For Release: Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Meetings and Public Comment Opportunity Announced for Draft Report on Great Lakes Water Resources
A draft report that provides suggestions on how to implement the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact here in New York State is now available for public review. The Compact is a multi-state agreement designed to protect, conserve, and improve the water resources of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin.
New York State's Great Lakes Basin Advisory Council is inviting the public to provide input on the "Draft Report on Recommendations for Implementing the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact" - available at DEC website. It contains suggestions for new or amended state legislation needed in New York to effectively implement the Compact. Members of the Advisory Council also hope that this report stimulates a new dialogue across the state regarding how water resource supplies can best be managed in light of the growing need for renewable energy, threats from climate change, and the goal to sustain natural resources. When finalized, the report will then be presented to the Governor and State Legislature.
Public comments are being accepted until August 14, 2009. Comments either can be submitted via email to glakes@gw.dec.state.ny.us or by regular mail to: GLBAC Draft Report, c/o NYSDEC Region 9, 270 Michigan Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14203.
In addition, written comments and recommendations will be accepted during a series of public input sessions listed below.
- Watertown: July 15, 4-6 p.m. at the State Office Building, 317 Washington Street, Conference Room #1;
- Cortland: July 21, 4-6 p.m. at SUNY Cortland, Jacobus Lounge, Brockway Hall;
- Troy: July 23, 4-6 p.m. at the Center for Environmental Health, 547 River Street, Conference Room 4A/B Flanigan Square;
- Buffalo: July 27, 4-6 p.m. at the Great Lakes Center, Teaching Pavilion (at the foot of Porter Avenue next to West Side Rowing Club);
- Rochester: July 28, 4-6 p.m.: at RIT, Building #76 (Carlson Center for Imaging Science), Carlson Auditorium;
- Plattsburgh: TBA, SUNY Plattsburgh
Additional information on the Advisory Council, draft report and the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact can be found online.
