October 8, 1999
(Executive Council)

The following is being distributed at the request of the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers: 
Following are the Resolutions issued at the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Annual conference held October 3 - 5 in Rockport, Maine.

RESOLUTION 24-1

A RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE BORDER IMPROVEMENT
AND IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1998 AMENDING SECTION 110 OF
THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM AND IMMIGRANT
RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1996

WHEREAS, in April, 1997 President Clinton and Prime Minister Chr�tien signed a series of agreements based on the 1995 Shared Border Accord and Open Skies Agreement which will modernize and streamline US/Canada border crossings. These agreements build upon the tradition of cooperation to facilitate the movements of legitimate travelers; and

WHEREAS, Resolution #23-8 was adopted at The 23rd Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, June 7-9, 1998 urging that the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers work vigorously and cooperatively through their secretariats, the New England Governors Conference and the Eastern Canadian Premiers Secretariat, to encourage their respective federal legislatures and governments to remove any requirement to implement entry-exit control beyond airports, and instead to study the issue before any potentially onerous requirements are placed in law; and

WHEREAS, New England's 1998 trade with Canada exceeded $20 billion, with exports to Canada at $7.7 billion, and imports from Canada just under $13 billion; and

WHEREAS, Canada is New England's largest merchandise export market indeed, the region's exports to Canada are three times higher than those to its next largest export market (Japan) and over 85 per cent of US-Canada trade is conducted via truck; and

WHEREAS, in 1996, over 13 million vehicles crossed the New England-Canada land border. Trade constitutes a major component of this traffic, as does tourism. In addition, and particularly in the northern parts of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine, as well as southern Quebec and New Brunswick, some crossings are just representative of residents' ordinary dining, shopping, and entertainment habits; and

WHEREAS, unless it is amended or repealed, Section 110, of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, under which every vehicle would be required to stop upon exit of, and entry into, the US, document every non-US citizen, will take effect on March 31, 2001; and

WHEREAS, under Section 110, the resulting congestion at key border crossings will be so intolerable that it will choke bilateral trade and tourism, undermine US production lines dependent upon "just in time" delivery schedules, and discourage thousands of consumers from making daily trips across the border; and

WHEREAS, a nation-wide advocacy campaign has delayed Section 110's implementation until March 31, 2001;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT to maintain the close economic and trade links that the United States and Canada currently enjoy, Section 110 must be fully and finally repealed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New England Secretariat inform the President of the United States, the Speaker of the House, and members of appropriate Congressional committees of this resolution; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT this resolution be effective immediately and that the New England Secretariat report on progress taken at the next annual meeting of the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers.

Adopted at the 24th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, October 3-5, 1999.

Governor Angus S. King
Maine
Co-Chair

Premier John F. Hamm
Nova Scotia
Co-Chair

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RESOLUTION 24-2

RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND GLOBALIZATION

WHEREAS, the Governors and Premiers recognize that the global trend towards freer movement of goods, capital, and people across national borders is creating unprecedented opportunities and challenges in fostering prosperity; and

WHEREAS, the involved states and provinces are already pursuing a range of bilateral activities associated with trade and transportation; and

WHEREAS, the governors and premiers have already established Conference committees on energy and the environment to coordinate trans-boundary activities in these areas to mutual benefit; and

WHEREAS, the governors and premiers have expressed mutual interest in the creation of a Conference committee of officials to provide advice on the opportunities and challenges associated with trade and globalization; and

WHEREAS, Maine and Quebec have been organizing for four years an annual event entitled "Co-Entreprise", with the purpose of establishing alliances between business firms of both jurisdictions; and Maine and New Brunswick and Massachusetts and Nova Scotia hold similar annual events;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers establish a task force of officials to provide recommendations on the mandate and terms of reference for a Conference committee on trade and globalization; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the said task force be mandated on a priority basis with providing recommendations on the concept of broadening the Co-Entreprise initiative to include other states and provinces; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the said task force will be co-chaired by the State of Maine and the Province of New Brunswick with two representatives each from the involved states and provinces and appointed at the discretion of the governors and premiers.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the said task force will report its findings at the next meeting of governors and premiers.

