Water Works Coalition Forms to Protect Jobs and Resources

Broad-Based Group of Job Providers and Municipalities Urge Lawmakers to Reject
a House Package of Bills, and Adopt a Senate Approach to Great Lakes Compact
Related Bills

LANSING, Mich., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- You name it, Michigan-
made products, roads and infrastructure, cities and villages, and food and
beverages all depend on Michigan's bountiful water resources. A coalition of
job providers and municipalities -- the Water Works Coalition -- is pressing
state lawmakers to adopt Senate Great Lakes Compact legislation that would
ensure water remains one of Michigan's most important competitive economic
advantages. At the same time, the group says a House package of water related
bills would kill job creation and investment in the state.
"Water is the fuel for Michigan's economic engine," said the Michigan
Manufacturers Association's Mike Johnston. "We can't grow industry and jobs
here if the water isn't here, and available for use. Michigan needs to adopt
the Great Lakes Compact to keep our water where it belongs, while making sure
it can be used for our state's benefit. The Senate's approach accomplishes
both priorities."
Water Works formed to represent Michigan's business, manufacturing, and
agricultural interests; municipalities; road builders; food and beverage
producers, and other industry sectors.
The group supports the Senate package, which would allow Michigan to
ratify the Compact, and ensure provisions of existing water use laws and the
Compact are consistent.
Minnesota, New York and Illinois have already moved Compact adoption. The
legislatures of eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces must each
enact legislation for adopting and implementing the Compact. The U.S. Congress
must then also adopt legislation to put the regional Great Lakes water
management policy in effect.
Water users also support the concept behind a science-based water
withdrawal assessment tool, which is being developed by scientists to serve as
an online resource for entities considering a potential large water
withdrawal. The tool would provide users with information about whether a
prospective withdrawal may be environmentally safe. The group says it will
support the withdrawal assessment tool legislation, provided its scientific
integrity is maintained as it winds through the legislative process.
Doug Roberts, Jr. of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce added the House
package would strip away important progress won for Michigan's water resources
in 2006.
"While we're in favor of protecting Michigan's water resources, making
water off-limits through costly, burdensome and unmerited regulations is a
sure-fire way to set Michigan back even further economically," said Roberts.
In 2006, the Legislature, with consensus from business and environmental
groups, enacted a series of water withdrawal laws that balance strong water
resource protections with the need for use. Regulations call for large water
users to report use, demonstrate that water withdrawals will not cause an
adverse resource impact, and obtain permits for water withdrawals. A conflict
resolution process has been in place since 2003.
An analysis by Water Works shows the House package, if enacted, would:

-- Completely reverse the near-unanimous consensus achieved in both
legislative chambers to enact Michigan's now one-year-old water
protection laws;
-- Introduce new uncertainties into the permitting process for water
users;
-- Add vague and burdensome permitting standards that go far beyond the
Great Lakes Compact and that address matters unrelated to science and
resource protections;
-- Cause permits needed by important water using industries to become
unreliable by requiring permits to be renewed periodically;
-- Open the spigot on opportunities for litigation, even where state
regulators have determined that standards have been met for permits;
and
-- Impose unfair and punitive measures against certain industries without
scientific bases for doing so.

"Bottom line, this package says Michigan is 'closed for business,'" said
Roberts.
SOURCE Water Works Coalition

Deb Muchmore for Water Works Coalition, +1-517-372-4400; or Doug Roberts, Jr.
of Michigan Chamber of Commerce, +1-517-371-2100; or Mike Johnston of Michigan
Manufacturers Association, +1-517-487-8554; or David Worthams of Michigan
Municipal League, +1-517-908-0303; or Ben Kudwa of Potato Growers of Michigan,
Inc., +1-517-669-8377; or George Carr of Michigan Groundwater Association,
+1-517-202-0924; or Eric Rule of Michigan Golf Course Owners Association and
Michigan Retailers Association, +1-517-372-5656; or Bill Lobenherz of Michigan
Soft Drink Association, +1-517-371-4499; or Mike Newman of Michigan Aggregates
Association, +1-517-381-1732; or Andy Such of Michigan Bottled Water Council,
+1-517-202-1786; or Terry Vanderveen of Michigan Concrete Paving Association,
+1-517-484-8800; or Keith Ledbetter of Michigan Infrastructure and
Transportation Association, +1-517-347-8336; or Jared Rodriguez of Grand
Rapids Chamber of Commerce, +1-616-771-0359; or Samantha Jones of Detroit
Regional Chamber of Commerce, +1-517-372-2278; or Pat Donahoe of International
Bottled Water Association, +1-703-647-4608