Assembly Passes Legislation to Preserve and Protect Great Lakes

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Robert K. Sweeney today announced passage of legislation to adopt the provisions of an eight-state plan to enhance the management and protection of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin.

Specifically, A.7266-B calls on each state to increase or create water conservation programs while coordinating planning between them. Once passed by the compact members -Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin - the agreement will move to Congress for approval and implementation. Illinois and Minnesota have already passed the compact.

"This legislation will protect the largest body of fresh water in the world," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. "The quality and quantity of water in the Great Lakes have a tremendous impact on the environmental and economic health of upstate New York and our country. Signing onto the compact supports an important resource for recreation and tourism. "

The Great Lakes - Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior - comprise the world's largest surface of freshwater, and include more than 750 miles of New York shoreline. Increased population growth around the basin, combined with an increased commercial use, has brought the participating governments together to develop a program to carefully manage and protect the fresh waters in this region.

"This historic agreement is designed to ensure protection of the waters of the Great Lakes, now and in perpetuity. Over 40 percent of our state lies within the Great Lakes Basin. The Great Lakes are an important environmental resource and economic driver for the state. The compact is designed as proactive legislation to shelter and preserve the Great Lakes," said Sweeney.

This legislation will also:

• Create a Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council consisting of the governors of member states. This council would identify priorities and develop plans and policies related to use and conservation of the basin waters.

• Establish a state water resource inventory for each member state within five years.

• Establish a "decision-making standard" to guide determinations relating to proposed withdrawals and consumption uses.

• Require any person or entity seeking to withdraw 100,000 gallons or more of water per day from the Great Lakes Basin within an average 30-day period to register such withdrawals with the appropriate state.

• Require each state in the compact to manage and regulate all new or increased withdrawals or consumption uses; including a prohibition on new or increased diversions outside the basin.

• Establish water conservation and efficient use programs; and conduct periodic assessments of the cumulative impact from water losses.