Great Lakes Compact Takes Effect (keeping their water)

[ensho]

http://progressillinois.com/2008/12/08/great-lakes-compact-takes-effect


After four long years of negotiations, the federal Great Lakes Basin Compact -- a plan to protect the world’s largest supply of freshwater from being diverted across the country -- goes into effect today.

It seemed touch and go at times, but all eight states that make up the Great Lakes Region eventually signed on to the federal legislation. Members of Congress then gave their final stamp of approval this fall and President Bush signed it into law in early October. In a guest column for the Grand Rapids Press today, Michigan state Sen. Patty Birkholz (R-Saugatuck) explains the bill’s significance:

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The compact provides the greatest certainty that our waters will be safeguarded. It specifically references the protection of private and public water rights and clearly states that it will not alter these rights. It also clarifies that water withdrawals originating within a state are to be regulated solely under state law without intervention from the Great Lakes Council, other states or the federal government. Ultimately, the compact will preserve the Great Lakes and all that they represent for our agriculture and tourism economies and our environment.

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As we’ve reported before, some environmentalists aren’t as convinced as Birkholz that the compact in its current form goes far enough to protect lakes.

Under the direction of outspoken attorney Jim Olson, a coalition of environmental groups named Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation launched a campaign last month to pressure Congress to amend the legislation. Specifically, the groups want to see the waters reclassified as a public resource rather than a private commodity to help thwart off potential legal challenges by the bottled water industry.
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clean drinking water is worth more then gold

[Mari333]

1. good, and another reason I will suffer being in Michigan

I have a sneaky feeling that the next great wars will be over water. I like sitting next to the largest fresh water in the world.
and I like the fact that it wont be piped, shipped, or siphoned off to Dubai or to areas that sit in deserts who want their lawns watered like Palm Springs.
I remember when Bill Richardson stated he wanted a pipeline to send water to AZ. boy was there an outcry, and he rescinded his statements fast.

[Idealism]

2. Step one of privatizing our water supply

Just like how they did in El Salvador

Water has been been more expensive per gallon than gas for most of gasolines' history (bottled anyways).

[dysfunctional press]

3. "Water has been been more expensive per gallon than water..."

:shrug:

[Idealism]

4. Edited, thanks

Sorry!