LANSING – In a victory for the Great Lakes and Michigan water, State Representatives John Espinoza (D-Croswell) and Terry Brown (D-Pigeon) voted today to pass a comprehensive bipartisan plan that will effectively ban the diversion of Great Lakes water from outside the Great Lakes basin and protect Michigan's lakes, streams and groundwater for generations to come.
"As the Great Lakes State, we need to realize that economic growth can be achieved while still protecting our waters and other natural resources," Espinoza said. "This plan represents a bipartisan solution that allows us to move forward with both of those critically important goals. By keeping Great Lakes water clean and right here in Michigan, we are protecting thousands of current jobs in multiple industries – including agriculture and tourism – and clearing the way for the creation of thousands more."
The parts of the "Great Waters, Great Michigan" plan passed today with broad bipartisan support will:
- Ban the diversion of water outside the Great Lakes basin by ratifying the Great Lakes Basin Water Resources Compact.
- Toughen water bottling standards by lowering the threshold that triggers an environmental review of withdrawals from 250,000 gallons per day to 200,000 gallons per day.
- Provide stronger environmental review provisions for municipal water suppliers to protect sensitive water resources.
- Require the use of a water withdrawal assessment tool for new large-scale water withdrawals, to determine if they will harm our natural resources.
- Raise fines for water-use violations from a maximum of $5,000 per day to $10,000 per day.
- Establish a Water Conservation Advisory Council that will make recommendations to ensure sound water policies are enacted in Michigan.
The "Great Waters, Great Michigan" plan is the result of two years of work among the state House and Senate, business groups, environmental organizations and other interested parties. Groups supporting the plan include the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Manufacturers Association, Michigan Farm Bureau, the Michigan Environmental Council, Clean Water Action and the Sierra Club.
The Great Lakes boast 6 quadrillion gallons of fresh water, representing one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water and 95 percent of the U.S. supply of fresh water.
By 2013, 36 states expect water shortages, according to a 2003 Government Accountability Office report . As more states and countries dry up, they will turn to the Great Lakes to replenish their supplies. Last fall, a Georgia lawmaker proposed a national water commission that would put the federal government in charge of Great Lakes water .
"This plan provides a historic blueprint for good stewardship of our Great Lakes for generations to come," said Brown, who sponsored a key bill in the package. "It's a great day for Michigan because so many people who care about our state have worked together to find a solution that keeps our most important natural resource safe while making sure that our farmers and businesses can thrive and create more good-paying jobs. Protecting the Great Lakes will always be a top priority for me, and I'm thrilled to see the bipartisan support for this essential plan."