HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

The Region's reputation for excellent health care and a quality environment
has been growing. University hospitals and internationally-recognized medical
facilities such as the Cleveland and Mayo Clinics give Region residents and
others access to the best health care in the world.

* The Region's 163,656 physicians and 46,678 dentists represent more than
one-third of the U.S. supply (1985 figures).

* The Region's 1,833 hospitals (1985) contain 446,000 hospital beds. In 1985,
the average daily cost of a hospital stay was less than the U.S. average.

* Seven Great Lakes states are ranked in the top half nationally for overall
"environmental policy" by Renew America, an environmental advocacy group.

* Government data indicates that public water systems in the Great Lakes
states have very favorable compliance rates with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

* Air quality trends for major metropolitan areas in the Region have been
improving in recent years and most cities meet the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (except for ozone which is a nationwide problem).

* The Region's Congressional voting record on environmental issues from 1985
to 1990 was given a positive assessment by the League of Conservation Voters.

* In the past two decades, the U.S. and Canada have spent or committed more
than $10 billion to construct or upgrade municipal sewage treatment plants in
the Region.


MINNESOTA HAS THE HEALTHIEST POPULATION IN THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO A 1990
INSURANCE COMPANY STUDY.