2008-09-24

Bush to Sign Great Lakes Ban on Water Diversions. By Deb Price, Detroit News, September 24, 2008. "Ending a decade-long struggle to ensure thirsty states and countries can't raid the Great Lakes, the White House said Tuesday that President Bush will sign the Great Lakes compact to ban water diversions [and conserve water]. The proposal won final congressional approval Tuesday on a 390-25 House vote. 'This is a historic day for the Great Lakes, said Andy Buchsbaum, the director of the National Wildlife Federation's Great Lakes office. 'The compact provides iron-clad protections against water diversions. In a world that is becoming thirstier and thirstier, [it] is essential to protect our way of life.' As Congress scrambled to deal with the Wall Street crisis in its final days before recess, it wasn't clear whether the House would find time to squeeze in the compact... But the House put it in a lucky mix of last-minute agenda items, and overwhelmingly passed [it]... The compact was signed by the eight Great Lakes governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Interstate water compacts require consent by Congress and the president."

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