Projects

Great Lakes Water Management Overview Great Lakes Agreement and Compact Great Lakes--St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council Great Lakes--St. Lawrence River Water Resources Regional Body Federal Compact Consent Legislation State Compact Implementation Status and Background Documents Great Lakes Water Conservation and Efficiency Initiative Great Lakes Water Use Information Initiative Great Lakes Water Resource Managers Initiative Water Management Working Group Meeting Summaries Legal Structure Links/Downloads

Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact Congressional Consent Status

PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS GREAT LAKES COMPACT

OCTOBER 3, 2008--The Great Lakes Governors today applauded President George W. Bush for signing a joint resolution of Congress providing consent to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.  The President’s action marks the final step in the Compact’s approval process thus enabling these historic protections to become law.

In December 2005, following a nearly five-year negotiation, the Governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin reached agreement on the Compact.  The Compact provides a comprehensive management framework for achieving sustainable water use and resource protection.  The eight Great Lakes States reached a similar, good faith, agreement with Ontario and Québec in 2005, which the Provinces are using to amend their existing water programs for greater regional consistency.

During 2007 and 2008, each of the eight Great Lakes State legislatures ratified the Compact.  Legislative approval was completed by the U.S. Senate on August 1, 2008, and by the U.S. House of Representatives on September 23, 2008.  

Quick Links

Federal Consent Legislation Links

State Legislative Activity

Great Lakes--St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact: Downloadable Background Materials

On December 13, 2005, the Great Lakes Governors and Premiers signed agreements at the Council of Great Lakes Governors’ (CGLG) Leadership Summit that will provide unprecedented protections for the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River Basin.

The agreements include the following:

1. The Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement (the Agreement), a good-faith agreement among the Great Lakes States, Ontario and Québec; that will be implemented in Ontario and Québec through Provincial laws, and in the States, through

2. The Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (the Compact), an agreement among the Great Lakes States that will be passed into law through an interstate compact.

On July 9, 2008, the Great Lakes States completed ratification of the Compact.  To become law, Congress must now provide its consent. 

Federal Consent Legislation

U.S. Senate Joint Resolution 45

7-23-08 Introduced--Referred to Judiciary Committee

7-30-08 Judiciary Committee Hearing Held

8-1-08 Approved by U.S. Senate

9-23-08 Approved by U.S. House

9-25-08 Presented to President

10-3-08 Signed by President

Public Law No: 110-342

U.S. House Resolution 6577

7-23-08 Introduced--Referred to Judiciary Committee

7-30-08 Approved by Committee on Voice Vote

Substituted with Senate Joint Resolution 45 (See Above)