Great Lakes Governors release a road map for the future of Great Lakes
water management
Governors ask for public’s input
On behalf of the Great Lakes Governors, Pennsylvania
Governor and Council Chairman Tom Ridge today released Annex 2001, a proposed
amendment to the Great Lakes Charter of 1985, for public review. The Annex is currently under discussion
with the governments of Ontario and Quebec. Once finalized, the Annex would update
the regional water management system for the Great Lakes in order to protect,
conserve, restore, and improve the water and water dependent natural resources
of the Great Lakes Basin. The
Governors welcome comments through the Council of Great Lakes Governors office
until Wednesday, February 28, 2001.
Under the proposed Annex 2001, the Great Lakes Governors
and the Premiers of Ontario and Quebec
would:
Under the current Charter, the Governors and Premiers of
Ontario and Quebec notify and consult with each other on proposals for
diversions and consumptive uses of waters within their Great Lakes Basin of over
five million gallons (19 million liters) per day. Additionally, the Governors have direct
authority over the Great Lakes waters within the United States through the
WRDA. Under the WRDA, no bulk
export or diversions of Great Lakes waters from the basin can take place without
the unanimous approval of all of the Great Lakes Governors.
“This proposed Annex represents a significant step
forward in protecting our Great Lakes,” said Governor Ridge, “ The goal of the
Annex is to ensure that we who live on and manage the Great Lakes on a
day-to-day basis have the tools necessary to make certain that our water is used
wisely and effectively to the benefit of all of our citizens. The public’s input in this process is
critical as we work with our counterparts in Ontario and Quebec to build a more
effective regional water management system.”
Following the public comment period, the Governors, in consultation with the Premiers, will review the comments and make changes before releasing the final Annex 2001. They will then begin developing a set of more binding agreements as agreed to in the Annex.
Comments should be forwarded to the Council of Great Lakes Governors by e-mail at cglg@cglg.org, by fax at 312-407-0038, or by mail to:
Annex 2001 Comments Council of Great Lakes GovernorsThe Council of Great Lakes Governors is a non-profit, non-partisan partnership of Governors of the Great Lakes states—Illinois (George H. Ryan), Indiana (Frank O’Bannon), Michigan (John Engler), Minnesota (Jesse Ventura), New York (George E. Pataki), Ohio (Bob Taft), Pennsylvania (Tom Ridge), and Wisconsin (Tommy G. Thompson). Through the Council, the Governors collectively tackle the environmental and economic challenges facing the citizens of the region.
The full text of Annex 2001 can be accessed at www.cglg.org/projects/water/annex2001.pdf.