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Approved January 15, 2003

MINUTES
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE MEETING
Washington, DC
December 3-4, 2002

The International Joint Commission met in executive session at the U.S. Section office in Washington, DC, December 3-4, 2002 with Chair Dennis Schornack in the chair.

COMMISSIONERS
Dennis Schornack Chair, U.S. Section
Herb Gray Chair, Canadian Section
Jack Blaney Commissioner, Canadian Section
Irene Brooks Commissioner, U.S. Section
Allen Olson Commissioner, U.S. Section
NOTE: Robert Gourd Commissioner, Canadian Section unable to attend due to weather difficulties

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 & Commissioners, Canadian Section
James Chandler Legal Adviser, U.S. Section
Joel Fisher Environmental Adviser, U.S. Section
Nick Heisler Special Adviser to the Chair, Canadian Section
James Houston Environmental & Informatics Adviser, Canadian Section
Michael Kolodner Program Analyst, U.S. 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
John Nevin Policy Adviser, U.S. Section
Brad Parker Adviser, Canadian Section
Russ Trowbridge Adviser, U.S. Section
Michael Vechsler Legal Adviser, Canadian Section

GREAT LAKES REGIONAL OFFICE STAFF
Gail Krantzberg Director
Jennifer Day Public Information Officer
John Gannon Physical Scientist

DECLARATION

1. Commissioners Irene Brooks and Allen Olson made solemn declaration that they will faithfully and impartially perform the duties imposed upon them under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

2. Commissioners approved the agenda for the executive meeting, with the following additions:
  1. IJC Participation in 3 rd World Water Forum
  2. IJC Participation in Pre-World Water Forum Meetings
  3. IJC Participation in International Network of Transboundary Basins Organization (INBO)

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

3. The Commission noted the approval of the Minutes of the October 7, 2002 Executive Meeting held in Ottawa, Ontario, as approved on November 7, 2002 by polling.

2003-2004 SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS

4. The Commission noted the approved schedule of meetings for 2003, and a proposed schedule of meetings for 2004, and agreed to finalize the 2004 schedule of meetings at the February 2003 Executive meeting.

APPOINTMENTS
5. The Commision:

Council of Great Lakes Research Managers
  1. approved the re-appointments of Dr. Harvey Shear as Canadian Co-chair and Mr. Dale Henry and Dr. Patricia Chow-Fraser as members to the Canadian Section for three-year terms; and Mr. Jan Miller as a member to the U.S. Section for a three-year term;
  2. approved the appointments of Dr. Jan Ciborowski as a member to the Canadian Section for a three-year term, and Dr. Robert Andrews as a member to the Canadian Section for a two-year term.
Great Lakes Water Quality Board
  1. approved the appointments of Mr. Joel Weiner and Mr. Adel Shalaby as members to the Canadian Section for two-year terms.
Great Lakes Science Advisory Board
  1. approved the re-appointments of Dr. Scott Brown and Mr. David Stonehouse as members to the Canadian Section for three-year terms; and Mr. Jay Unwin as a member to the U.S. Section for a three-year term;
  2. approved the appointment of Dr. Judith Perlinger as a member to the U.S. Section for a one-year term, subject to renewal for the full three years in December 2003; and approved the appointment of Dr. Joan Rose as a member to the U.S. Section for a two-year term.
Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Study Board, Public Interest Advisory Group (PIAG)
  1. approved the appointment of Mr. Dan Barletta as U.S. Co-chair for a one-year term and appointed Mr. Paul Finnegan as a replacement for Mr. John Osinski of the U.S. Section for a one-year term;
  2. endorsed a review of PIAG membership by the Co-chairs of the PIAG.
International St. Croix Board
  1. noted the Commission's prior approval of the appointments of Mr. Bill Appleby as Co-chair of the Canadian Section and Mr. Don Porteous as Co-chair of the U.S. Section.

GREAT LAKES WATER QUALITY AGREEMENT ISSUES



Areas of Concern (AOC) Special Report

6. The Commission provided comments on the draft report, as follows:
  1. directed staff to provide the report to the parties for comment after the report is rewritten and incorporates staff and Commissioner comments;
  2. directed staff to submit the final draft report to the Commissioners prior to publication after the comments of the parties have been considered;
  3. reviewed the communications plans and suggested consideration of a press conference, distribution of report to press gallery, possibly a newsmakers breakfast, use of parliamentary network, and courier or express delivery of report to AOC groups;
  4. approved schedule for production with release target of February 18, 2003.

Great Lakes Regional Office Directors Report

7. The Commission:
  1. noted the Directors Report;
  2. directed staff to identify lead staff for each area of responsibility.

