Great Lakes managers expanding public involvement processes
Given the years of uproar over Waukesha's plans to divert Lake Michigan water
out of the Great Lakes basin - not to mention Wisconsin's diversion-happy record while the six other Great Lakes states have managed to live with the water that have - and the fresh attention to Waukesha's related infrastructure planning that had raised opposition in neighboring New Berlin, it's worth noting that the multi-state policy-makers in charge of Great Lakes diversions and other regional water matters are open to procedural changes and are looking for public input.
Especially in these areas: "...dispute resolution and arbitration, and enforcement."
And what a sad commentary it is that that many of these issues were raised earlier, and also nearly ten years ago to the day:
Waukesha Residents Call For Authentic Citizen Involvement In Water Issue
Let's hope this is a sincere effort to give citizens a greater say in how the world's largest supply of fresh surface water is managed as a warming climate depletes water globally, produce heavier rains and damaging water levels in the Great Lakes region and drive more people towards the Great Lakes.
Background information from the DNR is posted on its Waukesha Water Diversion webpage.
Links to a comment period ending October 15 on the proposed regional water management procedures is included in the DNR's email which is reproduced in full below. If I get a link to the same text, I will post that in coding I can better control.
More to come, so stay tuned:
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AGENCY:
The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council (Council) and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body (Regional Body).
The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers serves as the Secretariat to the Council and Regional Body.
ACTION:
Notice of: Council’s proposed Rules of Practice and Procedure; Council’s proposed Council Guidance; and, Regional Body’s proposed Regional Body Procedures.
SUMMARY:
The Council under the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (“Compact”) is proposing to modify its Rules of Practice and Procedure and to amend its Guidance, and the Regional Body under the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement (“Agreement”) is proposing to amend its Procedures guidance as described below:
- Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact Rules of Practice and Procedures. This document, proposed to be modified by Council as a regulation, includes proposed revisions addressing alternative dispute resolution and arbitration, and enforcement. Comments are being accepted on proposed revisions to the Rules of Practice and Procedure.
- Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact Guidance. This guidance document mirrors the Regional Body Procedures through Parts I and II with respect to review of a diversion subject to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, and also includes certain provisions applicable only to the Council. The Compact Council proposes amending the Guidance adopted on December 6, 2018. Comments are being accepted on proposed revisions to the Compact Guidance in Sections 200.2; 200.3; 200.4; and 200.5.
- Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body Procedures. This guidance document contains the procedures that the Regional Body will follow during the review of a diversion subject to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement through the issuance of its Declaration of Finding. This document mirrors the Compact Guidance for Parts I and II. The Regional Body proposes amending Interim Procedures adopted on December 6, 2018. Comments are being accepted on proposed revisions to the Regional Body Procedures in Sections 200.2; 200.3; 200.4; and 200.5.
All materials are available for review at https://www.glslregionalbody.org/procedures-and-guidance/proposed-procedures-updates/ and https://www.glslcompactcouncil.org/procedures-and-guidance/proposed-procedures-updates/.
Copies may also be obtained by contacting the office of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers at the address noted under “For Further Information Contact” below.
DATES:
Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed revised Rules of Practice and Procedure; proposed revised Council Guidance; and proposed revised Regional Body Procedures; must file such comments at the addresses noted below no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT October 15, 2020.
Due to Covid-19, a virtual-only Public Hearing will be held on the proposed revised Rules of Practice and Procedure; proposed revised Council Guidance; and proposed revised Regional Body Procedures on October 13, 2020 beginning no sooner than 2:00 p.m. EDT, and will end when all present have had an opportunity to provide comments.
Participation is available by registering at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1419399551651881999.
ADDRESSES:
Comments should be submitted to the Council and/or Regional Body electronically at comments@gsgp.org.
Comments may also be submitted at:
Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Water Resources Council
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Water Resources Regional Body
c/o Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2700
Chicago, Illinois 60606
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peter Johnson, Deputy Director
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 2700
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Tel: 312/305-4133
Email: pjohnson@gsgp.org
Responsible Official: Peter R. Johnson, Deputy Director, is the official responsible for the development of the Council’s Rules of Practice and Procedure and the guidance documents discussed herein.
The Full Notice, Including Supplementary Information, May be Downloaded at
https://www.glslregionalbody.org/media/4i5pa3je/september-15-2020-public-comment-notice.pdf
or
https://www.glslcompactcouncil.org/media/4i5pa3je/september-15-2020-public-comment-notice.pdf
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