Adopted at the 24th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, October 3-5, 1999.

Governor Angus S. King
Maine
Co-Chair

Premier John F. Hamm
Nova Scotia
Co-Chair

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RESOLUTION 24-3

RESOLUTION CONCERNING ACID RAIN WORK PLANS

WHEREAS, it is acknowledged that recent scientific assessments of current and projected future benefits of US/Canada emissions reduction programs in acid rain indicate that progress has occurred, but the problems are still persistent; and

WHEREAS, the Canada/United States Air Quality Agreement commits the federal governments to develop seamless monitoring efforts across the border so both countries have the ability to share and jointly analyze data; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers agree that the establishment of regional monitoring networks will enhance scientific understanding of acid rain, will serve to communicate vital information to the public, and will help support the call on the federal governments, in cooperation with states and provinces to introduce appropriate control strategies in upwind regions; and

WHEREAS, acid deposition is a major concern for Northeastern forests as forest soil fertility is marginal in many parts of the region, poor forest nutrition and health have been related to soil acidification, long-term studies report that nutrient depletion in forest soils is associated, in part, with acid deposition in several forest catchments in Northeastern America; forest products industries are key to the economies of the region; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers agree on the need to deliver education and outreach programs by raising public awareness on the continued relevance and critical nature of acid rain; its impact on the environment, the effectiveness of our respective national control programs; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers' Acid Rain Steering Committee has worked diligently on the implementation of the Acid Rain Action Plan;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers commend the fine work of the Acid Rain Steering Committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers call on the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada to continue to lead their respective federal efforts to achieve further emission reductions in acid rain; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers call on the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada to contribute as full partners in the implementation of the action plan, in cooperation with states and provinces; and

_ to encourage other appropriate federal agencies to assist in the implementation of the work plans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers adopt, in accordance with their respective financial and human resources, the proposed work plans that call for the establishment of a regional

_ data merging and exchange program

_ fine particulate monitoring network

_ surface water quality monitoring network

_ forest mapping project; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Committee on the Environment, working with the secretariats, report on the progress on the implementation of the work plans at the next annual meeting of the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers.

Adopted at the 24th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, October 3-5, 1999.

Governor Angus S. King
Maine
Co-Chair

Premier John F. Hamm
Nova Scotia
Co-Chair

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RESOLUTION 24-4

RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE MERCURY ACTION PLAN

WHEREAS, the NEG-ECP Mercury Task Force has worked diligently since June 1998 to implement the Mercury Action Plan, and has contributed significantly to the goals of the plan; and

WHEREAS, coal utility boilers are a major source of mercury emissions into the environment, and promising new technologies may exist to significantly and economically reduce the emissions of mercury from this source; and

WHEREAS, methods that reduce or eliminate the use of mercury at its source are recognized as the most effective means to virtually eliminate releases of mercury to the environment due to human activities; and

WHEREAS, mercury continues to be present in many schools in the New England and Eastern Canadian region and to be used in school science curriculums; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada have identified mercury as a persistent bio-accumulative toxin presenting a recognized health risk; and

the NEG-ECP Mercury Action Plan is an important effort to reduce the release of anthropogenic mercury into the environment; and

the NEG-ECP Mercury Action Plan received no direct federal financial assistance for program work during its first year (June 1998 - May 1999) of implementation; and

