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Review of the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Order of Approval

The International Joint Commission is considering the future of water levels and flows regulation for the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system. It released a proposed new Order of Approval and regulation plan for public comment on March 28, 2008. The IJC is now considering views submitted during the public comment period, which ended on July 11, 2008, as it deliberates the future regulation of the system.

International Upper Great Lakes Study

The International Joint Commission appointed the International Upper Great Lakes Study Board in February 2007 to examine whether the regulation of Lake Superior outflows can be improved to address the evolving needs of the upper Great Lakes.

Thirteenth Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality

The IJC recommends that the governments of Canada and the United States create and apply an "uncommonly strong" Accountability Framework for Great Lakes restoration and protection under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (view report in PDF).

IJC recommends a new Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement for the 21st century

In a special report released in 2006 (view report in PDF), the IJC recommended that the two federal governments replace the current Agreement with a more action-oriented document. (More)

MISSION STATEMENT

The International Joint Commission prevents and resolves disputes between the United States of America and Canada under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and pursues the common good of both countries as an independent and objective advisor to the two governments.

In particular, the Commission rules upon applications for approval of projects affecting boundary or transboundary waters and may regulate the operation of these projects; it assists the two countries in the protection of the transboundary environment, including the implementation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the improvement of transboundary air quality; and it alerts the governments to emerging issues along the boundary that may give rise to bilateral disputes.

International Joint Commission 2007 Annual Report

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