Great Lakes Law

Another view of the Great Lakes compact

The House of Representatives is expected to take up approval of the Great Lakes compact when it comes back in session next week. During the August recess, a small but important group of Great Lakes advocates (notably Representative Bart Stupak and author Dave Dempsey) have raised some provocative questions regarding the Great Lakes compact’s treatment of bottled water. They are concerned that by allowing bottled water, the Great Lakes compact turns water into a product... Read more →

Are the Great Lakes for sale?

“Great Lakes for Sale: From Whitecaps to Bottlecaps” is the provocative title of a new book by environmental activist and author Dave Dempsey. I’ve worked with Dave on several issues over the years and enjoyed his previous books, especially “Ruin and Recovery: Michigan’s Rise as a Conservation Leader,” the definitive Michigan environmental history reference. I was a bit skeptical of his latest book, perhaps doubting that its thin spine (it has less than a hundred... Read more →

Two perspectives on bottled water

With bottled water back in the news after Nestlé announced that it’s pulling out of its contentious project in McCloud, California, I figured it’s a good time to briefly review two recent books on bottled water. “Wellsprings: A Natural History Of Bottled Spring Waters” by Francis H. Chapelle provides a comprehensive history of bottled water and a technical overview of the hydrology that creates spring water. Dr. Chapelle is a widely respected hydrologist with the... Read more →

Great Lakes compact unanimously approved in US Senate

Barely a week after Sen. Levin introduced a resolution consenting to the Great Lakes compact, the U.S. Senate gave its unanimous approval. This is a tremendous demonstration of the broad support within the region (every Senator from the eight Great Lakes states sponsored the resolution) and the entire country for protecting the Great Lakes. Prior to approval, the Senate’s resolution, S.J. Res. 45, was amended to include the same language as the pending House bill,... Read more →