Environment DEC
From the August 2004 issue
Draft Annex Implementing Agreements to Protect Great Lakes Water Resources Released
Governor George E. Pataki, along with the Council of Great Lakes Governors and the Premiers of Ontario and Quebec, has announced draft Annex Implementing Agreements that will protect the waters of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin. The proposed measures are the result of three years of efforts by the eight Great Lakes states and two provinces to address conservation and use issues in the Great Lakes Basin.
The original Agreement was signed by the Governors and Premiers in June 2001 to update the Great Lakes Charter of 1985. The Charter Annex was developed to update regional water management systems and ensure protection, conservation, restoration and improvement for future generations. A 90-day public review period extends until October 19, 2004, during which time the draft Agreements will be available for review and comment.
Agreement Terms
Lake Ontario
The Agreements, which were developed after extensive outreach to agricultural interests, businesses, the environmental community and others, require water users to practice conservation measures that will encourage sustainable economic development while ensuring that large-scale withdrawals do not harm the Lakes' resources. Under the Agreements, the Great Lakes will be managed collectively, and there will be a regional decision-making process for diversions from the Great Lakes.
Specific protective measures in the draft Agreements include:
- A commitment that conservation and information programs will be established and maintained in all the Great Lakes States, Ontario and Quebec
- A commitment to use a uniform, resource-based decision-making standard to evaluate proposals for new or increased water uses
- A commitment to a collective decision-making process for proposals for regionally significant new or increased water uses
- A requirement that all new or increased diversions and regionally significant water uses in the Great Lakes Basin result in an improvement to the basin's ecosystem
September Meetings
New York State representatives will hold public information meetings on the following dates:
- September 14 in Buffalo-Niagara Falls
- September 15 in Rochester
- September 16 in Watertown
Representatives will also meet with advisory groups and Tribes/First Nations. Specific times and locations will be announced soon. In addition, two regional meetings will be hosted by the Council of Great Lakes Governors in Chicago and Toronto in September.
More information on the Great Lakes, including the Draft Annex Implementing Agreements, can be found on DEC's Web Site.
