Special Meeting of the Board of Directors

Meeting was called to order by Jack Ezell representing Minnesota Co-Chair Steve Gilbert. Minutes of the Board of Directors meeting on May 27th were distributed as introduction to business to be conducted this evening.

Margaret Guerriero, EPA Region V, has asked for priorities for the St. Louis River System Remedial Action Plan (RAP) and the CAC so they can be incorporated into EPA's new strategy document. This strategy document will guide the work of EPA's Lake Superior team for the next three to five years, and will help ensure that our top priorities are in a good position for future EPA funding opportunities. This meeting will be spent deciding those priorities.

Karen Plass, CAC Executive Director, talked about the nine impaired uses in the Area of Concern (AOC) in the St. Louis River basin. Sediment quality (research and remediation) is also important and will be funded separately. There will also be monies for the CAC infrastructure ($35,000).

Cindy Hagley, Minnesota Sea Grant, has agreed to help with the prioritization, and she explained the process to be used:

• Step One: Prioritize RAP recommendations (43). Each person gets five votes. Attendees were divided into three groups and each group was given a number of recommendations to prioritize. The result of this survey was shared with all attendees.

• Step Two: Each of the three groups were to brainstorm projects which would support these recommendations and vote on those projects. The result of this survey was also shared with all attendees.

• Step Three: Vote on the recommendations. NOTE: Three additional items were added to the list of recommendations: Land acquisition, Riverwatch/Education, and Research/Education on wildlife deformities.

Karen listed projects the Executive Committee thought were important (dollar amount estimated):

• Publications:
--- CAC brochure 3K
--- Newspaper insert 3K
--- State of the St. Louis River Report 3K
--- RAP progress report 3K

• Education:
--- Watershed Guardian Project 12K
--- Public Service Announcement 3K
--- Video 8-10K
--- Web site (update and maintain) 3K
--- CAC display 3K
--- Lake Superior Center exhibit 5-10K
--- Lawn care, composting 5K (?) (Green Thumb may not be funded)

• Port Plan

• Habitat Plan

Cindy Hagley was thanked for her efforts during this meeting. Results of the prioritizing will be distributed to the board members.

Phil Monson announced that there will be two planning meetings for the October Watershed Conference -- Program Committee will meet on Friday, June 12, and the Planning Committee will meet on Monday, June 15. Both meetings will be at the EPA lab.

Nan Stokes, Secretary

Related Items:

• Handout used at June 10 meeting: St. Louis River Citizens Action Committee: Beneficial Uses, Impairments and Related Recommendations.

• Summary of prioritization at June 10 meeting: see attached prioritized lists of (a) projects and (b) recommendations.