The Department of Environmental Protection this week announced the release of a revised draft of the Great Lakes Annex 2001 water withdrawal agreement along with a 60 day public comment period.

The revised draft agreements include a ban on diversions of water with limited exceptions and a requirement for states and provinces to conduct a joint review of water withdrawal proposals that result in large-scale consumptive uses or proposed exceptions to the ban on diversions.

Changes were made to the draft to include a stronger commitment to water conservation for current and future water users, and to allow decision making for in-basin water uses at the state and provincial level.

The revised draft agreements are not final and do yet represent consensus of the Council of Great Lakes Governors. After a 60-day public comment and review period, comments and suggestions will be reviewed and the agreements will be refined and presented to the governors and premiers for their final approval and signature.

The final documents then will provide a framework for each province and state, including Pennsylvania, to pass laws that will protect the Great Lakes Basin.

Signed on June 18, 2001, by all 10 of the Great Lakes governors and premiers, Annex 2001 to the Great Lakes Charter of 1985 committed them to develop a new decision-making standard, a new set of binding agreements, a new decision support system, a public participation program and improved sources and applications of scientific information, including the role of groundwater.

Last summer, an initial draft of the agreements was released for public comment. More than 10,000 comments were received across the Great Lakes Basin. These comments and suggestions are reflected in the revised draft agreements released today.

The Council of Great Lakes Governors includes the governors of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, as well as the premiers of the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada.

For more information, visit the Annex 2001 webpage.

7/8/2005