PUBLIC NOTICE

For release: September 4, 2001

IJC Invites Comment on a Proposed Directive for a Combined Rainy Board

The International Joint Commission (IJC) is seeking public comment on a draft directive for a new board which will combine its existing International Rainy Lake Board of Control and International Rainy River Water Pollution Board.

The 1938 Rainy Lake Convention between the governments of the United States and Canada gave the IJC the authority to determine when emergency high or low water conditions exist in the Rainy Lake watershed and to regulate flows through the dams at Kettle Falls and International Falls-Fort Frances in order to avoid emergency conditions. The International Rainy Lake Board of Control was established in 1941 to help the IJC carry out its duties under the Convention

The International Rainy River Water Pollution Board was established by the IJC in 1966 to monitor water quality in the Rainy River, including compliance with water quality objectives approved by the governments.

Over the past several years, the IJC has been moving toward a more integrated approach in basins where it has both water quantity and water quality responsibilities by combining its boards and asking them to adopt an ecosystemic approach to their responsibilities. In the Rainy basin, the IJC has worked closely with its two boards to bring their current responsibilities under the umbrella of one board.

The IJC has prepared a draft directive for the proposed new International Rainy Board and is inviting public comment. The draft directive can be seen by visiting the IJC’s web site at www.ijc.org . Written comments on the directive, or requests for copies, may be sent by October 5, 2001 to the addresses below:

Secretary, Canadian Section 234 Laurier Avenue West 22 nd floor Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6K6 Fax 613.993.5583 Commission@ottawa.ijc.org

Secretary, United States Section 1250 23 rd Street NW Suite 100 Washington, DC 20440 Fax 202.736.9015 Commission@washington.ijc.org

The International Joint Commission was created under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to help prevent and resolve disputes over the use of waters along the Canada-United States boundary.

Contacts:

Frank Bevacqua	Washington, D.C.	(202) 736-9024
Fabien Lengellé	Ottawa, Ontario	(613) 995-0088