MEDIA RELEASE

For Release: January 26, 1998

Contact

Frank Bevacqua Fabien Lengellé

Washington, D.C. Ottawa, Ontario

(202) 736-9024 (613) 995-2984

International Joint Commission to Hold Public Meetings on Flooding in the Red River Basin

The International Joint Commission (IJC) will hold five public meetings to consult with residents of the Red River basin about its ongoing investigation of ways to reduce and prevent harm from future flooding in the basin.

In a December 1997 interim report to the governments of Canada and the United States, the IJC made 40 recommendations for short-term measures to ensure better preparedness for potential flooding in the next two years. The recommendations were developed by the International Red River Basin Task Force appointed by the IJC to assist with the investigation.

The public meetings will allow interested groups and individuals to provide the IJC and its Task Force with comments on the 40 recommendations and a draft plan of study for the Task Force's remaining work. These materials are contained in the IJC's interim report and the interim report of the Task Force entitled Red River Flooding: Short-Term Measures.

The public meetings will be held at the following times and locations. All interested persons are invited to participate.

February 9, 1998 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.	Moorhead City Hall, Council Chambers, First Floor 500 Center Avenue-Moorhead Center Mall
February 10, 1998 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.	Grand Forks Civic Auditorium 615 First Avenue North
February 11, 1998 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.	Crowne Plaza Winnipeg Downtown, Commonwealth Ballroom 350 St. Mary Avenue
February 12, 1998 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.	Pembina State Museum 375 Highway 59
February 12, 1998 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.	Ste. Agathe Community Hall 183 chemin Pembina Trail

Written comments on the recommendations and plan of study are also encouraged and will be most useful if received by February 27, 1998. Comments may be sent to either of the following addresses:

IJC Canadian Section 100 Metcalfe Street, 18th Floor Ottawa, ON K1P 5M1 fax: (613) 993-5583 email: http://www.ijc.org/fr/contacts/contacts.htm

IJC U.S. Section 1250 23rd Street, NW, Suite 100 Washington, DC 20440 fax: (202) 736-9015 email: bevacquaf@washington.ijc.org

The IJC is a binational Canada-United States organization established by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. It assists the governments in managing waters shared by the two countries for the benefit of both. The complete text of the two interim reports is available at public libraries, on the IJC's website at www.ijc.org, or from the Commission's offices.