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July 10, 2008
All Great Lakes States Sign On to Protect Water
A compact was signed yesterday by the last 8 states which border the Great Lakes which will now protect this World's largest fresh water source from other regions and countries.
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed legislation approving the compact during a ceremony at Oval Beach in the Lake Michigan town of Saugatuck. A day earlier, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell announced he had signed a ratification bill.
"This is a defining moment in Michigan history," Granholm said. "We must do our part to ensure that our Great Lakes are protected and preserved for generations to come. This legislation fulfills that promise."
The pact still needs approval of Congress and the White House. The Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec have adopted a nearly identical document but cannot join the compact because U.S. states cannot make treaties with foreign governments.
Over 20 members of Congress have endorsed the agreement, including Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain, the presumptive presidential nominees. Obama, an Illinois Democrat, said he would be a co-sponsor.
"I am committed to working to fully implement this compact to protect America's truly Great Lakes," Obama said.
The Council of Great Lakes Governors spent four years negotiating the deal amid rising concern that the worldwide shortage of fresh water would lead thirsty regions to target the lakes.
"It is gratifying to see our region uniting as never before to protect the Great Lakes," said Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, chairman of the council.
"There were times when I thought this day would never come," said Andy Buchsbaum, director of the National Wildlife Federation's Great Lakes office. "This is a remarkable, once-in-a-lifetime achievement."
This blog first posted about this Great Lakes concern back in 2007, "Protecting the Great Lakes from Water Thirsty States," as reported by the Associated Press, and published by GM Today.
Posted by Stephen Betheil at July 10, 2008 08:12 PM
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