IMPLEMENTATION
On December 13, 2005, the Great Lakes Governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and the Premiers of Ontario and Québec signed the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement, and the Governors endorsed the companion Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. The agreements detail how the States and Provinces will manage and protect the Basin and provide a framework for each State and Province to enact laws for its protection.
The Governors and Premiers are working aggressively to put these agreements into action. In the United States, each of the eight State legislatures must ratify the interstate Compact. Congress will also be asked for its consent. After this, the Compact will become both State and federal law. In order to put the agreement into law in Ontario and Québec, the Provinces will amend their statutes and regulations as appropriate. No federal legislation is required in Canada.
The following legislation has been introduced to implement the Agreement:
Active Bill
Approved by National Assembly
Passed One Chamber
Passed Two Chambers
Enacted into law
Illinois--Signed by Governor Blagojevich on August 17, 2007
House Bill 0375 (Passed March 29, 2007)
Senate Bill 0050 (Passed April 25, 2007)
Indiana--Signed by Governor Daniels on February 20, 2008
Senate Bill 0045 (Passed January 17, 2008)
House Bill 1060 (Passed January 24, 2008)
Michigan
Senate Bill 212 (Passed May 14, 2008)
House Bill 4343 (Passed May 14, 2008)
House Bill 4336
Minnesota--Signed by Governor Pawlenty on February 20, 2007
Minnesota Session Laws 2007--Chapter 2
HF 110 (Passed February 1, 2007)
SF 38 (Passed February 15, 2007)
New York--Signed by Governor Spitzer on March 4, 2008
A7266 (Passed February 11, 2008)
S4324 (Passed February 4, 2008)
Ohio
HB 416 (Passed February 19, 2008)
Ontario--Enacted on June 4, 2007
Pennsylvania
HB1705 (Passed House January 28, 2008)
HB 1705 is now pending in the Senate
SB 1301
Quebec
Wisconsin
SB 1--Special Session (Passed Senate May 14, 2008)
