Great Lakes Water Quality Board
Summary of Discussion for 164th Meeting
The Inn at St. John's, Plymouth, MI
November 15–16, 2005
| U.S. Members Present | |
| Gary Gulezian (Interim Co-Chair) | U.S. EPA, Chicago, IL |
| Lori Boughton | Pennsylvania, DEP, Meadville, PA |
| Jack Bricker (for Bruce Knight) | USDA-NRCS, Washington, DC |
| Ken DeBeausseart | Michigan DEQ, Lansing, MI |
| George Elmaraghy (for C. Korleski) | Ohio EPA, Columbus, OH |
| Carri Lohse-Hanson* | Minnesota PCA, St. Paul, MN |
| David Ullrich | Great Lakes Cities Initiative, Chicago, IL |
| Marcia Willhite* | Illinois EPA, Springfield, IL |
| Canadian Members Present | |
| Michael Goffin (Interim Co-Chair) | Environment Canada, Downsview, ON |
| Alec Denys | Ontario MNR, Peterborough, ON |
| Ashij Kumar* | Environment Canada, Toronto, ON |
| Craig Mather | Aurora, Ontario |
| Jean Painchaud* | Quebec Min. of Environment, Quebec City, QC |
| Henri Selles (for Jim Smith)* | Ontario Min. of Environment, Toronto, ON |
| Adel Shalaby | Health Canada, Scarborough, ON |
| Observers Present | |
| Kai Chen | IJC Windsor, ON |
| Jim Chandler | IJC Washington, DC |
| Joel Weiner | IJC Ottawa, ON |
| Secretary | |
| John Gannon | International Joint Commission, Windsor, ON |
* participated via teleconference
3.0 Open Discussion on the Future of the WQB Operations and effectiveness in the Context of the Agreement Review
It was proposed that the WQB should build accountability, promote organizing the implementation of the Agreement and timely report the progress made across the basin, and improve the integrations and interrelationships between IJC and the parties. It was pointed out that the WQB should promote partnerships of the Great Lakes programs at a basin-wide level, and the parties should also pay an attention to the role of the WQB.
WQB should integrate its function and accountability for the review of the Agreement. It should include an ecosystem approach, cover the St. Lawrence River basin, encourage the local authority involvement, and promote partnerships of local governments and NGOs. We should promptly identify the emerging issues under the Agreement. WQB should focus on 1-2 key issues to advise IJC, e.g., the effect of urbanization on the Great Lakes basin ecosystem. Craig proposed
Action Item: Develop a 5-6 pages of considerations and directions for the WQB.
7.0 Review of minutes and action items of WQB 163rd minutes
John briefly reported the minutes of the WQB 163rd meeting in Kingston and its action items. He also introduced the upcoming recent document review progresses and reports to support the upcoming review of the Agreement. The minutes were approved as presented.
Action Item: Develop the document review reports together for WQB review in next meeting's agenda.
8.0 2003-2005 Priorities Report
John briefly introduced the WQB report on the progress of the 2003-2005 binational priorities. It will also be translated into a French version and put on the IJC's web site for public information and consultation. There were 7 priorities below during 2003-2005:
- advice on review of the Agreement,
- urbanization,
- human health,
- Annex 2 of the Agreement,
- atmospheric transport of mercury,
- Great Lakes research strategy, and
- aquatic invasive species.
Action Item: Develop a two-page summary for each member of the WQB to review.
