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Michigan
Environmental Report
Volume 23 . Number 5
October 2005
PURPOSE
Founded in 1980,
MEC is a coalition of 71 environmental, public health, and faith-based
organizations with nearly 200,000 individual members. For 25 years,
MEC has provided a voice at the State Capitol. In addition to
serving as a clearinghouse of environmental information, MEC develops
public policy, educates elected officials and the public, and provides
training and support to member organizations.
The Michigan
Environmental Report is an official publication of the Michigan Environmental
Council. Copyright 2005.
SUBSCRIBE
OFFICERS
Chairperson
Chris Graham,
Michigan Natural Areas Council
Vice
Chair
Vicki Levengood,
National Environmental Trust
Vice Chair
Terry Miller,
Lone Tree Council
Treasurer
Tom Leonard,
West Michigan Environmental Action Council
Secretary
Jeremy Emmi,
Michigan Nature Association
MEC STAFF
President
Lana Pollack
Policy Director
James Clift
Associate Director
Patrick Diehl
Land Programs Director
Brad Garmon
Land Programs Specialist
Ben Stupka
Development Director
Andy Draheim
Development Specialist
Brianna Gerard
Member Services Director
Michele Scarborough
Policy Specialist
David Gard
Asst. Energy Policy Specialist
Dusty Myers
Campaign Coordinator
Roshani Deraniyagle-Dantas
Deputy Policy Director
Kate Madigan
Development Specialist
Brianna Gerard
Policy
Specialist
Kerry Duggan
Outreach Specialist
Elizabeth Fedorchuk
Health Policy Specialist
Tess Karwoski
MER Design & Layout
Rose Homa
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Great Lakes conservation agreement under review
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Thousands of citizens, businesses, local governments
and others commented on draft agreements to conserve
Great Lakes water and limit water exports and diversions
during a public review period that concluded as summer
ended.
The draft agreements-a proposed interstate compact among
the eight Great Lakes states and an understanding between
the states and the provinces of Ontario and Quebec-would
put in place a strong anti-water diversion policy and
require all parties to enact water withdrawal standards.
Michigan currently has no statute requiring pre-approval
for major withdrawals of either groundwater or surface
water.
MEC and member groups support the proposed prohibition
on most diversions and exports and the call for strong
protections against harmful water withdrawals. But opposition
from some industrial and agricultural interests complicates
chances for the agreement, which the Great Lakes governors
have been negotiating since 2001.
It is expected that a revised set of agreements will
be made public sometime in 2006.
For more information on the proposed agreements, visit
the web site of the Council of Great Lakes Governors:
www.cglg.org.
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