Approved December 21, 2007

MINUTES

INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE CALL
NOVEMBER 30, 2007

The International Joint Commission met by conference call on November 30, 2007, chaired by Irene Brooks.

1. AGENDA

   Commissioners approved the agenda for the conference call with the addition of appointments. Commissioners requested that staff add discussion of now-deferred testimony to the U.S. Congressional Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment regarding "Progress Toward Improving Water Quality in the Great Lakes" to the Commission's agenda for its December Executive Meeting in Washington, D.C.

2. MINUTES

   The Commission approved the minutes of the Commissioners' Conference call on October 12, 2007 and the Executive Meeting on October 16, 2007.

3. APPOINTMENTS

   The Commission approved:

   1. Great Lakes Science Advisory Board

      the re-appointments of Dr. Michael Donohue as U.S. Co-Chair, and of Dr. Bill Bowerman and Dr. Milt Clark as Members, U.S.-Section, for three-year terms; and the appointments of Dr. Jeff Ridal as Member, Canadian Section, and of Dr. Susan Schantz and Dr. Richard Whitman as Members, U.S. Section, for two-year terms.

   2. Great Lakes Water Quality Board

      the appointment of Ms. Maxine Kingston as Member, Canadian Section, for a three-year term effective January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010.

   Commissioners requested that staff prepare a letter commending the Science Advisory Board for its good work in assessing its staffing needs.

4. BRING-FORWARD SYSTEM

   The Commission noted that no International Joint Commission (IJC) letters to governments from July through September 2007 required follow-up inquiries.

5. INTERNATIONAL UPPER GREAT LAKES STUDY BOARD

   Commission received an oral report on the briefings given to U.S. Congressional and Senate staff in Washington, D.C., on November 8th and 9th and to Canadian Members of Parliament and staff on November 20th . Both U.S. briefings were publicized by the Great Lakes Congressional Task Force. Commissioners were informed of plans by the Study Board to write to Congress and Parliament with an offer to hold public meetings within the next year in their constituents' area. Commissioners were also informed by staff of: (a) recent increases in water levels on Lake Superior, although the level remains well below the long-term average level for this time of year; (b) that one of three proposed gauging stations has been installed and is in operation, although some long-term issues still need to be sorted out at the staff level with governments on potentially simplifying procedures for designating such gauges as formal International Gauging Stations; and (c) that the Public Interest Advisory Group wished to indicate its support for these International Gauging Stations, would be sending a letter of support to the Commission, and was considering a future public event concerning the initiation of these gauges.

6. LAKE ONTARIO - ST. LAWRENCE RIVER STUDY

   Staff provided Commissioners with a verbal overview of a recent technical meeting held as part of continuing consultations with governments regarding the Commission's consideration of possible revisions to its Order and regulation plan governing how flows are released from Lake Ontario into the St. Lawrence River.