GOVERNOR
DANIELS SIGNS HISTORIC GREAT LAKES PROTECTIONS
Indianapolis,
Indiana– Governor Mitch Daniels today signed legislation ratifying an
interstate compact that will create unprecedented protections for the Great Lakes--St. Lawrence River Basin.
“The State of Indiana has renewed its commitment to protect Lake
Michigan and the other Great Lakes. Many
people worked closely to support this compact through its development and
approval, and I'm grateful to all who have brought us to this day," said
Governor Daniels.
“I applaud Governor
Daniels and the State of Indiana.
This action is a reflection of the tremendous momentum and growing consensus in
support of the compact. I look forward to the State of Wisconsin similarly enacting these
protections,” said Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, Council of Great Lakes
Governors Chair.
In December 2005, the
Governors of New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio,
and Wisconsin reached agreement on the Great Lakes -St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources
Compact – a comprehensive management framework for achieving sustainable
water use and resource protection. Governor Daniels’s action today
formally enacts the compact in Indiana
State law. 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.
To become law in the
States, the interstate compact must be approved by each of the State
legislatures and Congress must give its consent. Minnesota Governor Tim
Pawlenty and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the compact into law in
2007, and bills are pending in Michigan, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Introduction of the compact in the Wisconsin
legislature is expected in coming days.
The interstate compact
legislation signed today by Governor Daniels includes the following points:
• Economic
development will be fostered through the sustainable use and responsible
management of Basin waters.
• The States will
ensure that authority over Great Lakes water
uses is retained in the region.
• 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
consistent water conservation and efficiency program.
• The collection of
technical data will be strengthened, and the States will share comparable
information, which will improve decision-making by the governments.
• There is a strong
commitment to continued public involvement in the implementation of the
compact.
The five Great Lakes comprise the world’s largest surface
freshwater system. Through the compact, the Great Lakes States have worked to
develop a program to carefully manage and protect this worldclass resource. The
complete text of the compact and additional information is available at www.cglg.org.
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