LANSING – State Representative Robert Dean (D-Grand Rapids) today voted to put the finishing touches on a landmark water protection package that will keep Michigan's most precious natural resource here where it belongs. With today's action, all components of the bipartisan, comprehensive "Great Waters, Great Michigan" plan have now been sent to the desk of Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm to be signed into law.
"Today's action is a huge step in the right direction for Michigan," Dean said. "The 'Great Waters, Great Michigan' plan will protect the thousands of good-paying jobs that rely on the Great Lakes and will keep our water from being siphoned off and sold for profit. This plan will ensure that our grandchildren and great-grandchildren can enjoy what makes Michigan so special."
The "Great Waters, Great Michigan" plan will effectively ban the diversion of water outside the Great Lakes Basin by ratifying the Great Lakes Basin Water Resources Compact. In order for the compact to be binding, it must be approved by all 10 Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces. The Great Lakes represent one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water and 95 percent of the U.S. supply of fresh water.
Other highlights of the "Great Waters, Great Michigan" plan include toughening 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; requiring a review of water withdrawals of 1 million gallons per day or more to ensure sensitive water resources are protected; implementing a water withdrawal assessment tool for new large-scale water withdrawals to determine if they will harm our natural resources; and raising fines for water-use violations from a maximum of $5,000 per day to $10,000 per day.
The "Great Waters, Great Michigan" plan is the result of two years of work between the state House and Senate, business groups, environmental organizations and other interested parties. Groups supporting the plan include the Michigan Environmental Council, Clean Water Action, Michigan Manufacturers Association, Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Municipal League.
"The 'Great Waters, Great Michigan' plan will protect our water while giving our businesses the opportunity to grow and create more good-paying jobs in our state," Dean said. "Thousands of hours of work have been put into this package to make sure it is in the best interests of Michigan residents and businesses. This plan will ensure that we remain the Great Lakes State for generations to come."