[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 919-920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-170]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 2954]


International Joint Commission; Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909

    An invitation for public comment on two proposed projects in the 
Niagara River.
    The International Joint Commission (IJC) has been asked by the 
Governments of Canada and the United States to address two projects in 
the Niagara River pursuant to the terms of the Boundary Waters Treaty 
of 1909.

[[Page 920]]

Peace Bridge Capacity Expansion Project

    On December 9, 1998, the IJC received an application by the Buffalo 
and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority to approve the Peace Bridge 
Capacity Expansion Project. The proposed project consists of a multi-
span, multiple steel arch bridge over the Niagara River and Black Rock 
Canal between Fort Erie, Ontario and Buffalo, New York. The project 
will be constructed parallel to the existing Peace Bridge, which will 
remain in use after the project is completed.
    Under the Boundary Waters Treaty, the IJC approves any uses, 
obstructions and diversions of boundary waters that would affect the 
natural level or flow across the boundary, unless the two federal 
governments give approval by a special agreement. The IJC will evaluate 
potential effects on water levels and flows, and other potential 
transboundary effects, of the proposed bridge construction. The 
original Peace Bridge was approved by the IJC in 1925.

Ontario Hydro Water Diversion Facilities Project

    On December 21, 1998, the IJC received a reference from the 
Governments of the United States and Canada to investigate and report 
on the effects of a proposed Ontario Hydro project on the remedial 
works associated with its water diversion facilities in the Niagara 
River and on other transboundary effects, including environmental 
effects, as the IJC considers necessary or helpful.
    The proposed project by Ontario Hydro would require modification of 
remedial works in the Niagara River that were previously recommended 
and approved by the IJC. Under the reference, the IJC will be 
investigating the effects of the proposed project on the remedial works 
and will be recommending any changes in the design plans or operating 
conditions needed to achieve objectives recommended by the IJC in 1953. 
The objectives included ensuring that there is an unbroken crest line 
over Horseshoe Falls and no effect on the level of Lake Erie.

Public Hearings

    The IJC has scheduled public hearings at the following times and 
locations to receive comment from any interested citizens or 
organizations in Canada or the United States:

Canada

7:00-10:00 p.m., January 27, 1999, Marriott Hotel of Niagara Falls, 
6740 Oakes Drive, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3W6, 905.871.2546

United States

7:00-10:00 p.m., January 28, 1999, Buffalo-Niagara Marriott, 1340 
Millersport Highway, Amherst, NY 14221, Ballrooms 1, 2 and 3, 
716.689.6900

    Topics will be addressed in the following order at the public 
hearings:
    (1) Comment on the proposed Peace Bridge Capacity Expansion 
Project;
    (2) Comment on the proposed redevelopment and expansion of Ontario 
Hydro's water diversion facilities in the Niagara River;
    (3) Comment on the effects of the two projects combined.
    The IJC has asked its International Niagara Board of Control to 
review and advise the IJC on certain issues with respect to the Peace 
Bridge application and the Ontario Hydro project reference. The IJC has 
asked the board to provide a status report on January 22, 1999 on 
potential issues and to make a presentation at the public hearings. The 
IJC's request to the board will be available and the board's status 
report will also be available, when it is received, on the IJC's 
website at: www.ijc.org.

Document Availability

    Descriptions of the proposed projects, along with the application 
and reference, will be available for inspection at the following 
locations:
    IJC website: www.ijc.org
Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority*, The Peace Bridge--Peace 
Bridge Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14213, 716.884.6744 (United States), 905. 
871.1608 (Canada), *Peace Bridge information only
Ontario Hydro Public Reference Centre**, 700 University Avenue, 
Mezzanine Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 1X6, 416.592.5111, **Ontario Hydro 
information only,
Business, Science and Technology Dept., Buffalo and Erie County Public 
Library, Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203, 716.858.7181
Reference Desk, Niagara Falls Public Library, 1425 Main Street, Niagara 
Falls, NY 14305, 716.286.4881
Fort Erie Public Library, 136 Gilmore Road, Fort Erie, Ontario L2A 2M1

Written Comment

    All interested persons and organizations are encouraged to submit 
comments in writing. Depending on the number of people wishing to 
speak, speakers may only have the opportunity to summarize their 
comments at the public hearing. Written comments may be submitted to 
the IJC's secretaries at the public hearing, or at the following 
addresses to be received by February 4, 1999:

Secretary, United States Section, 1250 23rd Street NW, Suite 100, 
Washington, DC 20440, Fax 202.736.9015, Email 
C[email protected]
Secretary, Canadian Section, 100 Metcalfe Street, 18th Floor, Ottawa, 
Ontario K1P 5M1, Fax 613.993.5583, Email C[email protected]

The International Joint Commission

    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 United States-Canada boundary. Its responsibilities 
include approving certain projects that would alter water levels on the 
other side of the boundary and providing independent advice on matters 
of mutual concern on request from the Governments of the Canada and 
United States. For more information, please consult the Commission's 
Web site at www.ijc.org, or contact Frank Bevacqua at 202.736.9024.

    Dated: December 23, 1998.
Gerald E. Galloway,
Secretary, United States Section.
[FR Doc. 99-170 Filed 1-5-99; 8:45 am]
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