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Approved April 4, 2003

MINUTES
INTERNATIONAL JOINT COMMISSION
EXECUTIVE MEETING
Ottawa, Ontario
February 11-12, 2003

The International Joint Commission met in executive session at the Canadian Section office in Ottawa, Ontario, February 11 and 12, 2003 with Chair Herb Gray in the chair.

COMMISSIONERS
Herb Gray Chair, Canadian Section
Dennis Schornack Chair, U.S. Section
Robert Gourd Commissioner, Canadian Section
Jack Blaney Commissioner, Canadian Section
Irene Brooks Commissioner, U.S. Section
Allen Olson Commissioner, U.S. Section

HEADQUARTERS’ STAFF
Murray Clamen Secretary, Canadian Section
Gerald Galloway Secretary, U.S. 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 Advisor, 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
Ann MacKenzie Economics Adviser, Canadian Section
Tom McAuley Engineering Adviser, Canadian Section
John Nevin Policy Adviser, U.S. 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 (by telephone)

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

1. Commissioners approved the modified agenda noting those items that had already been dealt with on the February 3, 2003 conference call and added the following items under Other Business:
  1. CEC - IAQAB Publication on mercury
  2. Center for Environmental Health
  3. Wingspread Emerging Issues Workshop oral report
  4. Update on Lake Erie-Niagara River ice boom
  5. Minutes of February 3, 2003 conference call

BIENNIAL MEETING

Schedule

2. The Commission reviewed the schedule for each day:

Thursday, Sept 18
  1. agreed that staff should arrange transportation from Ann Arbor to the reception
  2. agreed to invite MPs, Congressmen and senior community leaders
  3. agreed that Chair Schornack would investigate ENGO meetings to discuss Alien Invasive Species and possible locations

Friday, Sept 19
  1. approved a conference call (end of February or early March) to discuss and approve allocation of times and contents for each workshop
  2. directed staff to investigate a brief opening ceremony in one of the rooms scheduled for workshops
  3. approved a registration fee of $50 (US)_for the Thursday and Friday events, to help offset costs, and agreed that this fee would permit entry into the reception, provide a CD of all presentations and guaranteed seating in the workshops
  4. agreed that there would be no fee for the Saturday session and that staff should investigate waiving this fee for students under special circumstances
  5. agreed that the Great Lakes Commission should be asked to administer this fee and that staff should investigate the use of sponsorships.

Saturday, Sept 20
  1. agreed that the opening remarks would be given by Commissioners
  2. agreed that staff should propose a list of potential speakers
  3. agreed to have the keynote speech at a 'bring your own lunch' session (attendees would be able to purchase sandwiches and take them to session) and that staff should seek sponsorship for such a lunch.
  4. agreed to have the Lake Erie presentation in the morning session together with moderated discussion of restoration strategies.
  5. agreed to title the afternoon session a 'Town Hall Meeting.'

Scientist of the Biennium Award

3. Commissioners approved the proposed criteria and selection process with the Selection Committee membership consisting of the Co-chairs of the Science Advisory Board (Committee Co-chairs), Water Quality Board, Council of Great Lakes Research Managers, International Air Quality Advisory Board and Health Professionals Task Force.

WATER USES REFERENCE

4. Commissioners noted that they had approved extending the comment period to March 3, 2003 and agreed to have staff summarize public comments and issues for discussion at the April semi-annual meeting.
 
5. Commissioners approved a briefing/meeting in late April with state/provincial/federal representatives followed by a Commission "retreat-type" meeting to discuss in detail the Commission's report to governments. Commissioners agreed to pay expenses of one governmental representatives, if required.

WATERSHED BOARD REFERENCE

6. Commissioners received a briefing from staff on the history of watershed board development and directed staff to prepare an options paper outlining approaches to proceeding with watershed boards, with attention to the Red River and St. Croix Watersheds.

