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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
February 10, 1999

U.S.-Canada International Joint Commission To Study
International Boundary Waters

Today the United States Government and Government of Canada asked the U.S.-Canada International Joint Commission (IJC) to undertake a significant new study of the use of waters along the two countries' common border. The IJC is asked to examine the issues of diversion, local consumption of water, and removal--including export--of border waters. The two governments are concerned that existing management principles and conservation measures may be inadequate to ensure future sustainable use of shared waters. They acknowledge that the IJC has long advised that a better understanding of these issues is needed.

The governments have asked that the Commission give first priority to an examination of the Great Lakes basin, focussing on the potential effects of bulk water removal, including removals for export, and provide interim recommendations for the protection of the waters of the Great Lakes.

The Commission is requested to report and, where appropriate, provide recommendations on:

• Local consumption of water, both existing and potential.
• Existing and potential diversions of water in and out of the transboundary basins, including withdrawals of water for export.
• The cumulative effects of diversions and removals of water, including removals in bulk for export.
• The current laws and policies as may affect the sustainability of the water resources in boundary and transboundary basins.

The International Joint Commission was established to implement the terms of the 1909 U.S.-Canada Boundary Waters Treaty. The Commission is charged with regulating the levels and flows of shared boundary waters, and also provides independent advice on transboundary air and water issues. As the President noted in a recent statement marking the 90th anniversary of the Treaty, "The Commission has come to serve as a global model for international cooperation in the realm of shared resources." The current study is in keeping with that role.

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