Six States Debating Gl Pact

Another state is getting closer to signing the Great Lakes Compact. That’s an agreement which
limits water diversions out of the Great Lakes. Marianne Holland reports:

Transcript

Another state is getting closer to signing the Great Lakes Compact. That’s an agreement which
limits water diversions out of the Great Lakes. Marianne Holland reports:


Supporters say the Great Lakes Compact keeps water use and conservation decisions in the hands
of the surrounding states and out of the hands of the federal government. The compact was
prompted by attempts to export Great Lakes water.


Indiana State Senator Karen Tallian co-authored the bill required for her state to join the
compact.


“Compacts generally are considered to have an advantage over federal legislation because the
states can set up their own agreement, set up their own terms and then once it’s done, once
Congress approves it, Congress can’t mess with it.”


Two states, Illinois and Minnesota, have already joined the compact. Michigan, New York, Ohio
Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, along with Indiana, all have legislation pending. All eight Great
Lakes states have to approve the compact before it goes to Congress.


For the Environment Report, I’m Marianne Holland.

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