82 FR 38755 - International Joint Commission: Invites Public Comment on Review of Emergency Levels for Rainy and Namakan Lakes

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 156 (August 15, 2017)

The International Joint Commission (IJC) announced today that it is inviting public comment on Emergency Levels for Rainy and Namakan Lakes (also known as Rule Curves). Comments will be accepted at public hearings and by mail, email and on-line until September 1, 2017. Following receipt of the International Rainy and Namakan Lakes Rule Curves Study Board's final report in late June, the International Joint Commission will be holding public hearings in the basin on its own report. Draft Changes to the Rainy and Namakan Lakes Rule Curves for Public Comment. The Commission is considering proposed changes to its Orders of Approval for the emergency regulation of Rainy and Namakan Lakes that have been recommended by the Study.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38755-38756]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17200]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public notice: 10083]


International Joint Commission: Invites Public Comment on Review 
of Emergency Levels for Rainy and Namakan Lakes

AGENCY:  Department of State.

ACTION:  International Joint Commission: Invites Public Comment on 
Review of Emergency Levels for Rainy and Namakan Lakes.

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SUMMARY: The International Joint Commission (IJC) announced today that 
it is inviting public comment on Emergency Levels for Rainy and Namakan 
Lakes (also known as Rule Curves). Comments will be accepted at public 
hearings and by mail, email and on-line until September 1, 2017. 
Following receipt of the International Rainy and Namakan Lakes Rule 
Curves Study Board's final report in late June, the International Joint 
Commission will be holding public hearings in the basin on its own 
report. Draft Changes to the Rainy and Namakan Lakes Rule Curves for 
Public Comment. The Commission is considering proposed changes to its 
Orders of Approval for the emergency regulation of Rainy and Namakan 
Lakes that have been recommended by the Study.

DATES: Commissioners will be present to hear comments at four public 
hearings throughout the basin from August 16 to 18, 2017. A public 
comment period on the Commission's report will also be open from July 
24 to September 1, 2017.

ADDRESSES: The public hearings will be held at the following locations:

Wednesday, Fort Frances, Ontario
    August 16: Fort Frances Library--Shaw Hub Room, 601 Reid Avenue, 
Fort Frances, ON P9A 0A2, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Thursday, Kabetogama, Minnesota
    August 17: Kabetogama Lake Community Centre, 9707 Gamma Road, 
Kabetogama, MN 56669, 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Thursday, International Falls, Minnesota
    August 17: Backus Community Centre--Conference Room 101/102, 900 
5th Street, International Falls, MN 56649, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Friday, Rainy River, Ontario
    August 18: Rainy River Recreation Centre, 302 Broadway Avenue, 
Rainy River, ON P0W 1L0, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sarah Lobrichon (Ottawa), 613-992-5368, [email protected]
Frank Bevacqua (Washington), 202-736-9024, [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission's proposal relating to the 
Emergency Regulation of Levels on Rainy and Namakan Lakes are centered 
on five general themes:
    Changes to existing Rule Curves: Alternative C for the rule curves 
for Rainy and Namakan lakes, which includes a rule curve for high flood 
risk years for Rainy Lake, should be adopted.
    An expanded role for the Water Levels Committee (WLC) of the 
International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB): The WLC 
should be empowered to target specific levels outside of the middle 
portion of the rule curve for each lake. New operational guidelines are 
needed for the WLC, and further guidance, in the form of a refined 
directive for the IRLWWB and the WLC, is needed.
    Adaptive Management: The Commission will work with the

[[Page 38756]]

IRLWWB to determine how best to implement an adaptive management 
strategy in the medium and long term planning and activities of both 
the IRLWWB and the Commission in the basin.
    Stakeholder Concerns: The views of stakeholders, as heard through 
the Commission and Study Board engagement and hearings, will be 
communicated to governments.
    Engagement with Indigenous Communities: The Commission endorses the 
Study Board's recommendations regarding improving engagement and 
collaboration with Tribes, First Nations, and M[eacute]tis communities.
    Public input is essential to the Commission's rendering of a final 
decision to proceed with the proposed changes to the management of 
emergency levels and flows of the Rainy and Namakan Lakes, and to the 
Commission's perspective on changes to the operations and guidance 
provided to the Water Levels Committee, engagement with Tribes, First 
Nations, and M[eacute]tis, and adaptive management.
    The International Joint Commission was established under the 
Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to help the United States and Canada 
prevent and resolve disputes over the use of the waters the two 
countries share. Its responsibilities include investigating and 
reporting on issues of concern when asked by the governments of the two 
countries.
    Under the Rainy Lake Convention, the IJC determines when emergency 
conditions exist in the Rainy Lake watershed, by reason of high or low 
water, and adopts measures of control with respect to the dams at 
Kettle Falls and International Falls-Fort Frances. For more 
information, visit the Commission's Web site at http://www.ijc.org.

 Charles A. Lawson,
Secretary, U.S. Section, International Joint Commission, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2017-17200 Filed 8-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-14-P