731 



Annex 



Whereas the Governments of Canada and the United States in the 

 light of their rights and obligations under Article IV of the Boundary 

 Waters Treaty of 1909 with respect to the avoidance of transboundary 

 pollution, are concerned about the quality of water in the international 

 section of the St. John River and in its tributary rivers and streams 

 which cross the Canada-United States boundary ; 



Whereas water quality planning has been under way in the St. John 

 River Basin in both countries for more than a year, and proper co- 

 ordination of this planning is urgently required to assure achievement 

 of a unified approach to the problem ; 



It is hereby agreed that a Canada-United States Committee on 

 Water Quality in the St. John River and its Tributaries crossing the 

 International Boundary (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") 

 be established to assist the appropriate authorities in Canada and the 

 United States to co-operate in such water quality planning as may be 

 necessary to devise programs which will enhance the quality of water 

 in the St. John River. The Committee will conduct its work in a 

 manner which is consistent with the objectives and provisions of the 

 Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. 



I The purposes of the Committee shall be : 



(A) To review periodically progress in the conduct of such water 

 quality planning on both sides of the Canada-United States 

 boundary in the St. John River Basin, with a view to facilitat- 

 ing progress toward enhancement of water quality; 



(B) To exchange appropriate information about plans, programs 

 and actions which could affect water quality in the Basin; 



(C) To assist in co-ordination and consultation among appropriate 

 authorities on matters and actions affecting water quality; 



(D) To make appropriate recommendations to relevant authorities 

 on both sides of the boundary and to the International Joint 

 Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission") 

 regarding the improvement of water quality in the Basin. 



In the conduct of its work the Committee should consider in particu- 

 lar the following aspects of water quality : 



(A) The condition of water quality, and the nature, extent and 

 sources of pollution ; 



(B) The need for and means of defining and achieving agreed in- 

 ternational water quality objectives; 



(C) The identification of programs and other measures needed to 

 obtain a significant reduction in level of pollution with time- 

 tables for accomplishment, including measures related to 

 water quality and rate of flow, taking account of social and 

 economic impacts. 



It is understood that discussions within the Committee will serve 

 to enhance and not to replace existing formal and informal discussions 

 or other contacts among federal, state, provincial and local authorities. 



II The Committee shall consist of an equal number of members 

 from each country and will include appropriate officials from the Gov- 

 ernments of Canada and the United States ; the Governments of New 

 Brunswick, Quebec and Maine, and also representatives of the St. John 

 River Planning Board, and the Northern Maine Regional Planning 

 Commission. The members will represent the respective authorities 



