LANSING - In a move to protect thousands of jobs and keep Michigan's most precious resource where it belongs, State Representatives John Espinoza (D-Croswell) and Terry Brown (D-Pigeon) today voted for a bipartisan plan that will effectively ban the diversion of water from outside the Great Lakes basin. As part of its comprehensive water protection plan, the House also moved to toughen standards for water bottling and crack down on water-use violators by increasing fines.
"We have an obligation to continue to be strong stewards of our water and to stand up to other states and countries that want to take it away and sell it for profit," Espinoza said. "By passing this plan, my colleagues and I have sent a clear message about Michigan's commitment to protect the Great Lakes. We are protecting our heritage and our economic future."
The plan ratifies the Great Lakes Basin Water Resources Compact, which will ban diversions of water outside of the Great Lakes Basin. In order for the compact to be binding, it must be approved by all 10 Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces. The compact has been approved by Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota and New York, and approved in principle by Ontario and Quebec. The compact has yet to be approved by Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Ohio.
The plan passed by the House today also will:
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.
Raise the fines for water-use violations from a maximum of $5,000 per day to $10,000 per day - a measure that was sponsored by Brown.
"Protecting our water is essential because it is not only our most precious natural resource - it is our most precious economic resource as well," Brown said. "Our three biggest industries - agriculture, manufacturing and tourism - depend heavily on healthy Great Lakes water. Putting this plan in action will help us create more good-paying jobs while also protecting our special way of life here in the Thumb."