MINUTES

INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION

EXECUTIVE MEETING

Washington, DC

April 8, 2002

The International Joint Commission met in executive session at the U.S. Section office in Washington, D.C. on April 8, 2002 with Chair Dennis Schornack in the chair.

COMMISSIONERS

Dennis Schornack, Chair, U.S. Section

Herb Gray, Chair, Canadian Section

Robert Gourd, Commissioner, Canadian Section

Jack Blaney, Commissioner, Canadian Section

HEADQUARTERS' STAFF

Gerald Galloway Secretary, U.S. Section

Murray Clamen Secretary, Canadian Section

Helen Kay Austin Ecologist, U.S. Section

Edward Bailey Engineering Adviser, Canadian Section

Frank Bevacqua Public Information Officer, U.S. Section

Lisa Bourget Engineering Adviser, U.S. Section

Valerie Brunette Executive Asst to the Secretary & Cmrs.,Canadian Section

James Chandler Legal Adviser, U.S. Section

Joel Fisher Senior Scientist, U.S. Section

Nick Heisler Special Adviser to the Chair, Canadian Section

James Houston Environmental & Informatics Adviser, Canadian Section

Rudy Koop Research Adviser, Canadian Section

Fabien Lengellé Public Affairs Adviser, Canadian Section

Karen Lynch Staff Assistant, U.S. Section

Ann MacKenzie Economics Adviser, Canadian Section

Tom McAuley Engineering Adviser, Canadian Section

Michael Scanlin Adviser, U.S. Section

Michael Vechsler Legal Adviser, Canadian Section

GREAT LAKES REGIONAL OFFICE STAFF

Gail Krantzberg Director

Jennifer Day Public Information Officer

Marty Bratzel Physical Scientist

DECLARATION

1. Chair Schornack recited the declaration of allegiance that he will faithfully and impartially perform the duties imposed upon him under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

2. Commissioners approved the agenda (reflected by these minutes) for the April 8, 2002 executive meeting with the following additions:

a. Have a moment of silence on the morning of Tuesday, April 9, 2002 during the Commission's meeting with its boards in honor of the Queen Mother;

b. Consider under "Other Business" a resolution noting the contribution of former U.S. Chair Thomas Baldini

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

3. The Commission approved:

a. the Minutes of the February 12-14, 2002 Executive Meeting held in Ottawa, Ontario, subject to minor editorial revisions, and

b. the Minutes of the March 4, 2002 Executive Meeting held in Chicago, Illinois.

APPOINTMENTS

4. The Commission:

Council of Great Lakes Research Managers, U.S. Section

a. approved the re-appointment of Drs. Christopher DeRosa and Joseph DePinto as members of the U.S. Section for three-year terms, ending December 31, 2004;

b. approved the appointment of Dr. Charles Kruger as a binational member for three years ending, May 1, 2005.

International Air Quality Advisory Board, Canadian Section

c. approved the appointment of Mr. Randall Piercey as a member for an indefinite term.

Health Professionals Task Force, U.S. Section

d. approved the appointment of Dr. Elwyn Grimes as a member for a three year term.

International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study Board

e. noted the appointment of Mr. Joe Atkinson by the Board as the U.S. lead of the Environment Technical Working Group.

International Great Lakes Water Quality Board, Canadian Section

f. approved the re-appointment of Mr. Craig Mather as a member for a three year term.

GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT ISSUES

Niagara River Area of Concern (AOC) Status Assessment

5. The Commission agreed:

a. that the Commission Chairs will approve the final version for printing after the April 2002 meeting with governments, and

b. that the final version will spell out all acronyms in the first use and in the recommendations, use a "plain language" approach, and include a glossary.

St. Lawrence River Area of Concern (AOC) Status Assessment

6. The Commission agreed that the Commission Chairs will review draft findings with respect to the St. Lawrence River AOC concurrently with the review of the Niagara Status Assessment, and that the findings of the St. Lawrence Status Assessment may then be shared with governments.

Commission Status Assessment Process

7. The Commission directed staff to prepare a briefing on the Commission's status assessment process for the June 2002 Executive.

Biennial Forum Planning

8. The Commission agreed to hold the forum in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in September, October 2-4, or November 13-15, 2003 subject to consultation with the Great Lakes Commission. The Commission directed staff to continue planning with a goal of having the meeting as early as possible in the Fall 2002.

Parties Binational Executive Committee/IJC Consultation

9. The Commission received a status report on the consultations that have taken place with respect to the IJC's information requirements.

11 ^th Biennial Report

10. The Commission:

a. agreed to put a hold on the publication of the Report pending review of the report by the newly-appointed U.S. Chair, Mr. Schornack;

b. directed staff to examine a possible op-ed piece as part of the release strategy;

c. agreed on the need for the Report to be written in plain language and for a powerful and simple introduction;

d. agreed that it will be difficult to release the report in June and to discuss modification of release plans during next week's Commissioners' conference call.

