For ten years the legislators and governors of the eight states in the Great Lakes area have been negotiating the The Great Lakes Compact, limiting withdrawal and re-direction of the Great Lakes fresh water to other areas.

Passed by the legislators of all eight states, (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin), and the US House & Senate, the bill was signed into law Friday by President Bush.  Quebec & Ontario, Canada passed similar legislation.

In 1998, an Ontario proposal for shipping 158 million gallons of Lake Superior water per year to Asia precipitated the creation of the pact.  For Michigan & other boundary states with companies that bottle water for sale, the jobs are still protected with allowances for withdrawal in containers smaller than 5.7 gallons.

The compact doesn't manage or regulate the lakes, connecting waters, and the St Lawrence River, but requires the Great Lakes states to set up programs within 2 years to manage & conserve water in the ground and in lakes Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. (Remember the HOMES acronym now?)

Read more here: http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-58/122305226071130.xml&storylist=newsmichigan