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Press Release: NYS, July 19, 2004
Council of Great Lakes
Governors and the Premiers of Ontario and Quebec, today announced the
release of draft agreements which will provide historic protections for the
waters of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin. The proposed
protective measures, referred to as the draft Annex Implementing
Agreements, are the result of three years of efforts by the eight Great
Lakes States and two Provinces to address conservation and usage issues in
the Great Lakes Basin.
The original Annex agreement was signed by the Governors and Premiers in
Niagara Falls, New York on June 18, 2001 to update the Great Lakes Charter
of 1985. The Charter Annex was developed to update the Great Lakes
regional water management system and ensure the Great Lakes are protected,
conserved, restored, and improved for future generations. Today's
announcement initiates a 90-day public review period that extends until
October 19, 2004 during which the draft Annex Implementing Agreements will
be available for the public and all interested groups to review and offer
comments.
"Protection of New York's water resources, including Lake Erie, Lake
Ontario and the entire St. Lawrence River Basin, is critically important to
the future of our State," Governor Pataki said "New York has worked
cooperatively with the other Great Lakes states, our Canadian neighbors and
various stakeholders to develop these historic agreements that will enhance
water management policies and ensure Great Lakes waters, water-dependent
natural resources and our diversity of water uses are sustainable for
generations to come."
The agreements, which were developed after extensive outreach to
agricultural interests, businesses, the environmental community and other
water users, will 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 away from the Great
Lakes.
Ohio Governor Bob Taft, Chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors,
said, "This process has involved government experts, the environmental
community, business, agriculture and other interests. However, the voice
of the people is a critical component. Public input ensures the final
product is reflective of everyone that uses and depends on this critical
resource."
Once the 90-day period is complete and public comments have been taken into
account, the agreements will be refined and presented to the Governors and
Premiers for their final consideration.
Specific protective measures in the draft implementing agreements include:
- A commitment that conservation and information programs will be put
in place and maintained in all the Great Lakes States, Ontario and Quebec;
- A commitment to use a uniform, resource-based decision making
standard in evaluating future proposals for new or increased water uses;
- A commitment to a collective decision making process for future
proposals for regionally significant new or increased water uses; and
- A requirement that all future new or increased diversions and
regionally significant water uses in the Great Lakes Basin result in an
improvement to the Basin's ecosystem.
During this public involvement phase, New York State representatives will
meet with various advisory organizations and Tribes/First Nations, as well
as hold public informational meetings on September 14th in Buffalo-Niagara
Falls, September 15th in Rochester, and September 16th in Watertown to
allow the public to view and comment on the specifics of the draft
implementing agreements.
Specific public meeting times and locations will be announced at a later
date. In addition to these events, two regional meetings will be hosted by
the Council of Great Lakes Governors in Chicago and Toronto in September.
For background information and copies of the draft documents, visit the New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation's website at
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/greatlakes/index.html
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