As Introduced

127th General Assembly
Regular Session
2007-2008
S. B. No. 291


Senator Grendell 

Cosponsors: Senators Wagoner, Harris, Spada, Niehaus, Jacobson, Austria, Seitz, Schuring, Mumper, Schuler, Padgett, Goodman, Cates, Faber, Carey, Amstutz 



A BILL
To enact sections 1522.01, 1522.02, 1522.03, 1522.04, 1
1522.05, 1522.06, 1522.07, and 1522.08 of the 2
Revised Code to ratify the Great Lakes-St. 3
Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact and 4
to establish related requirements.5


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1.  That sections 1522.01, 1522.02, 1522.03, 1522.04, 6
1522.05, 1522.06, 1522.07, and 1522.08 of the Revised Code be 7
enacted to read as follows:8

       Sec. 1522.01.  The "great lakes-st. Lawrence river basin 9
water resources compact," which has been negotiated by 10
representatives of this state and the states of Illinois, Indiana, 11
Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Wisconsin and the commonwealth 12
of Pennsylvania, is hereby ratified, enacted into law, and entered 13
into by this state as a party to it as follows:14

AGREEMENT
15

Section 1. The states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, 16
New York, Ohio and Wisconsin and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 17
hereby solemnly covenant and agree with each other, upon enactment 18
of concurrent legislation by the respective state legislatures and 19
consent by the Congress of the United States as follows:20

GREAT LAKES-ST. LAWRENCE RIVER BASIN WATER RESOURCES COMPACT
21

ARTICLE 1
22

SHORT TITLE, DEFINITIONS, PURPOSES AND DURATION
23

Section 1.1. Short Title.24

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Great Lakes-St. 25
Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact."26

Section 1.2. Definitions.27

For the purposes of this Compact, and of any supplemental or 28
concurring legislation enacted pursuant thereto, except as may be 29
otherwise required by the context:30

Adaptive Management means a Water resources management system that 31
provides a systematic process for evaluation, monitoring and 32
learning from the outcomes of operational programs and adjustment 33
of policies, plans and programs based on experience and the 34
evolution of scientific knowledge concerning Water resources and 35
Water Dependent Natural Resources.36

Agreement means the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin 37
Sustainable Water Resources Agreement.38

Applicant means a Person who is required to submit a Proposal that 39
is subject to management and regulation under this Compact. 40
Application has a corresponding meaning.41

Basin or Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin means the watershed 42
of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River upstream from 43
Trois-Rivieres, Quebec within the jurisdiction of the Parties.44

Basin Ecosystem or Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Ecosystem 45
means the interacting components of air, land, Water and living 46
organisms, including humankind, within the Basin.47

Community within a Straddling County means any incorporated city, 48
town or the equivalent thereof, that is located outside the Basin 49
but wholly within a County that lies partly within the Basin and 50
that is not a Straddling Community.51

Compact means this Compact.52

Consumptive Use means that portion of the Water Withdrawn or 53
withheld from the Basin that is lost or otherwise not returned to 54
the Basin due to evaporation, incorporation into Products or other 55
processes.56

Council means the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water 57
Resources Council, created by this Compact.58

Council Review means the collective review by the Council members 59
as described in Article 4 of this Compact.60

County means the largest territorial division for local government 61
in a State. The County boundaries shall be defined as those 62
boundaries that exist as of December 13, 2005.63

Cumulative Impacts mean the impact on the Basin Ecosystem that 64
results from incremental effects of all aspects of a Withdrawal, 65
Diversion or Consumptive Use in addition to other past, present 66
and reasonably foreseeable future Withdrawals, Diversions and 67
Consumptive Uses regardless of who undertakes the other 68
Withdrawals, Diversions and Consumptive Uses. Cumulative Impacts 69
can result from individually minor but collectively significant 70
Withdrawals, Diversions and Consumptive Uses taking place over a 71
period of time.72

Decision-Making Standard means the decision-making standard 73
established by Section 4.11 for Proposals subject to management 74
and regulation in Section 4.10.75

Diversion means a transfer of Water from the Basin into another 76
watershed, or from the watershed of one of the Great Lakes into 77
that of another by any means of transfer, including but not 78
limited to a pipeline, canal, tunnel, aqueduct, channel, 79
modification of the direction of a water course, a tanker ship, 80
tanker truck or rail tanker but does not apply to Water that is 81
used in the Basin or a Great Lake watershed to manufacture or 82
produce a Product that is then transferred out of the Basin or 83
watershed. Divert has a corresponding meaning.84

