International Joint Commission
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Approved August 7, 2002

MINUTES
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE MEETING
Windsor, Ontario
June 11-12, 2002

The International Joint Commission met in Executive Session at the Commission's Great Lakes Regional Office in Windsor, Ontario on June 11 and 12, 2002 with Chair Gray in the chair.

COMMISSIONERS
Herb Gray Chair, Canadian Section (in the chair)
Dennis Schornack Chair, U.S. Section
Robert Gourd Commissioner, Canadian Section
Jack Blaney Commissioner, Canadian Section

HEADQUARTERS' STAFF
Murray Clamen Secretary, Canadian Section
Gerald Galloway Secretary, U.S. Section
Helen Kay Austin Ecologist, U.S. Section
Frank Bevacqua Public Information Officer, U.S. Section
Lisa Bourget Engineering Adviser, U.S. Section (by teleconference)
Valerie Brunette Executive Asst to the Secretary & Commissioners, 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
Peter Boyer Social Scientist
Jennifer Day Public Information Officer
Bruce Kirschner Environmental Scientist

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

1. Commissioners approved the agenda (reflected by these Minutes) for the June 11 and 12, 2002 executive meeting.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

2. The Commission approved the Minutes of the April 8, 2002 Executive Meeting held in Washington, D.C. and the process of posting them on the Commission's website.

APPOINTMENTS
3. The Commision:

Great Lakes Water Quality Board
  1. approved the appointment of Mr. David K. Ladd and Mr. Gerald Mikol as members of the U.S. Section
  2. approved the re-appointments of Mr. Steve Clarkson for one year from November 1, 2001 to October 31, 2002 and Mr. Guy Demers for three years from May 1, 2002 to April 30, 2005
  3. approved the appointment of Charles Lalonde as a member of the Canadian Section for a term from June 12, 2002 to June 30, 2005
Council of Great Lakes Research Managers, U.S. Section
  1. approved the re-appointments of Mr. James Nicholas, Dr. Stephen Brandt and Dr. Jeffrey Reutter as members for three-year terms
  2. approved the appointments of Louis Leigh, Daniel Bondy and Jacinthe Leclerc to the Canadian Section for a three year term from July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2005
International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study Board, Canadian Section, Recreational Boating Technical Working Group
  1. confirmed the appointment of Ms Marie-Claude Pitre as a Canadian member to the Recreational Boating Technical Working Group of the Study Board

GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT ISSUES

11 th Biennial Report

4. The Commission reviewed the revised draft of the 11th Biennial Report, approved a number of changes to the text as well as figures, charts and graphs to be further decided at a meeting in Ottawa scheduled for June 19, 2002, and confirmed the previously approved communications/marketing strategy.

Niagara River Area of Concern (AOC) Status Assessment

5. The Commission approved the release plan for the Niagara Status Assessment including the release date of June 20, 2002 and the letter of transmittal to the Parties.
St. Lawrence River Area of Concern (AOC) Status Assessment

6. The Commission received a briefing on the St. Lawrence Status Assessment and approved consulting with governments, the St. Lawrence River Restoration Council and the Mohawk Council on the draft findings
Annex 2 Advice

7. The Commission received a status report on the meeting held May 14, 2002 in Detroit to discuss Annex 2 issues and approved reconstituting the Annex 2 Committee with the membership as indicated below and with a mandate to review its Terms of Reference and submit them to the Commission for approval.
    Membership:
  • Dennis Schornack, Robert Gourd, Lead IJC Commissioners
  • Gail Krantzberg, Chairperson (IJC)
  • Bruce Kirschner, Secretary (IJC)
  • David Ullrich, Craig Mather, Kelly Burch (Water Quality Board)
  • William Bowerman, Isobel Heathcote (Science Advisory Board)
  • Jan Miller (Council of Great Lakes Research Managers)

GLWQA Reporting Requirements

8. The Commission received a status report on the IJC/BEC review of the GLWQA reporting requirements and discussed consultation options which Dr. Krantzberg will coordinate with BEC officials.

Biennial Forum/Great Lakes Summit

9. The Commission agreed to hold the forum in Ann Arbor, Michigan on September 19-20, 2003.
 
10. The Commission was informed that the objective of the proposed Great Lakes Summit had been changed to a non-public meeting of the Commissioners of the Great Lakes Commission, the Governors of the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, and the IJC, and that it was unnecessary to consider coordination of this event with the IJC's Biennial Forum

Severn Sound AOC Delisting

11. The Commission discussed the delisting process under the GLWQA including the Commission's role, and approved the role and Commission statement regarding the event scheduled for June 22, 2002 in Severn Sound. Chair Gray will attend the event on behalf of the Commissioners.

BRIEFING ON EMERGENCY CONDITIONS IN THE RAINY WATERSHED

13. The Commission agreed to amend the executive agenda to receive an emergency briefing by teleconference on high water conditions in the Rainy/Lake of the Woods watershed from members of its Rainy Lake Board of Control and the Rainy River Water Pollution Board, including the possibility of the IJC issuing a Supplementary Order of Approval. The Commission agreed to consult further with the Board later in the day and directed staff to prepare a draft Supplementary Order to consider at that time.
 
14. Subsequently the Commission reconvened in executive session with members of the above boards briefing the Commission by teleconference following which Commissioners approved a Supplementary Order of Approval and a Press Release, thanking the Boards for their prompt and comprehensive advice on the situation.

GREAT LAKES NAVIGATION SYSTEM REVIEW

15. The Commission received a briefing on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Great Lakes Navigation System Review and approved a draft letter to the State Department including mention of the teleconference briefing on this subject given to members of PIAG of the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence Study. The Commission was informed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that dredging, which they are undertaking in the Detroit River, will only maintain previously existing and previously binationally approved depths and will not otherwise alter the channel."