AUTHORITIES OF GREAT LAKES COMMISSION (GLC) AND COUNCIL OF GREAT LAKES GOVERNORS (CGLG)

5. The Commission received a briefing on the ability of the GLC and the CGLG to undertake traditional IJC activities, specifically the interrelationship of authorities and roles of the IJC, GLC and the CGLG.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH GOVERNMENTS ON DETROIT-WINDSOR AIR ISSUES

6. The Commission received a briefing on the governments' response, dated March 27 ^th , to the IJC's letter to governments on Detroit-Windsor air issues.

RELEASE OF IJC BOARD MINUTES

7. The Commission adopted the attached policy on public access to the minutes of meetings of the IJC and its boards and task forces.

IJC WEBSITE

8. The Commission agreed on the need to make the site more 'fun' and attractive, and to

emphasize work beyond the Great Lakes by considering a statement on top of the page conceptualizing the IJC 's coast-to-coast mission.

IJC POLICIES

9. The Commission:

a. approved the proposed format for IJC policies and practices;

b. approved policies 1, 2, 4 and 5 and practice 1, subject to their being re-drafted to reflect introduction of gender neutrality;

c. remanded proposed policies 3 and 6 to staff for further review by the June Executive; and

d. agreed that all IJC policies and documents should be written in a gender-neutral manner.

IJC CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE

5. The Commission received an update on the current activities and agreed to further discuss the formation of the Centennial Committee on a conference call within the next two weeks.

IJC BROCHURE AND MAP

6. The Commission:

a. approved the publication of a multi-fold map of IJC areas of interest and tasked staff to investigate the availability of display envelopes for these maps;

b. agreed to consideration of a laminated map; and

c. tasked staff to report on the new brochure at the June Executive.

IJC AMALGAMATED BOARDS' WORKSHOP FOLLOWUP

4. The Commission:

a. approved the release of the final Intersol Report on the Joint Board Workshop held in Chicago on March 5-6, 2002 to all board members and agreed to place it on the IJC website;

b. tasked staff to prepare a "What Next" paper; and

c. agreed to discuss the financial implications of watershed boards during the meeting with governments on April 11, 2002.

UPPER GREAT LAKES STUDY

5. The Commission received a status report from staff regarding status of government and staff action on the plan of study.

COMMISSION GUIDANCE FOR STAFF ON PUBLISHING PAPERS AND SPEAKING AT CONFERENCES

6. The Commission agreed to circulate a draft office procedure memo to staff and requested staff comments for discussion at the June Executive.

IJC SPRING MEDIA CALL ON GREAT LAKES LEVELS

7. The Commission agreed not to conduct a spring media call on the forecast for Great Lakes water levels.

RAINY LAKE ECOSYSTEM MONITORING

8. The Commission decided to provide the United States Geological Survey (USGS) draft report, "Establishment of an Assessment Program to Evaluate the Long-Term Effects of Changes in the Water Management Program for Rainy Lake and Namakan Reservoir," of March 26, 2002 to the IJC Rainy boards, if the USGS agrees.

WATER USES REFERENCE

9. The Commission tasked staff to develop a plan for conducting the 2003 Water Uses Reference, and agreed to preliminary consultations with potential counsel.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN-MISSISQUOI BAY

10. The Commission agreed to send letters to governments and to local officials concerning potential problems in Missisquoi Bay.

DEVIL'S LAKE

11. The Commission discussed approaches on a potential reference and tasked staff to examine models for conducting a possible reference.

OTHER BUSINESS

12. The Commission approved the attached resolution noting the high level of service provided by former U.S. Chair Thomas Baldini.

13. The Commission tasked staff to develop a plan to appropriately recognize IJC board members so as to support their participation in IJC board activities.

14. The Commission tasked staff to propose an agenda for a possible Commissioners' meeting with the Ministers of the Commission of Environmental Cooperation (CEC) during the CEC's June meeting in Ottawa, Ontario.

BRIEFING OF ISSUES PRIOR TO APPEARANCES OF IJC BOARDS

International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study Board

15. The Commission approved a joint meeting of the Study Board and the International St. Lawrence River Board of Control in September 2002, and agreed that staff should arrange a demonstration of the study model for the June Executive meeting.

International Souris River Board

16. The Commission approved a directive for the Souris River Board and letters to the Board and to governments concerning the approved directive.

Release of Board Reports

17. The Commission reviewed the plans for the April 2002 spring semi-annual meeting with boards, task forces and government representatives. The Commission agreed to release to the public board and task force reports received by the IJC.

Murray Clamen, Secretary, Canadian Section

Gerald Galloway, Secretary, U.S. Section

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