Pact says others can't tap Great Lakes

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/1202332,CST-NWS-Lakes04.article

Bush signs agreement to protect Great Lakes water

ENVIRONMENT | Agreement keeps fresh water in region, prohibits diversions

October 4, 2008

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.---- Great Lakes water cannot be diverted to thirsty areas elsewhere in the United States and abroad under an agreement signed Friday by President Bush.

Approval of the Great Lakes Compact was the final step in a nearly decade-long quest to strengthen legal protections for the five Great Lakes, their connecting channels and the St. Lawrence River. It received bipartisan support and the backing of business and environmental groups and both presidential candidates. snip

The Great Lakes contain nearly 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water. Compact supporters long have voiced concern that arid regions such as the western U.S. would target the lakes as the Sun Belt's population and political clout grew. snip

The United Nations estimates that by 2025, two-thirds of the world's population will lack ready access to clean, fresh water.
An Ontario consulting firm's 1998 proposal to ship 158 million gallons of Lake Superior water per year to Asia inspired negotiations leading to the pact. A permit issued to the firm was withdrawn before the water was taken.

[stopbush]

1. Glad to see this happened.

Other states and countries have lured industry away from the Great Lakes states by providing tax-free this and that, turning the GL area into a rust belt. These same states have been trying for years to find a way to divert Great Lakes water to their communities to support them after they've stolen the industries and the jobs that go with them. Nice, that - steal the industries away with promises of cheap everything, then try to steal the resources needed from the now-decimated area to support the theft.

Perhaps this will force a few companies to consider locating or relocating back to the areas that have natural resources available to support them.

[PeaceNikki]

2. Good

:thumbsup:

[LiberalFighter]

3. Why the hell do we need Bush to sign off on it? Screw him!!

[Bill McBlueState]

5. that pesky Constitution, I guess. n/t

[LiberalFighter]

4. Who the hell was going to drain our Lakes and ship it to Asia?

[NickB79]

6. This pact is in response to thirsty Western states draining the Lakes to offset their droughts. NT