2007 Senate Bill 212 / 2008 Public Act 190

Enact Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact

Introduced in the Senate

Feb. 20, 2007

Introduced by Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R-24)

To enact into Michigan statute the terms of the <a href="http://www.cglg.org/projects/water/docs/12-13-05/Great_Lakes-St_Lawrence_River_Basin_Water_Resources_Compact.pdf">Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact</a>, which includes a ban on new diversions of water outside the Basin with limited exceptions, and would empower a council comprised of delegates from the signatories with authority to adopt regulations to enforce the compact, but these would not have the force of law unless member states adopted their own regulations. Essentially, the new compact repeals the veto that Michigan and each Great Lakes state currently has on diversions of water to outside the Great Lakes basin, and replaces it with restrictions on water use both inside and outside the basin. Note: Michigan is the only state entirely located inside the Great Lakes basin.

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs

Dec. 6, 2007

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-6) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

May 14, 2008

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one adding a provision establishing that if a water withdrawal permit is granted under certain state regulations, it is considered to meet the terms of the multi-state compact. This could have the effect of preempting provisions of the conpact that could give other other states the authority to block certain projects in Michigan.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 38 to 0 (details)

To enact into Michigan statute the terms of the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, which includes a ban on new diversions of water outside the Basin with limited exceptions, and would empower a council comprised of delegates from the signatories with authority to adopt regulations to enforce the compact, but these would not have the force of law unless member states adopted their own regulations. Essentially, the new compact repeals the veto that Michigan and each Great Lakes state currently has on diversions of water to outside the Great Lakes basin, and replaces it with restrictions on water use both inside and outside the basin. Note: Michigan is the only state entirely located inside the Great Lakes basin.

Received in the House

May 14, 2008

Referred to the Committee on Health Policy

June 24, 2008

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 108 to 0 (details)

To enact into Michigan statute the terms of the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, which includes a ban on new diversions of water outside the Basin with limited exceptions, and would empower a council comprised of delegates from the signatories with authority to adopt regulations to enforce the compact, but these would not have the force of law unless member states adopted their own regulations. Essentially, the new compact repeals the veto that Michigan and each Great Lakes state currently has on diversions of water to outside the Great Lakes basin, and replaces it with restrictions on water use both inside and outside the basin. Note: Michigan is the only state entirely located inside the Great Lakes basin.

Received in the Senate

June 25, 2008

Passed in the Senate 36 to 0 (details)

To concur with the House-passed version of the bill.

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

July 9, 2008