June 26, 2006

NYS Assembly First Legislative Body in Great Lakes to Pass Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact

Assembly Makes Great Lakes Environmental Priority on Final Day of Legislative Session

(ALBANY, NY)—On Friday, June 23, 2006, the New York State Assembly moved proactively to protect the Great Lakes for present and future generations. With increasing threats of Great Lakes water being exported from the Basin, New York lawmakers passed the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (A. 11968, DiNapoli, Tokasz, Aubertine, Koon) on the final day of the New York State Legislative Session. The Compact is the culmination of a five-year process of negotiations among the eight Great Lakes States and two Canadian Provinces. Governor Pataki and the other Great Lakes Governors endorsed the Compact in December 2005 and in late May he encouraged the legislature to approve it. New York has the chance to be the first of the Great Lakes States to ratify the Compact. The NYS Senate did not act to pass the Compact before the end of the Legislative Session. In order to take effect, the Compact must be adopted by all eight Great Lakes States, and ratified by the U.S. Congress.    

"This historic agreement was designed to ensure the integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin, now and into the future. New York can be proud that we are taking a leading role in promoting passage of this important measure throughout the Basin," stated Assemblyman Thomas P. DiNapoli, Chairman of the Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation.

“The Assembly continues to lead the way on enacting strong environmental protection measures,” stated Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz (D – Cheektowaga/Lancaster).  “This Compact will protect and preserve the waters of the Great Lakes Basin.  I will continue to work with my colleagues in New York and other Great Lakes States to further protect this precious resource.”

“The Great Lakes Compact is essential to preserving New York State’s pristine waterways, as well as those of other Great Lake states, so that millions of people who rely on these waters for drinking water and their economic livelihood will be protected in the future,” said Assemblyman Darrel J. Aubertine (D-Cape Vincent). “As the representative of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Thousand Island’s region, I support this compact and urge other states to follow our lead in adopting this measure. This is one way we can help ensure that the quality of life for those who depend on these important waterways will not be jeopardized in the future.”

“The Great Lakes are an invaluable natural resource, providing drinking water, power, jobs and recreation opportunities for so many New Yorkers,” said Assemblyman David Koon (D/I-Perinton). “This legislation represents a vital step in our efforts to protect the Great Lakes and ensure their integrity for present and future generations.”

"The Great Lakes are an irreplaceable resource for New York, and not only for the cities and towns along its shores. Lake Erie and Lake Ontario provide drinking water for millions of New Yorkers, as well as jobs, power, and tourist dollars. The Great Lakes Compact is integral to safeguarding the health of the Lakes,” said Robert J. Moore, executive director of Environmental Advocates of New York. “We applaud the New York State Assembly for taking this important step on the last day of the legislative session to secure passage of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Resources Compact.”

“Audubon New York thanks the Assembly for their visionary leadership in passing this important legislation. The Compact is critical for the long-term protection of Great Lakes Basin resources, which represent 20 percent of the world’s fresh surface water,” said David J. Miller, Executive Director of Audubon New York.  “The Compact will allow the Lakes region to maintain control of its waters as demand continues to grow throughout the U.S. and worldwide.”

The Compact will institute important new protections for the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River ecosystem. It would protect the Great Lakes from harm by implementing an effective water management plan, including protections against water diversions out of the basin and the promotion of water conservation measures throughout the basin. New York has the opportunity to be the first of the Great Lakes states to adopt the Compact. 

“Hats off to the Assembly for their leadership in advancing the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Compact to ensure New York’s Great Lakes and dependent industries, like hydropower, navigation, fishing, and recreation remain vibrant for present and future generations,” said Dereth Glance, Program Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE).  “As a ‘downstream’ state, New York is vulnerable to the negative impacts from decreasing lake levels, which exacerbate existing strains on this fragile ecosystem from pollution and invasive species.”  

The Great Lakes are the world's single largest source of fresh surface water. They represent 95 percent of the fresh surface water of the United States. The water of the Great Lakes represents a critical resource for New York, providing drinking water for millions of people in the region, numerous industrial and agricultural uses, navigation, hydroelectric power and energy production, recreation and tourism, and important fish and wildlife habitat. Although seemingly abundant, less than one percent of the Great Lakes water is renewed each year, leaving the Lakes vulnerable to depletion. 

Increasing withdrawals from the Basin could pose serious environmental harm to the entire Great Lakes ecosystem. Lowering water levels could result in impacts to power generation, agriculture, industry, property values, tourism, and negatively impact the entire Great Lakes ecosystem, including an increase in shoreline and stream erosion and increasing susceptibility to invasive species and contamination from pollution.

“The Great Lakes are the backbone of our economy and our quality of life,” said Great Lakes United Senior Coordinator Reg Gilbert. “Protecting them from diversion and abuse should be a top priority for every basin state legislature.”

“The Compact guarantees the long-term protection and sound management of Great Lakes water. It ensures that the water will be available for the people and wildlife that depend on it and will remain protected for generations to come,” said Molly Flanagan, Great Lakes Water Resources Advocate, for the National Wildlife Federation. “We applaud New York’s visionary leaders in the Assembly who are committed to protecting and restoring the Great Lakes.”

Protecting the water resources of the Great Lakes from depletion is an essential step toward ensuring the long term restoration of the Lakes. Currently, national efforts are underway to put into practice priority recommendations of a multi-billion dollar Great Lakes clean-up strategy released in December as part of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration.  The Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (S.2545/H.R.5100) has been introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate, with strong bi-partisan support from New York’s Congressional delegation, and when enacted will begin to improve the health of the Lakes.

Environmental groups are also advocating for Senate Bill 7701a, sponsored by Senator Maziarz, which would authorize and direct the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to participate in the Great Lakes Aquatic Nuisance Species Coalition, as organized by the State of Michigan, for the purpose of establishing regulations to address the discharge of aquatic nuisance species in the ballast water of ocean-going vessels. The bill also directs the DEC to continue its cooperation with various organizations working to address such nuisance species, including the International Joint Commission, the Great Lakes Commission, the Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. EPA, and the NYS Invasive Species Task Force.
 

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Audubon New York, the 50,000-member State program of the National Audubon Society, is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitats that support them. Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in positive conservation experiences.

Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) is an 80,000 -member, non-profit, non-partisan, advocacy organization working to protect public health and the natural environment throughout New York State and Connecticut. For more information please visit www.citizenscampaign.org.

Environmental Advocates of New York is the state’s government watchdog, holding lawmakers and agencies accountable for implementing policy that protects natural resources and safeguards public health. For more information call 518.462.5526 or visit www.eany.org. 

Great Lakes United is an international coalition of 170 environmental, hunter-angler, labor and community organizations in the United States, Canada, and Tribal Nations dedicated to protecting and restoring the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River ecosystem. For more information see www.glu.org.

The National Wildlife Federation is America's conservation organization inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.