Commission Urges Governments to Protect Great Lakes Water.

Business Editors, News & City Desks

WASHINGTON D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 15, 2000

The International Joint Commission (IJC) today released a report that provides a blueprint for protecting the waters of the world's largest freshwater ecosystem, the Great Lakes Basin, from the potential impacts of water removals and consumptive uses.

In its Final Report on Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes, the IJC recommends that Canadian and U.S. federal, provincial and state governments should not permit the removal of water from the Great Lakes Basin unless the proponent can demonstrate that the removal will not endanger the integrity of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

The proponent would also have to demonstrate that there are no practical alternatives to the removal, sound planning has been applied in the proposal, the cumulative impacts of the removal have been considered, conservation practices have been implemented, the removal results in no net loss of waters to the area from which it is taken (and, in any event, no greater than a five percent loss in the process, the current average loss within the Great Lakes Basin) and that all waters are returned in a condition that protects the quality of and prevents the introduction of alien invasive species into the waters of the Great Lakes Basin.

The report also recommends that, in order to avoid endangering the integrity of the Great Lakes Basin ecosystem, the governments should not approve any proposal for a major new or increased consumptive use of water from the Great Lakes Basin unless full consideration has been given to its potential cumulative impacts, and unless effective conservation practices are implemented, sound planning practices applied, and that all waters returned meet the objectives of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Moreover, the report recommends that governments apply a number of specific conservation measures to significantly improve efficiencies in the use of water in the Great Lakes Basin, including the setting of water prices at a level that encourages conservation.

Because there is uncertainty about the availability of Great Lakes water to meet all ecosystem needs, including human needs, over the long term, the report concludes that water should be managed with caution to protect the resource for the future. It also concludes that international trade law obligations, including the provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), do not prevent Canada and the United States from taking measures to protect their water resources and preserving the integrity of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem so long as there is no discrimination against individuals from other countries in the application of those measures.

On the basis of its findings, the IJC also recommends that federal, provincial and state governments should move quickly to remedy deficiencies in water use data; implement long-term comprehensive monitoring programs to detect threats to ecosystem integrity; conduct more extensive studies of the role of groundwater in the Great Lakes Basin; and undertake research on the individual and cumulative impacts of water withdrawals.

The report recommends that governments use and build on existing institutions to implement the IJC's recommendations and that governments should develop standards and procedures for removals and major new or increased consumptive uses. Federal, state and provincial governments should not authorize or permit any new removals, and should exercise caution with respect to major new or increased consumptive use, until these standards have been promulgated or until 24 months have passed, whichever comes first. States and provinces should also build on the Great Lakes Charter by developing a broader range of consultation procedures than currently exist.

As requested in the Reference from governments, the report proposes a plan of work to better understand the implications of water consumption, diversions and removals along the rest of the boundary beyond the Great Lakes Basin, focusing on priority issues where the IJC can contribute binational experience and resources.

The Final Report responds to the request made by the governments of Canada and the United States in their February 10, 1999 Water Uses Reference for recommendations for the protection of the Great Lakes. The IJC previously issued an Interim Report under this Reference on August 18, 1999. Since issuing its Interim Report, the IJC has obtained additional information from a variety of sources, including 12 public hearings. The IJC has also consulted government officials and experts on climate change, cumulative impacts, and international trade and water law.

For more information, including the IJC's Final Report on Protection of the Waters of the Great Lakes, visit www.ijc.org on the World Wide Web. Copies of the Final Report are also available upon request at the addresses below:

Secretary, Canadian Section Secretary, United States Section

100 Metcalfe Street, 18th Floor 1250 23rd Street NW, Suite 100

Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5M1 Washington, DC 20440

Fax [phone] Fax [phone]

Email [e-mail] [e-mail]

The International Joint Commission is a binational Canada-U.S. organization established by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. It assists the governments in managing waters along the border for the benefit of both countries in a variety of ways including examining issues referred to it by the two federal governments.

Media will have the opportunity to listen to an 11 a.m. Eastern Time conference call on Wednesday, March 15 over the Internet through Vcall at http://www.vcall.com or by visiting the International Joint Commission website at www.ijc.com.

To listen to the live call, go to the web site at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call.

Note to Editors: In the contact information below, the name "Lengelle" should appear with an accent mark over the "e" at the end of the name. It appears without the accent mark for transmission purposes.