MINUTES
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE MEETING
Washington, D.C. December 8, 2009

The International Joint Commission met in Executive Session at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Washington, D.C. on December 8, 2009, with Irene Brooks in the chair.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

1. Commissioners approved the agenda with the addition of items several items under Other Business.

INTERNATIONAL UPPER GREAT LAKES STUDY

2. 1. Commissioners received an update on the Study Board’s plans for releasing the St. Clair report and noted the Board’s intention now to release the report on December 15, 2009, in order to allow time to finalize all the peer reviews and the Board’s responses.
   2. Commissioners reviewed the Study Board’s request (originally made at the October 2009 Semi-Annual meeting) to undertake an examination of mitigative measures in the St. Clair River as part of the broader comprehensive assessment of the future effects of climate change on water supplies in the upper Great Lakes and noted that the governments have not yet responded to the Commission’s November 9 letters seeking the governments views on the Study Board’s request. Recognizing the need for the Study Board to move forward with phase two of the IUGL study, Commissioners approved the Board proceeding with planning for the requested studies pending the Commission receiving responses from the governments, with the understanding that the Commission may revisit the approval once it receives the governments’ responses.
   3. Commissioners received a staff recommendation that if the Study Board does consider mitigative measures in the St. Clair River for the effects of the impacts resulting from climate change (per 2a above), that it also be instructed to consider mitigative messages for the effects of conveyance changes in the river. Commissioners deferred a decision on this recommendation pending receipt of the governments’ responses to the November 9 letter.
   4. Commissioners reviewed a revised schedule for public hearings on the St. Clair report to be held in spring 2010 and discussed Commissioner participation in the hearings.

INTERNATIONAL RED RIVER BOARD

3. Commissioners received an update on current issues facing the International Red River Board, including a Board request to the Commission to change one of the five water quality objectives for the river at the border from a fecal coliform standard to an e-coli standard, a change the State of North Dakota is considering making to the allowable level of sulphate in emergency discharges from Devils Lake and how that might affect sulphate levels in the Red River at the border, and the continually rising water level in Devils Lake.

15^th BIENNIAL REPORT ON GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY

4. Commissioners received an oral update on planning for the 15th Biennial report, agreed that the report should be available to governments in spring 2010 so that it could help inform their negotiations on an updated water quality agreement, and noted that staff planned to have a draft report for Commissioners’ review at the February 2010 Executive meeting.

COUNCIL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH MANAGERS

5. Commissioners received an update on the review of the Council of Great Lakes Research Managers being undertaken and noted that staff hope to have the review completed in January 2010.

GREAT LAKES - ST. LAWRENCE LEADERS ROUNDTABLE

6. Commissioners received an update on planning for a possible Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Leaders Roundtable, noted that a steering committee has been formed drawing on participants in the October 6, 2009 stakeholders roundtable that was held in Windsor, and approved IJC staff participation on the steering committee and engaging a consultant to assist with planning, if needed.

ASIAN CARP

7. Commissioners received an oral update on the December 2-5 closure of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to allow for the application of a fish toxicant, rotenone, to control the movement of Asian carp undertaken by the State of Illinois and several U.S. Government agencies (with support from several Canadian agencies) and to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do maintenance on the electric fish barrier in the canal. Commissioners asked staff to find out whether governments have a contingency plans for rapid response if carp are found in the Great Lakes and to recommend possible next steps for the Commission.

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TASK FORCE

8. Commissioners approved the Health Professional Task Force’s proposed work plan and budget for the period October 2009 through September 2011 noting that a portion of the budget will require separate approval of the International Watersheds Initiative review committee.

INTERNATIONAL AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD

9. Commissioners received an update on the temporary secretariat support for the International Air Quality Advisory Board being provided by the Canadian Section while staff explore possible permanent arrangements with government agencies, and they approved the Board’s proposed work plan and budget for the period October 2009 through September 2011, noting that a portion of the budget will require separate approval of the International Watersheds Initiative review committee.

REPORT ON IMPACT OF URBAN AREAS ON GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY

10. Commissioners approved actions to be undertaken by the Commission in response to recommendations made to the Commission in the Impact of Urban Areas in Great Lakes Water Quality report, approved a draft Commissioner’s preface for the report, and requested that staff provide Commissioners with a draft transmittal letter to governments.

LAKE ONTARIO – ST. LAWRENCE RIVER WORKING GROUP

11. Commissioners received an oral report on the outcomes of the first meeting of the Lake Ontario - St. Lawrence River Working Group, which took place in the Commission’s Canadian Section office on December 4, 2009, noted that the next meeting is tentatively planned for early February 2010, and thanked staff for their efforts in organizing and hosting a successful first meeting.

INTERNATIONAL ST. CROIX RIVER WATERSHED BOARD

12. Commissioners received an update on the Commission’s and the Board’s efforts to address the alewives issue, including Commission letters to the Governor of Maine, the Premier of New Brunswick, and the Minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. and the drafting of an adaptive management plan.

OTHER BUSINESS

13. International Rainy River Water Pollution Board
    Commissioners approved the appointments of Mr. Greg Chapman to be a Canadian member and Ms. Kelli Saunders to be an alternate Canadian member (to Mr. Chapman) of the International Rainy River Water Pollution Board, with both to serve terms commencing December 8, 2009, and ending December 12, 2012.
14. Niagara Centennial Book
    Commissioners received an update on the status of the centennial book and noted that the it should be available in about a week and that staff would provide information on how Commissioners and others can order a copy.
15. Informal Meeting with Canadian Ambassador Doer
    Prior to the start of the Executive meeting, Commissioners met informally with the Canadian Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Gary Doer, who began his Ambassadorial tenure in October, 2009, and thanked him for his support for the Commission’s work.
16. Biennial Conference of the Association of Canadian Studies in the United States
    Commissioners received a report on Commission Olson’s participation in the Biennial Conference of the Association of Canadian Studies in the United States, which took place November 18-22, 2009, in San Diego, California.
17. Chair Gray’s departure from the International Joint Commission
    Commissioners noted that Chair Gray’s term as Canadian Chair of the IJC ends on January 14, 2010. They and staff thanked Chair Gray for his eight years of service to the IJC and his many, many years of prior public service to Canada and wished him well in his next endeavours.

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