720 



2. Consultation. Representatives of tlie United States Coast Guard 

 and Canadian Ministry of Transport together with, representatives of 

 other concerned agencies shall meet periodically in order to : 



(a) Identify problems requiring further study ; 



(b) Apportion, as between Canada and the United States, re- 

 sponsibility for various aspects of the studies ; 



(c) Provide continuing interchange of information with re- 

 spect to ongoing and proposed projects ; 



(d) Exchange results of completed projects. 



3. Additional Studies and Residts. The United States Coast Guard 

 and the Canadian Ministry of Transport shall inform the Interna- 

 tional Joint Commission of any additional subjects that are being 

 studied and of the results of all studies undertaken pursuant to this 

 Annex as they become available. 



Annex 6 



identification and disposal of polluted deedged spoil 



1. Definitions. As used in this Annex : 



(a) "Dredged spoil" means the solid materials removed from 

 the bottom of water bodies generally for the purpose of improving- 

 waterways for navigation ; these materials may include mud, silt, 

 clay, sand, rock and other solid materials that have been deposited 

 from municipal and industrial discharges and from natural 

 sources ; 



(b) "Confined area" means an area developed for the deposit 

 of dredge spoil that precludes the return of the dredge spoil to 

 open portions of the waterway; the area may be located in the 

 waterway or on other upland sites and may consist of dikes, levees,, 

 bulkheads, cells or any other type structure that will retain the 

 material ; 



(c) "Open water" means any part of the boundary waters of 

 the Great Lakes System other than a confined area ; 



(d) "Polluted dredged spoil" means dredged spoil containing 

 harmful quantities of oil, hazardous polluting substances or other 

 deleterious substances as designated by the responsible regulatory 

 agencies. 



2. Review. Pursuant to arrangements to be made b;^ the Interna- 

 tional Joint Commission in consultation with the Parties, a working 

 group shall be established to undertake a review of existing dredging 

 practices, programs, laws and regulations with the objective of devel- 

 oping compatible criteria for the characterization of polluted dredged 

 spoil and recommendations for compatible programs governing the 

 disposal of polluted dredged spoil in open water. This review shall be 

 completed within two years from the date of entry into force of the 

 Agreement. The working grou]3 shall conduct its study and formulate 

 its recommendations on the basis of the following principles : 



(a) Dredging activities should be conducted in a manner that 

 will minimize harmful environmental effects ; 



(b) All reasonable and practicable measures shall be taken to 

 ensure that dredging activities do not cause a degradation of 

 water quality and bottom sediments ; 



