[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 7 (Friday, January 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 1506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-502]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4247]


International Joint Commission To Hold Hearings on Water Uses in 
the Great Lakes Basin

    The International Joint Commission (IJC) will hold a series of 
public hearings to obtain comment from the public on action taken by 
governments on the issue of water uses in the Great Lakes basin before 
reporting to the Governments of Canada and the United States. The 
hearings are scheduled to take place at the following dates and 
locations:

Toronto, January 20, 2003, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, 
Ontario, Council Chamber, 7 p.m.
Chicago, January 21, 2003, Drake Hotel, 140 East Walton Place, Chicago, 
Illinois, Michigan Room, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Montreal, February 3, 2003, Queen Elizabeth Hotel, 900 Rene-Levesque 
blvd., Montreal, Quebec, Room St. Maurice, 7 p.m.

    The IJC published a comprehensive report entitled Protection of the 
Waters of the Great Lakes in 2000. In that report the IJC recommended 
that it review the issue after three years to provide an update on how 
matters had changed over that period of time. In late 2000 the 
governments subsequently agreed.
    In June of last year, the Commission appointed the International 
Water Uses Review Task Force to assist it in carrying out the three-
year review. The Task Force reviewed the many technical, policy and 
legal developments that have taken place in the basin and reviewed 
actions taken by federal, state and provincial authorities to address 
the issues raised in the Commission's 2000 report.
    The Task Force has now completed its work and submitted its report 
to the Commission. That report is available on the Commission's Web 
site: http://www.ijc.org. Hard copies of the report are also available 
from either one of the Commission's offices listed below. The report of 
the Task Force represents the views and analysis of the Task Force and 
not necessarily the views of the Commission. The Commission will 
prepare its report to governments based on its own analysis, the report 
of the Task Force, and comments received concerning the Task Force 
report and other related matters.
    In addition to the public hearings listed above, the IJC invites 
all interested parties to submit written comment on this investigation 
to: Secretary, U.S. Section, 1250 23rd Street NW., Suite 100, 
Washington, DC 20440, Fax: 202.736.9015, [email protected].
    Due to the security clearing of mail, communications with the IJC's 
Washington office should be by fax or email to ensure timely receipt. 
It would be most helpful if written comments were received by February 
10, 2003.
    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.

    Dated: January 6, 2003.
Gerald Galloway,
Secretary, United States Section, International Joint Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-502 Filed 1-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-14-P