May 2008
U.S. Water News Online
CLEVELAND — An Ohio state senator has introduced a constitutional amendment he says will protect the private groundwater rights of Ohioans from a multi-state compact designed to prevent water from being sent from the Great Lakes region to thirsty regions.
Sen. Tim Grendell wants the amendment put on the ballot in November so voters can protect their groundwater and lakes.
Four states — Illinois, Indiana, New York and Minnesota — and two Canadian provinces have approved the compact. It must be approved by all eight Great Lakes states and then approved by Congress to become federal law.
Grendell, a Chesterland Republican, says the compact's language includes not just the Great Lakes but private property owners' groundwater and wells in 35 counties that are part of the Great Lakes basin.
Wisconsin lawmakers ratified the compact and it now goes to Gov. Jim Doyle, who is expected to sign it. The Michigan Legislature approved the compact, but a final agreement will have to wait because Democrats and Republicans must resolve differences over large-scale water withdrawals from Michigan lakes and waterways.