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Great Lakes
Article:
Protect Great Lakes
Times Herald (MI)
Published February 23, 2008
The Great Lakes are Michigan's greatest natural resource. They also are threatened. States without enough fresh water would love to siphon our supply.
The eight Great Lakes states - Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan - must approve a compact that prevents Great Lakes water from being removed from its basin. Once the eight states sanction the compact, Congress also must approve the agreement to put it in force.
Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana have given their OK. Michigan must join those states.
The state Legislature is expected to pass the compact sometime this spring. That decision cannot come soon enough.
Drought-weary Western states are making it clear that the Great Lakes could bring them relief. The future of these bodies of water would be undermined if they become a convenient water source to those states.
Michigan and the seven other compact states cannot afford to take the Great Lakes for granted. If they don't join forces to protect the Great Lakes, the waters' health is certain to be placed at risk.
The Great Lakes' health already is a concern. Pollution, low water levels demand greater attention.
Preserving the Great Lakes from states who want to tap them is an immediate priority. The Great Lakes states must approve the compact.
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