Legislative Session number- 85

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
(rt)