Binational Executive Committee (BEC)-International Joint Commission (IJC) Reporting Task Force

8. The Commission received a status report on the activity of the BEC-IJC Reporting Task Force.

Lake Erie

9.
  1. The Commission received a briefing on the Lake Erie Trophic Status from Mr. David Ullrich, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and Dr. Jan Cibowroski, University of Windsor, accompanied by Paul Horvatin, Glenn Bertrand and Glenn Morrow, U.S. EPA and by phone, Mr. John Mills, Environment Canada. Dr Cibowroski indicated that he would be willing to make a presentation at the Biennial Meeting on this subject.
  2. The Commission received a briefing on Botulism (Impacts on Birds and Fishes) on Lake Erie from Dr. John Gannon, Great Lakes Regional Office, indicating increasing mortality of fish and birds from botulism and the need for research to investigate causes. Dr. Gannon gave the presentation for Eric Obert who was prevented by weather from attending.

2003 Biennial Forum

10. The Commission:
  1. approved conduct of a RAP Workshop as proposed;
  2. approved the conduct of interactive forums on Friday, subject to specific comments by Commissioners on session topics;
  3. approved, in concept, the conduct of four proposed Friday workshops and the addition of a workshop on groundwater and directed staff to determine how to schedule these workshops;
  4. approved the change in theme to, "Restoring the Greatness";
  5. approved overall plan for Saturday Plenary, including a presentation on Lake Erie (at 1 pm), a summary of workshops (possibly by the IJC chair) and use of an outside moderator;
  6. agreed that the "Environmental Expo" be titled "Exposition" and efforts be made to involve all sectors;
  7. approved meeting publicity plan, subject to Commissioner comments on the material and directed a Biennial Meeting bumper sticker be developed and used with registration material;
  8. approved the conduct of an informal reception on Friday night at the meeting site and further investigation (sponsors, invitation list, venue) of the feasibility of a media event on Thursday evening in Detroit; Commissioners voiced concern and expressed opposition to accepting a private entity sponsor for such a reception;
  9. noted the preliminary budget for the forum and that the base funds to support the meeting will come from the budget of the Great Lakes Regional Office;
  10. noted that Chair Schornack and staff will visit the meeting site on December 10, 2002.

Mercury Workshop

11. The Commission noted that the Mercury Workshop will be held on February 26-27, 2003, in Windsor, Ontario and that the workshop will include health effects briefings.

Indicators

12. The Commission:
  1. agreed to concept of the Council of Great Lakes Research Managers sponsorship of a meeting on remote sensing and monitoring and the possible IJC sponsorship of a bi-national summit on indicators to enhance collaboration. Detailed proposals to be made at the February Executive;
  2. agreed that discussions should include indicators along the entire border (not just Great Lakes) and that the Commission for Environmental Cooperation and the Fraser Basin Council should be considered as possible participants.

Alien Invasive Species (AIS)/Asian Carp

13. The Commission noted the staff briefing papers and agreed that IJC staff should meet with Fisheries and Oceans Canada to address the absence of Canadian laws regulating importation of live fish and prepare options for Commission follow-up action.

WATERSHED BOARD REFERENCE

14. The Commission:
  1. reviewed and approved outline of proposed Transboundary Watershed Board Report;
  2. tasked staff to consider conduct of a workshop to follow-up on March 2001 watershed workshop.

WATER USES REFERENCE

15. The Commission:
  1. agreed to public distribution of the Task Force Report with a cover sheet explaining the report and requesting comment. Requests for comments would be by direct letter, list serve, and website;
  2. agreed to conduct two public meetings, sites to be determined;
  3. agreed to a Commissioner off-site meeting to discuss results of comments and hearings;
  4. approved preliminary production schedule with target release date in April 2003.

UNSAFE DAMS

16. The Commission agreed to initiate inquiries with relevant agencies to determine their assessments of the state of security/safety of the structures under the jurisdiction of the IJC with a view to updating the IJC's "Unsafe Dams?" report.

AIR QUALITY ISSUES

17. The Commission:
  1. agreed to place Detroit-Windsor-Port Huron-Sarnia Air Issues on the agenda for the meeting with governments at the April 2003 Semi-annual meeting and tasked staff to request the IJC's International Air Quality Advisory Board to review, for the Commission, the documentation on Detroit-Windsor-Port Huron-Sarnia and Sault Ste Marie Air Issues;
  2. directed staff to solicit comments on the 2002 Progress Report on the US-Canada Air Quality Agreement from key groups with interest in air issues.

ENERGY SOURCES FOR THE FUTURE

18. The Commission directed staff to arrange a one-half day briefing (tutorial) for the Commission on alternative energy options.

