainy River Water Pollution Board, Kootenay Lake Board of Control, Osoyoos Lake Board of Control, and Columbia River Board of Control.

19. INTERNATIONAL RAINY LAKE BOARD OF CONTROL AND INTERNATIONAL RAINY RIVER WATER POLLUTION BOARD

    Commissioners agreed to send a letter from the Commission Co-Chairs to the hydropower companies thanking them for their cooperation regarding recent peaking and ponding consideration.

20. INTERNATIONAL SOURIS RIVER BOARD

    Commissioners agreed, at the request of the International Souris River Board, to consider the Souris River watershed as a pilot watershed under its Watershed Initiative.

21. INTERNATIONAL ST CROIX RIVER BOARD

    Commissioners agreed that the International S1.Croix River Board was the first watershed board under its Watershed Initiative in recognition of its accomplishments, including watershed-based mapping. Commissioners noted the support of the two federal governments, agreed to announce this milestone at various venues, and encouraged continuation of efforts in the S1.Croix and other watersheds in the U.S.-Canada boundary region.

22. INTERNATIONAL RED RIVER BOARD

    Commissioners noted their support for continuing efforts within the Board to carry out a Flood Mitigation Strategy, a reformulation and redirection of the former Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Plan.