[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 52067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22150]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4464]


International Joint Commission: Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909; 
Notice of Public Hearing and Invitation for Written Comment on Order of 
Approval for Duck Lake

    In February 2003, the International Joint Commission (IJC) 
announced that it would review its Order of Approval governing the 
dykes surrounding Duck Lake, and operations inside Duck Lake, located 
on the Kootenay River in British Columbia. The IJC will hold a public 
hearing in Creston, British Columbia, on September 11, 2003, and 
invites written comment, to be received by October 15, 2003, before it 
makes any decisions about its Order for Duck Lake.
    The IJC approved the construction of dykes encompassing Duck Lake 
in 1950 and within Duck Lake in 1970. It charged the International 
Kootenay Lake Board of Control with overseeing the Orders on behalf of 
the IJC. The dykes encompassing Duck Lake have the potential to 
increase water levels on the Kootenay River in the United States for 
certain rare floods, by about 4 or 5 inches (10-13 centimeters) at the 
international boundary and about half that amount at Bonners Ferry. The 
likelihood of such rare floods has been reduced by Duncan and Libby 
Dams. The Creston Valley Wildlife Management Authority operates gates 
and pumps that affect water levels within Duck Lake in accordance with 
the IJC's 1950 Order of Approval, as amended in 1956 and 1970.
    Public concern has been raised over the effects of water levels 
management on bass, and a request has been made to transfer the 
management of Duck Lake water levels to local authorities. Given the 
public concerns, the 30-year period since the Order was last 
considered, and the reduced potential for transboundary effects, the 
Commission decided to review the Order of Approval for Duck Lake 
without prejudice to the end result.
    More information, including an information paper about Duck Lake is 
available at http://www.ijc.org.
    The International Joint Commission is an international organization 
established by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to prevent and 
resolve disputes over the use of waters shared by the United States and 
Canada. Its responsibilities include approving certain projects in one 
country that would increase the natural water levels in the other 
country, such as the dykes encompassing Duck Lake along the Kootenay 
River. If it approves the project, the IJC's Orders of Approval may 
specify certain conditions to protect the interests in both countries.
    The public hearing will be held at the following time and place: 
Thursday, September 11, 2003, 7:30 p.m., Creston Valley Seniors 
Association Hall, 810 Canyon Street, Creston, British Columbia.
    In addition to the public hearing, the International Joint 
Commission invites written comment on its Duck Lake Order of Approval. 
Written comments may be sent to one of the addresses below for receipt 
by October 15, 2003.

James Chandler, Acting Secretary, U.S. Section, International Joint 
Commission, 1250 23rd Street NW., Suite 100, Washington, DC 20037, Fax 
(202) 467-0746, E-mail commission @washington.ijc.org.
Murray Clamen, Secretary, Canadian Section, International Joint 
Commission, 234 Laurier Avenue West, 22nd Floor, Ottawa, ON K1P 6K6, 
Fax (613) 993-5583, E-mail commission @ottawa.ijc.org.

    Dated: August 25, 2003.
James G. Chandler,
Acting Secretary, United States Section.
[FR Doc. 03-22150 Filed 8-28-03; 8:45 am]
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