INTERNATIONAL RAINY LAKE BOARD OF CONTROL (IRLBC) AND THE INTERNATIONAL RAINY RIVER WATER POLLUTION BOARD (IRRWPB)

19. The Commission directed staff to provide the Commission with a staff analysis on the IRLBC Flood report and to develop alternative means of ensuring public involvement in activities of the Board to include consideration of locally based advisory board and/or addition of local members to the Board.

HEALTH SYMPOSIUM

20. The Commission agreed to conduct a Health Symposium for Commissioners on March 10-11, 2003, in Chicago, Illinois, and directed that the agenda include discussion of potential transport of pathogens in ballast water.

IJC ANNUAL REPORT

21. The Commission directed staff to prepare a short annual report to governments.

IJC WEBSITE

22. The Commission directed staff to contract with Public Works and Governments Services Canada for IJC website development and to hire a web manager to coordinate web activities with the developer and ultimately to help manage the site.

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TASK FORCE (HPTF)

23. The Commission received a staff briefing on the status of the HPTF report on fish advisories and Sumas Energy 2 Incorporated's proposed energy facility to be built in Sumas, Washington.

INTERNATIONAL KOOTENAY LAKE BOARD OF CONTROL

24. The Commission approved the proposed schedule of activities by staff.

ST. CROIX WORKSHOP

25. The Commission noted the staff report on the State of the St. Croix Ecosystem Workshop, held in Calais, Maine on November 13-14, 2002.

COMMISSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION (CEC) AND INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION (IBWC) MEETING

26. The Commission:
  1. received a staff briefing on the meeting between senior staff of the CEC, IBWC and IJC as follow up to the Commissioner-Ministerial meeting in June 2002;
  2. noted possible areas of cooperation among agencies.

DEVIL’S LAKE

27. The Commission received an oral update on the status of a possible reference to the Commission on Devil’s Lake.

NORTHWEST AREA WATER SUPPLY PROJECT (NAWS)

28. The Commission received a staff update on the NAWS project.

RED RIVER BASIN COMMISSION (RRBC)

29. The Commission:
  1. received a staff briefing on the January 15-17, 2003 RRBC meeting in Winnipeg which Commissioners Gray, Schornack, Blaney, Brooks and Olson plan to attend;
  2. noted plans for a meeting of senior staff to coordinate a possible governors/premier's meeting to discuss flood mitigation activities and agreed that staff should scope out this potential project and report at the February executive meeting.

AREA OF CONCERN (AOC) BRIEFING FOR THE ST. REGIS MOHAWKS

30. The Commission directed staff to discuss with tribal leaders the continuing need for an AOC briefing since the U.S. EPA recently met with the tribal leaders.

UPPER GREAT LAKES PLAN OF STUDY

31. The Commission received an oral staff report on the status of the study proposal.

IJC BROCHURE

32. The Commission received an oral staff report on the status of the publication of the new IJC brochure. The expected publication date is February 2003.

ICE BOOM INSTALLATIONS

33. The Commission received an oral status report on ice boom installations.

RECOGNITION OF BOARD MEMBERS

34. The Commission received an oral status report on the recognition of board members.

COMPENSATION FOR VOLUNTEER BOARD MEMBERS

35. The Commission received an oral status report on compensation for volunteer board members.

IJC CENTENNIAL

36. The Commission received an oral status report on the IJC Centennial.

GREAT LAKES-ST. LAWRENCE WATER LEVELS

37. The Commission received an oral status report on the water levels noting that all Great Lakes are below average and that Montreal Harbor has experienced record low water levels in the past two months.

PROPOSED EXPANSION OF SUMAS THERMAL POWER GENERATING PLANT

38. The Commission received an oral status report on the status of the project.

INTERNATIONAL LAKE ONTARIO-ST. LAWRENCE RIVER STUDY BOARD

39. The Commission:
  1. received a staff report on the status of the study and a briefing on the study's Shared Vision Model development by WilliamWerrick, from the Technical Working Group on Plan Formulation and Evaluation;
  2. directed staff to prepare a letter of acknowledgment in response to the Board's September 27, 2002 letter to the Commission concerning a consultant's report on the management and outcome of the study.

OTHER BUSINESS

3 rd World Water Forum and Transboundary Water Meetings

40.
  1. received a briefing from the Secretaries on recently attended and future international water meetings;
  2. agreed to Commission sponsorship of a session on Transboundary Water Management, and to Commission sponsorship of a booth at the Forum Event Area at the 3rd World Water Forum in Kyoto Japan, March 16-23, 2003;
  3. reviewed a request from the International Network of Transboundary Basin Organizations (INBO) for IJC membership and agreed to discuss this matter at the February Executive meeting.




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

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