Great Lakes Compact heads to Capitol Hill for OK

Mike Miller  —  7/09/2008 10:50 pm

The Great Lakes Compact is now on its way to Congress for final approval and the head of one of the state's largest environmental advocacy organizations is looking forward to quick approval.

"We hope that Congress will move swiftly to implement this historic agreement," said Melissa Malott, water program director for Clean Wisconsin.

Earlier in the day Michigan became the eighth and final state to adopt the compact when it was signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

The compact now goes to Congress for ratification.

"Today is a historic day for the Great Lakes and for the millions of people who enjoy the beauty, recreation and industry they provide," Malott said. "The Great Lakes states should be proud of a strong agreement that will help preserve one of the nation's most treasured resources."

With Granholm's signature, eight states and two Canadian provinces have now agreed not to divert water outside the Great Lakes region. Congress asked the states to develop a policy to protect the Great Lakes in 2000 after it was discovered that Ontario had granted a permit to a company to sell Great Lakes water by the tanker to Asia. That plan was quickly halted after staunch opposition, and the idea of a compact was pushed.

With Ontario and Quebec already signed onto the idea, the compact can now be put into effect with approval from Congress and the White House.

The compact would prohibit, with some exceptions, the diversion from Great Lakes water outside the vast Great Lakes Basin, which stretches from the St. Lawrence River in the east to the edge of Lake Superior in Minnesota.

The basin covers 900 miles from east to west, and 700 miles from north to south.

Suburbs west of Milwaukee, most notably in Waukesha County which is outside the basin, fought to be allowed to divert water from Lake Michigan for their use.

Gov. Jim Doyle called a special legislative session to deal with the matter and signed the compact allowing for some diversions in May. Communities that do pipe the water in have strict water conversation methods in place and must return wastewater to the lakes in equal or better condition than the water they withdrew.

The Wisconsin law approving the compact also contains language designed to protect the waters even if Congress does not act. Fearing that some House and Senate members from dry states in the South may try to sabotage the compact, the language was included.

Both presumptive presidential candidates, Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), have said they support the compact.

Mike Miller  —  7/09/2008 10:50 pm