Relating to waters; "Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact"

ARTICLE 1 - SHORT TITLE, DEFINITIONS, PURPOSES AND DURATION

Defining water adaptive management and other terms; specifying legislative findings and purpose

ARTICLE 2 - ORGANIZATION

Creating the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence river basin water resources council, specifying membership, alternates, voting, organization, procedure, existing offices and agencies use, status, jurisdiction, immunities and privileges; authorizing the council to constitute and empower advisory committees; permitting public, federal, state, tribal, local government, academic expert and water resources agencies, sectors and interest groups advisory committees participation

ARTICLE 3 - GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES

Specifying sovereign general powers and council powers, allowing the council to conduct research and disseminate data; authorizing council rulemaking; requiring council member parties report submission to the council and subsequent council review and findings

ARTICLE 4 - WATER MANAGEMENT AND REGULATION

Requiring member parties to develop and maintain a water resources inventory, requiring the council to assist developing a common data base, requiring certain water withdrawal registration and specifying reporting requirements; requiring the council to identify conservation and efficiency objectives; specifying member party powers and duties, originating party approval and regional review requirement; specifying council actions, prohibiting new or increased diversions, exceptions; requiring member party creation of management programs and regulation of new or increased withdrawals and consumption; specifying a decision making standard and criteria, applicability and exemptions; citing legal precedent; requiring member parties to conduct periodic cumulative withdrawal and consumption impact assessments

ARTICLE 5 - TRIBAL CONSULTATION

Requiring consultation with federally recognized tribes, specifying consultation mechanisms

ARTICLE 6 - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Requiring council meetings to be open to the public and specifying a policy of public participation

ARTICLE 7 - DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ENFORCEMENT

Providing and specifying good faith implementation, alternative dispute resolution and enforcement

ARTICLE 8 - ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

Specifying effect on existing rights, relationship to agreements concluded by the federal government, confidentiality, additional laws, amendments and supplements, severability and duration of compact and termination

ARTICLE 9 - EFFECTUATION

Providing for repeal of inconsistent acts; authorizing the governor to effectuate the compact; specifying compact to be complete and whole, effective date and execution
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