WHEREAS, the NEG-ECP Mercury Task Force has submitted a report on the status of the implementation of the Mercury Action Plan and priorities for the second year of the plan to the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers commend the work of its Mercury Task Force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers asks its Mercury Task Force to complete its investigation of new technologies to reduce mercury emissions from coal utility boilers, to promote the development of pilot projects and studies to assess the technical and economic characteristics of these new technologies, and to recommend appropriate control options; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers directs its Mercury Task Force to develop model programs, both regulatory and voluntary, to reduce or eliminate the non-essential use of mercury in products and processes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers encourages its educational and environmental agencies to develop programs, including Memorandums of Understanding between appropriate agencies, to eliminate non-essential use of mercury in schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers calls on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environment Canada, and other appropriate agencies to provide financial and resource assistance in the implementation of the Mercury Action Plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers accepts the first year report on the implementation of the Mercury Action Plan submitted by its Committee on the Environment, and adopts the Committee on the Environment's recommended priorities for the second year of the plan, and asks that its Committee on the Environment report on its activities at the next meeting of the Conference.

Adopted at the 24th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, October 3-5, 1999.

Governor Angus S. King
Maine
Co-Chair

Premier John F. Hamm
Nova Scotia
Co-Chair

_______________________________

RESOLUTION 24-5

RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE NORTHEAST
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE ON ENERGY

WHEREAS, the New England states and Eastern Canadian provinces have close historical and economic ties in the energy sector and have long cooperated on energy matters; and

WHEREAS, changes currently underway in energy markets, including electric restructuring and development of new energy sources and infrastructure, will significantly impact the region; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers recognizes the importance of working towards sustainable development and in promoting more efficient use of energy that will help improve economic performance and reduce environmental harm; and

WHEREAS, energy technologies, including renewables, efficiency, and transportation are significant and high-growth industries in New England and Eastern Canada;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conference directs its Northeast International Committee on Energy (NICE) to continue to monitor developments in the energy markets; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT NICE address issues regarding energy and the environment, energy reliability and security, and the development of new energy resources in the region; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT NICE prepare a report, for submission at the next Conference of Governors and Premiers, on key jurisdictional energy issues and programs; the status of renewables in the New England-Eastern Canadian region; and develop a regional map displaying key energy structures, projects and resources.

Adopted at the 24th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, October 3-5, 1999.

Governor Angus S. King
Maine
Co-Chair

Premier John F. Hamm
Nova Scotia
Co-Chair

___________________________

RESOLUTION 24-6

RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE LONG-RANGE
TRANSPORT OF AIR POLLUTION

WHEREAS, despite the implementation of national and local control strategies in both U.S. and Canada, public health and environmental resources in the New England States and Eastern Canadian Provinces continue to be adversely affected by air pollution; and

WHEREAS, there is overwhelming scientific evidence that the long-range transport of air pollution from sources outside of the region substantially contributes to smog, acid rain, fine particulate matter, regional haze, and mercury deposition in the New England States and the Eastern Canadian Provinces; and

WHEREAS, the recent efforts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide relief from the adverse effects of long-range transport of ozone and its precursor emissions have been stalled by litigation in the federal courts; and

WHEREAS, Eastern Canadian Provinces have been supportive of efforts on the part of the New England States to seek relief from the adverse effects of the long-range air pollution transport; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers has adopted and is implementing regional action plans to reduce mercury emissions and acid deposition in the Northeast Region; and

WHEREAS, there are a number of possible international mechanisms available to mitigate the long-range transport of air pollution into the region including amending the U.S./Canada Air Quality Agreement, adopting Memoranda of Understanding through the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, and Section 115 of the U.S. Clean Air Act;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers call upon the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada to pursue additional reduction strategies for those sources outside the region that significantly contribute to air quality problems in New England and Eastern Canada.

Adopted at the 24th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, October 3-5, 1999.

Governor Angus S. King
Maine
Co-Chair

Premier John F. Hamm
Nova Scotia
Co-Chair

Media Contacts:

Ammanda Harpelle
New Brunswick
(506) 863-3804 (cell) or (506) 453-2144 (o)

Maurice Rogerson
Prince Edward Island
(902) 478-1685

Rob Bathurson
Nova Scotia
(902) 478-1685

Heidi Bonnell
Newfoundland and Labrador
(709) 685-3674

1999 10 08                                5:05 p.m.