Environmentally Sound and Economically Feasible Water Conservation 85
Measures mean those measures, methods, technologies or practices 86
for efficient water use and for reduction of water loss and waste 87
or for reducing a Withdrawal, Consumptive Use or Diversion that i) 88
are environmentally sound, ii) reflect best practices applicable 89
to the water use sector, iii) are technically feasible and 90
available, iv) are economically feasible and cost effective based 91
on an analysis that considers direct and avoided economic and 92
environmental costs and v) consider the particular facilities and 93
processes involved, taking into account the environmental impact, 94
age of equipment and facilities involved, the processes employed, 95
energy impacts and other appropriate factors.96

Exception means a transfer of Water that is excepted under Section 97
4.9 from the prohibition against Diversions in Section 4.8.98

Exception Standard means the standard for Exceptions established 99
in Section 4.9.4.100

Intra-Basin Transfer means the transfer of Water from the 101
watershed of one of the Great Lakes into the watershed of another 102
Great Lake.103

Measures means any legislation, law, regulation, directive, 104
requirement, guideline, program, policy, administrative practice 105
or other procedure.106

New or Increased Diversion means a new Diversion, an increase in 107
an existing Diversion or the alteration of an existing Withdrawal 108
so that it becomes a Diversion.109

New or Increased Withdrawal or Consumptive Use means a new 110
Withdrawal or Consumptive Use or an increase in an existing 111
Withdrawal or Consumptive Use. 112

Originating Party means the Party within whose jurisdiction an 113
Application or registration is made or required.114

Party means a State party to this Compact.115

Person means a human being or a legal person, including a 116
government or a non-governmental organization, including any 117
scientific, professional, business, nonprofit or public interest 118
organization or association that is neither affiliated with, nor 119
under the direction of a government.120

Product means something produced in the Basin by human or 121
mechanical effort or through agricultural processes and used in 122
manufacturing, commercial or other processes or intended for 123
intermediate or end use consumers. (i) Water used as part of the 124
packaging of a Product shall be considered to be part of the 125
Product. (ii) Other than Water used as part of the packaging of a 126
Product, Water that is used primarily to transport materials in or 127
out of the Basin is not a Product or part of a Product. (iii) 128
Except as provided in (i) above, Water which is transferred as 129
part of a public or private supply is not a Product or part of a 130
Product. (iv) Water in its natural state such as in lakes, rivers, 131
reservoirs, aquifers or water basins is not a Product. 132

Proposal means a Withdrawal, Diversion or Consumptive Use of Water 133
that is subject to this Compact.134

Province means Ontario or Quebec.135

Public Water Supply Purposes means water distributed to the public 136
through a physically connected system of treatment, storage and 137
distribution facilities serving a group of largely residential 138
customers that may also serve industrial, commercial and other 139
institutional operators. Water Withdrawn directly from the Basin 140
and not through such a system shall not be considered to be used 141
for Public Water Supply Purposes.142

Regional Body means the members of the Council and the Premiers of 143
Ontario and Quebec or their designee as established by the 144
Agreement.145

Regional Review means the collective review by the Regional Body 146
as described in Article 4 of this Compact.147

Source Watershed means the watershed from which a Withdrawal 148
originates. If Water is Withdrawn directly from a Great Lake or 149
from the St. Lawrence River, then the Source Watershed shall be 150
considered to be the watershed of that Great Lake or the watershed 151
of the St. Lawrence River, respectively. If Water is Withdrawn 152
from the watershed of a stream that is a direct tributary to a 153
Great Lake or a direct tributary to the St. Lawrence River, then 154
the Source Watershed shall be considered to be the watershed of 155
that Great Lake or the watershed of the St. Lawrence River, 156
respectively, with a preference to the direct tributary stream 157
watershed from which it was Withdrawn.158

Standard of Review and Decision means the Exception Standard, 159
Decision-Making Standard and reviews as outlined in Article 4 of 160
this Compact.161

State means one of the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 162
Minnesota, New York, Ohio or Wisconsin or the Commonwealth of 163
Pennsylvania.164

Straddling Community means any incorporated city, town or the 165
equivalent thereof, wholly within any County that lies partly or 166
completely within the Basin, whose corporate boundary existing as 167
of the effective date of this Compact, is partly within the Basin 168
or partly within two Great Lakes watersheds.169

Technical Review means a detailed review conducted to determine 170
whether or not a Proposal that requires Regional Review under this 171
Compact meets the Standard of Review and Decision following 172
procedures and guidelines as set out in this Compact.173

Water means ground or surface water contained within the Basin.174

Water Dependent Natural Resources means the interacting components 175
of land, Water and living organisms affected by the Waters of the 176
Basin.177

