House Committee Approves Great Lakes Basin Compact

By Kevin Robinson in News on Jul 31, 2008 7:30PM

The House Judiciary Committee approved the Great Lakes Basin Compact yesterday, paving the way for approval by congress. "The compact will ensure that our Great Lakes will remain stabile and vibrant for generations to come," said Michigan Democrat and committee chair John Conyers. Wisconsin Republican James Sensenbrenner echoed that sentiment, saying, "the sooner this compact can be ratified by the Congress, the sooner it will become effective and the greater protection will be given."

The compact was created among eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces after a Canadian company proposed shipping water from Lake Ontario to Asia in 1999. The agreement bans most diversions of water from the Great Lakes Basin, and establishes procedures to mediate disputes among the states and provinces that surround the Great Lakes. The states and provinces reached a voluntary water deal in 2001, then spent four years negotiating language that would go into the law.

President Bush weighed in this week as well, urging congress to pass the bill. The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on the compact yesterday. Although the treaty has faced some minor opposition claiming that it's anti-development, quick passage is expected.

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