POPLAR RIVER BILATERAL MONITORING COMMITTEE 



Department of State 

 Washington, D.C., United States 



Governor's Office, State of Montana 

 Helena, Montana, United States 



Department of External Affairs 

 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada 



Saskatchewan Environment 

 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada 



Gentlemen: 



During 1986, the Poplar River Bilateral Monitoring Committee continued to 

 fulfill the responsibilities assigned by the governments under the Poplar 

 River Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement dated September 23, 1980. Water 

 quantity, water quality, and air quality relevant to the International 

 Boundary were monitored in accordance to the 1986 Technical Monitoring 

 Schedule. The monitoring data were exchanged on a quarterly basis. Herein is 

 the report of activities of 1986 and the proposed monitoring schedule for 1987. 



The report summarizes current conditions relative to pre-project conditions 

 and compares current conditions to guidelines for specific parameter values 

 that were developed by the International Joint Commission under the 1977 

 Reference from Canada and the United States. References are made to State, 

 Provincial or Federal standards or objectives where these are relevant. After 

 examination and evaluation of the monitoring information for 1986, the 

 Committee finds that the measured conditions are within the norms of the 

 accepted objectives. 



During 1986, monitoring continued with only minor changes in site locations 

 and schedules from 1985 . Two new mining areas to the east and north of 

 Cookson Reservoir are being assessed for future development. The impact 

 statement is currently under review within the Saskatchewan Government and 

 will be available to the Committee in the summer of 1987. Upon review of the 

 report, the Committee may recommend modifications to the Technical Monitoring 

 Schedules. 



On March 12, 1987, the Cooperative Monitoring Arrangement was extended by the 

 governments for a period of four years under the provision of Article 5, Terms 

 of the Arrangement. 



Yours sincerely. 



J. (R. Knap ton ' 



Chairman, United States Section 



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^.G. W. Howard 



Chairman, Canadian Section 



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United States Section 



W. D. Gummer 



Member, Canadian Section 



