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July 9, 2008
Contact:
Melissa Malott, Water Program Director
608.251.7020 ext. 13, 608.220.0167 (cell)
Michigan Signs Historic Great Lakes Compact
Compact now moves to Congress for Consent
Saugatuck, Michigan - With the signature of Governor
Jennifer Granholm today, Michigan became the eighth and final Great Lakes
state to adopt the Great Lakes Compact, a historic agreement between eight
states and two Canadian provinces to not divert water outside of the Great
Lakes region. The compact will now move to the U.S. 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," said Melissa
Malott, water program director at Clean Wisconsin, the state's largest
environmental advocacy organization. "The Great Lakes states should be
proud of a strong agreement that will help preserve one of the nation's
most treasured resources."
The U.S. Congress asked the Great Lakes states to develop a policy to protect
Great Lakes water in the 2000 Water Resources Development Act after it
was discovered that the Canadian province of Ontario permitted selling
tankers full of Great Lakes water to Asia.
"The need to protect Great Lakes water is evident," Malott said. "Diverting
water from the Great Lakes could lower lake levels, render shipping channels
useless, and harm ecosystems, which would threaten the environment and
economy of the Great Lakes region."
The U.S. Congress now needs only to consent to the agreement for it to
become finalized and binding.
"We hope that Congress will move swiftly to implement this historic agreement,"
Malott said. "This Compact represents a carefully constructed compromise
that will help ensure that Great Lakes water is protected for future generations
to enjoy."
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Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization, protects Wisconsin's clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected officials and polluters accountable. Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin exposes corporate polluters, makes sure existing environmental laws are enforced, and educates citizens and businesses. On behalf of its 10,000 members and its coalition partners, Clean Wisconsin protects the special places that make Wisconsin such a wonderful place to live, work and play. Phone: 608-251-7020, Fax: 608-251-1655, Email: information@cleanwisconsin.org, Website: www.cleanwisconsin.org.