IJC BROCHURE AND MAP

16. A sample envelope/sleeve for the IJC map was demonstrated and Commissioners agreed to some design changes.
 
17. Revised text for the IJC brochure was distributed to Commissioners for their review and comment.

IJC POLICIES AND PRACTICES

18. The Commission approved three policies and three practices for addition to the IJC Policy Book.
 
19. The Commission approved revised wording for the Commission's Mission Statement.

GUIDANCE FOR IJC STAFF ON PUBLISHING PAPERS AND SPEAKING AT CONFERENCES

20. The Commission considered staff comments on the draft guidance circulated to all staff, approved the revised guidance and agreed that the Secretaries and Regional Office Director should distribute it to all IJC staff.

IJC BOARDS AND TASK FORCES

21. The Commission noted the background information that had been prepared on the mandates, membership and programs of IJC Boards and Task Forces, thanked all staff for the material, and agreed to discuss issues raised by the information at the October Fall semi-annual executive meeting

IJC CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE

22. The Commission agreed that the Chairs would meet to discuss setting up a formal Committee with objectives and that, in the interim, Secretaries should develop a plan for preparing a History of the IJC as part for the centennial activities.

LIAISON WITH COMMISSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION (CEC)

23. The Commission received a briefing on arrangements to date for the meeting of the IJC with the Council of Ministers on June 19, 2002 in Ottawa and directed Secretaries to provide copies of the agenda and list of participants when it is finalized. Chairs Gray and Schornack and Commissioner Gourd are to attend.

WATER USE REFERENCE

24. The Commission discussed the approach to the three year follow-up Reference to review the recommendations in its February 2000 report on the Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes and approved a Directive to a four member Task Force with the following membership:
Canadian members: Ralph Pentland (Co-chair) and Owen Saunders (member)
U.S. members: Tom Callow (Co-chair) and Dan Tarlock (member)

IJC WEBSITE

25. Commissioners were briefed on the findings of two consultants (Westlake and H3 Creative) who reviewed the IJC website and received a demonstration on options for a new IJC site.

INTERNATIONAL LAKE ONTARIO-ST. LAWRENCE RIVER STUDY BOARD

26. The Commission received an update on the status of the study, including membership on the PIAG, and approved release of the Study Board's Year 1 Reports.
 
27. The Commission agreed to ask this Board to consider developing a pictorial presentation of high and low water experiences in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River

DUCK LAKE

28. Commissioners reviewed the request submitted by Mr. Simmons pursuant to the IJC's Duck Lake Orders of Approval and approved a draft reply to Mr. Simmons and a draft letter to the International Kootenay Lake Board of Control

IJC AMALGAMATED BOARDS' WORKSHOP

29. The Commission noted the staff summary of the Chicago workshop including general points to be considered in policy and operational guidelines for the IJC's consolidated boards. To facilitate increased interaction among these boards, the Commission agreed that their appearances at semi-annual meetings should be scheduled for the same day; that these boards make better use of their IJC web pages; and that a facilitated session for the consolidated boards be considered for the 2003 spring semi-annual meeting

COMMISSIONER SUMMER ORIENTATION TOURS

30. Commissioners reviewed plans for summer orientation visits to the Red, Rainy, St. Croix and St. Mary-Milk Basins. Commissioners agreed to ask the Kootenay and Osoyoos Control Boards to consider scheduling their public meetings and site visits immediately after the Commission's Health Professionals Task Force meeting in Vancouver September 20-21 to make more efficient use of Commissioners' time and costs.

LAKE SUPERIOR PEAKING AND PONDING

31. Commissioners received an oral status report on Peaking and Ponding activity at the hydropower facilities at Sault Ste Marie and agreed that no action was required at this time

SOURIS RIVER BASIN

32. Commissioners reviewed the status of discussions for expanding the mandate of the Souris River Board and agreed that no action was required at this time.

COMMISSION ON HUMAN HEALTH BRIEFING

33. The Commission received a briefing on human health issues, including a report of the informal meeting held at the April 2002 semi-annual meeting in Washington, D.C. with members of the Commission's Health Professionals Task Force, the International Air Quality Advisory Board and the Working Group on Ecosystem Health under the Science Advisory Board. The Commission agreed that these three groups should work towards organizing a human health workshop, possibly in the Fall, and that in the interim they should coordinate their activities.

NUCLEAR ISSUES

34. Commissioners received a briefing on various nuclear issues by Dr. Joel Fisher and agreed that Commissioners should continue to be informed on such matters.

DEVIL'S LAKE

35. The Commission was advised by Secretaries that governments had not as yet agreed on a Reference to the IJC on this matter. Commissioners noted various options for proceeding with a Reference should one be received.

RECOGNITION OF IJC BOARD MEMBERS

36. The Commission discussed possible options for increasing recognition of IJC Board members and agreed that staff should develop a Plan of Action for possible implementation at, or if possible prior to, the Fall semi-annual meeting.

OTHER BUSINESS

37. The Commission:
  1. discussed air quality issues and approved the letter to governments transmitting the Report Card developed by the International Air Quality Advisory Board;
  2. noted the report by Chair Schornack that senior U.S. officials are not supportive of expanding the current IJC role in the Detroit-Windsor Air Reference;
  3. agreed to have a half day briefing by the International Air Quality Advisory Board at their July meeting in Missoula, Montana with a preliminary discussion of the proposed joint human health workshop as discussed under item 33 above.
38. The Commission received an update on alewives in the St. Croix system and agreed that no action was required at this time.




Murray Clamen
Secretary
Canadian Section 		Gerry Galloway
Secretary
U.S. Section

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