Resolution: Great Lakes Commission support for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact
Adopted on October 7, 2008

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Whereas, on Dec. 13, 2005, the Great Lakes governors and premiers signed the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Sustainable Water Resources Agreement (the “Agreement”) and the governors committed to seek passage of the Great Lakes -St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (the “Compact”) to help protect the region’s ecosystem by ensuring the sustainable use and management of the waters of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River; and

Whereas, all eight Great Lakes states have demonstrated their support for the Compact by enacting legislation to approve the Compact and implement it into state law; and

Whereas, Ontario has approved the Agreement and provisions necessary to implement it into provincial law and Québec is expected to complete its approval process soon; and

Whereas, the Agreement and the Compact reaffirm the commitment to the water management principles set forth in the Great Lakes Charter of 1985 and the Charter Annex of 2001, while recognizing that future diversions, withdrawals and consumptive uses have the potential to significantly impact the environment, the economy and the welfare of the Great Lakes region; and

Whereas, the Agreement and the Compact enable the states and provinces to act together to protect, conserve, restore, improve and effectively manage the waters and water dependent resources of the region in a way that is durable, efficient and retains and respects state and provincial water management authority within the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River region; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes Charter of 1985, Annex 2001, the Agreement and the Compact exemplify the strong regional commitment to protect, conserve, restore and improve the waters and water-dependent natural resources of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin; and

Whereas, , the Council of Great Lakes Governors facilitated the implementation of the Agreement by assisting and supporting the states and provinces, including their efforts to adopt enabling legislation to meet the requirements of the accords; and

Whereas, in July 2008, 16 Senators and 45 Representatives from the Great Lakes Congressional Delegation, led by Sens. Carl Levin and George Voinovich and Reps. James Oberstar, Vernon Ehlers, John Conyers and Steven LaTourette introduced or co-sponsored legislation in their respective chambers of Congress to grant consent to approve the Compact; and

Whereas, on Aug. 1, 2008, the U.S. Senate recognized the significance of the Compact and provided legislative consent to it by approving Senate Resolution 45; and

Whereas, on Sept. 23, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives completed congressional consent for the Compact by passing Senate Resolution 45; and

Whereas, President Bush has communicated his support for the Compact and his intention to sign consent legislation passed by the U.S. Congress.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission applauds the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River governors and premiers and the Council of Great Lakes Governors for their leadership and their tireless efforts in the development and signing of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and Agreement; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Commission applauds the legislatures of the Great Lakes states for adopting the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact with a vote margin of 95 percent in favor; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission applauds the U.S. Congress on its swift approval of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Commission applauds the President for signing this critical piece of legislation into law; and

Be It Finally Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission pledges its service, support and expertise to its member states and provinces and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Management Regional Body to assist in the implementation of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Sustainable Water Management Agreement.

Adopted at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission, Québec City, Québec, Oct. 7, 2008.