February 9, 2006

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today praised the Legislature for taking decisive action to protect Michigan’s water resources.  The passage of the legislative package, which Granholm called for in a January 2004 special message to the Legislature, will, for the first time, give Michigan the tools needed to protect the Great Lakes from unwise and excessive withdrawals.
 
“Our success as a state depends on our success in protecting the Great Lakes,” said Granholm.  “We are blessed by being surrounded by 20 percent of the world’s freshwater supply, and we must implement the best possible protections that we can provide.”
 
The bipartisan legislation, Senate Bills 850, 851, 852, 854, and 857, provides an important framework for comprehensive water management in Michigan.  It allows the state to manage large quantity water withdrawals of over 100,000 gallons per day and prohibits withdrawals that would have an adverse impact on the water resource.  The legislation requires all new or increased bottled water operators with withdrawals of over 250,000 gallons per day to meet high standards, including no adverse resource impact, no impact on riparian rights or common water law, and must address hydrologic impacts.
 
The bills passed both the House and Senate today with overwhelming bipartisan support, prompting the Governor to state, “The effort in passing these bills shows that the protection of our water is not a partisan issue, but rather a Michigan issue.”
 
Governor Granholm originally called on the Legislature to take action on this issue to allow Michigan to meet a commitment made in 1985 under the Great Lakes Charter agreement to regulate water withdrawals.  Granholm today applauded the Legislature for finally allowing our state to fulfill that commitment. 

“Today we are living up to our state’s proud tradition as a leader in protecting and enriching the Great Lakes,” added Granholm.  “All of us must now work to live up to these ideals each and every day.”