President Bush is expected to sign a bill that will provide protection for the Great Lakes, which contain 90% of the fresh surface water in North America.
The House voted last week 390 to 25 in favor of approving the Great Lakes Compact, a legislative agreement that has been in the works for seven years. The Senate has already approved the plan.
In December 2005, following a nearly five-year negotiation, the Governors of Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin reached
agreement on the Compact.
The Compact provides a comprehensive management
framework for achieving sustainable water use and resource protection. The eight Great
Lakes States reached a similar, good faith, agreement with Ontario and Québec in 2005,
which the Provinces are using to amend their existing water programs for greater regional
consistency.
During 2007 and 2008, each of the eight Great Lakes State legislatures ratified the
Compact.
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm said, “By approving the Great Lakes Compact
today, Congress has acted in a historic manner to ensure that the Great Lakes are
protected for future generations.”
The Compact includes the following points:
• Economic development will be fostered through sustainable use and responsible
management of Basin waters.
• In general, there will be a ban on new diversions of water from the Basin but limited
exceptions could be allowed in communities near the Basin when rigorous standards are
met.
• Communities that apply for an exception will have a clear, predictable decision making
process; standards to be met; and, opportunities to appeal decisions. These processes
and standards do not exist under current law.
• The States will use a consistent standard to review proposed uses of Basin water. The
States will have flexibility regarding their water management programs and how to
apply this standard.
• Regional goals and objectives for water conservation and efficiency will be developed,
and they will be reviewed every five years. Each State will develop and implement a
water conservation and efficiency program that may be voluntary or mandatory.
“Passage of the Great Lakes Compact is central to ensuring that harmful water diversions
are controlled and this precious ecosystem is protected for future generations,” said New
York Governor David Paterson. “The Great Lakes, constituting nearly 20% of
the world’s available fresh water and 90% of the United States’ supply of fresh
surface water, need to be protected and cherished. I applaud the Members of Congress
who supported the Great Lakes Compact and the Great Lakes states’ desire to conserve
our resources.”
In Related News…
On Sunday, the House voted in favor of approving $54 million to extend a clean-up program for contaminated sediment around the great lakes. The House originally sought $150 million over 5 years, but came down to the level previously approved by the Senate.
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