AIR ISSUES

Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement: 2002 Progress Report

7. The Commission noted ongoing action to receive comments on the Agreement Progress Report and agreed that staff should prepare a synthesis of the comments for the April semi-annual meeting.

Proposed SUMAS 2 Power Generation Facility

8. Commissioners agreed, given that Environment Canada had already been advised by the Commission about this matter, to send copies of the report from the Health Professionals Task Force (HPTF) and the International Air Quality Advisory Board (IAQAB) to the Governor of Washington and the Premier of British Columbia, for their information, with copies to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and State Department.
 
9. Commissioners agreed to post the report on the HPTF website and to ask staff to advise Commissioners concerning release of the boards' letter accompanying the report.

Detroit-Windsor/Port Huron-Sarnia Air Quality and Sault Ste-Marie

10. Commissioners agreed they will consider the report of IAQAB for the meeting with governments at the Semi-annual meeting.

CEC-IAQAB PUBLICATION OF RESULTS OF JOINT WORKSHOP

11. Commissioners noted the request from the IAQAB to publish the results of the December 2001 Workshop held jointly with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) and agreed they would review the draft report and respond to the request before the April semi-annual meeting and also that staff should provide a proposed IJC endorsement or disclaimer.

INTERNATIONAL RAINY LAKE BOARD OF CONTROL AND THE INTERNATIONAL RAINY RIVER WATER POLLUTION BOARD

12. The Commission noted the February 7, 2003 letter from the Boards concerning Board membership and agreed that staff should update their briefing note to take this latest communication into account and that Commissioners would discuss further on a conference call before the semi-annual meeting.

IJC ANNUAL REPORT

13. The Commission discussed the draft report and agreed on the short booklet-style report, that there should be more emphasis on non-Great Lakes issues, an introductory letter from Commissioners and that it should be transmitted to DFAIT and State Department.

3 RD WORLD WATER FORUM (KYOTO, JAPAN)

14. Commissioners received a briefing on Third World Water Forum activities and agreed that staff should examine possible IJC participation in the Ministerial session.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

15. The Commission approved Chair Gray's nomination as transitional vice president of the International Network of Transboundary Organizations (INBO) and IJC participation, subject to informal consultation with governments.
 
16. The Commission noted Chair Gray's acceptance of the invitation for him to speak on March 3 at the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. The Commission agreed that staff should report at the April semi-annual meeting on possible IJC participation in the United Nations International Year of Freshwater and on possible IJC participation in the World Water Council.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER STATUS ASSESSMENT

17. The Commission deferred action until the March 4 conference call.

OTHER BUSINESS

Center for Environmental Health

18. Commissioners agreed to discuss the proposed Center for Environmental Health in Windsor at a later date.

Wingspread Workshop on Emerging Issues

19. Commissioners received a report from Commissioners Olson and Brooks on the Wingspread Workshop on Emerging Issues and agreed that the meeting co-chairs Drs. Swackhammer and Johnson and the Science Advisory Board Secretary Peter Boyer had done excellent work in arranging the workshop.

Lake Erie-Niagara River Ice Boom

20. Commissioners received an update on the recent breakage in the Lake Erie-Niagara River ice boom noting that there had been no damage and the repairs would be done whenever possible.

Minutes

21. The Commission approved the minutes of the Conference Call of February 3, 2003.

IJC Emblem

22. Commissioners noted for the record that they had approved the design for an IJC emblem.

AREAS OF CONCERN (AOC) REPORT

23. The Commission reviewed in detail the draft report, together with comments from EPA and Environment Canada, and
  1. approved changes to the text of the report
  2. agreed that staff should request the WQB to report on the level of treatment of municipal water treatment plants within AOCs
  3. approved the design of the report cover
  4. agreed to the following schedule:
    • Revise executive summary: Feb 13
    • Review by Commissioners: Feb 14 - 17
    • Revise report: Feb 18
    • Review by Co-chairs: Feb 18 - 21
    • Final revisions and copy edit: Feb 21
    • Release: 2/3 April




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

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