Great Lakes Law

Quebec’s new industry – exporting freshwater

The Montreal Economic Institute, a Quebec think-tank with expertise in business and public policy, has just released a new report that should generate plenty of heated responses from mild-mannered Canadians. The report, “Freshwater exports for the development of Quebec’s blue gold,” suggests that Quebec has a “surplus” of freshwater that could be exported to generate $65 billion in gross annual income. The report arrives at this conclusion by assuming that Quebec could sell and export... Read more →

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 →

Will Michigan decide the Presidential election?

With Sen. Barack Obama’s announcement of Sen. Joe Biden as his VP, the ball is now in Sen. John McCain’s court to make his pick for VP. Several political leaders with ties to the Great Lakes region are on the list, most notably Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts (son of former Michigan Gov. George Romney), and Secretary of Homeland Security and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. Both candidates need... Read more →

NY Times on bottled water, groundwater law, and the public trust doctrine

The New York Times had a nice story, “Bottling Plan Pushes Groundwater to Center Stage in Vermont,” that features the recent legislation in Vermont protecting groundwater as part of the state’s public trust. The Vermont legislation was motivated in part by growing concerns over bottled water, which often comes from groundwater that feeds small potentially vulnerable springs. The legislation is notable because it states that “groundwater resources of [Vermont] are held in trust for the... 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 →

Ann Arbor’s innovative green mayor re-elected to fifth term

Note: This post is guest authored by Jennifer Santi Hall, who is very active in local politics and government in Ann Arbor. She is currently chair of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and vice-chair of the Ann Arbor Greenbelt Advisory Commission, and formerly served as chair of the Ann Arbor Planning Commission. She’s also my wife, and always reminds me that all politics – including the politics of environmental protection – start locally. Ann... 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 →