Waters of the Basin or Basin Water means the Great Lakes and all 178
streams, rivers, lakes, connecting channels and other bodies of 179
water, including tributary groundwater, within the Basin.180

Withdrawal means the taking of water from surface water or 181
groundwater. Withdraw has a corresponding meaning.182

Section 1.3. Findings and Purposes.183

The legislative bodies of the respective Parties hereby find and 184
declare:185

1. Findings:186

a. The Waters of the Basin are precious public natural resources 187
        and, except for tributary groundwater and nonnavigable 188
        surface waters, are shared and held in trust by the States. 189
        In addition, the Waters of the Basin are subject to 190
        reasonable regulation by the Council.191
       

b. The Waters of the Basin are interconnected and part of a single 192
        hydrologic system;193
       

c. The Waters of the Basin can concurrently serve multiple uses. 194
        Such multiple uses include municipal, public, industrial, 195
        commercial, agriculture, mining, navigation, energy 196
        development and production, recreation, the subsistence, 197
        economic and cultural activities of native peoples, Water 198
        quality maintenance and the maintenance of fish and wildlife 199
        habitat and a balanced ecosystem. And, other purposes are 200
        encouraged, recognizing that such uses are interdependent and 201
        must be balanced;202
       

d. Future Diversions and Consumptive Uses of Basin Water resources 203
        have the potential to significantly impact the environment, 204
        economy and welfare of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River 205
        region;206
       

e. Continued sustainable, accessible and adequate Water supplies 207
        for the people and economy of the Basin are of vital 208
        importance; and,209
       

f. The Parties have a shared duty to protect, conserve, restore, 210
        improve and manage the renewable but finite Waters of the 211
        Basin for the use, benefit and enjoyment of all their 212
        citizens, including generations yet to come. The most 213
        effective means of protecting, conserving, restoring, 214
        improving and managing the Basin Waters is through the joint 215
        pursuit of unified and cooperative principles, policies and 216
        programs mutually agreed upon, enacted and adhered to by all 217
        Parties.218
       

2. Purposes:219

a. To act together to protect, conserve, restore, improve and 220
        effectively manage the Waters and Water Dependent Natural 221
        Resources of the Basin under appropriate arrangements for 222
        intergovernmental cooperation and consultation because 223
        current lack of full scientific certainty should not be used 224
        as a reason for postponing measures to protect the Basin 225
        Ecosystem;226
       

b. To remove causes of present and future controversies;227
       

c. To provide for cooperative planning and action by the Parties 228
        with respect to such Water resources;229
       

d. To facilitate consistent approaches to Water management across 230
        the Basin while retaining State management authority over 231
        Water management decisions within the Basin;232
       

e. To facilitate the exchange of data, strengthen the scientific 233
        information base upon which decisions are made and engage in 234
        consultation on the potential effects of proposed Withdrawals 235
        and losses on the Waters and Water Dependent Natural 236
        Resources of the Basin;237
       

f. To prevent significant adverse impacts of Withdrawals and 238
        losses on the Basin's ecosystems and watersheds;239
       

g. To promote interstate and State-Provincial comity; and,240
       

h. To promote an Adaptive Management approach to the conservation 241
        and management of Basin Water resources, which recognizes, 242
        considers and provides adjustments for the uncertainties in, 243
        and evolution of, scientific knowledge concerning the Basin's 244
        Waters and Water Dependent Natural Resources.245
       

Section 1.4. Science.246

1. The Parties commit to provide leadership for the development of 247
        a collaborative strategy with other regional partners to 248
        strengthen the scientific basis for sound Water management 249
        decision making under this Compact.250
       

2. The strategy shall guide the collection and application of 251
        scientific information to support:252
       

a. An improved understanding of the individual and Cumulative 253
        Impacts of Withdrawals from various locations and Water 254
        sources on the Basin Ecosystem and to develop a mechanism by 255
        which impacts of Withdrawals may be assessed;256
       

b. The periodic assessment of Cumulative Impacts of Withdrawals, 257
        Diversions and Consumptive Uses on a Great Lake and St. 258
        Lawrence River watershed basis;259
       

c. Improved scientific understanding of the Waters of the Basin;260
       

d. Improved understanding of the role of groundwater in Basin 261
        Water resources management; and,262
       

e. The development, transfer and application of science and 263
        research related to Water conservation and Water use 264
        efficiency.265
       

ARTICLE 2
266

ORGANIZATION
267

Section 2.1. Council Created.268

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Council 269
is hereby created as a body politic and corporate, with succession 270
for the duration of this Compact, as an agency and instrumentality 271
of the governments of the respective Parties.272

Section 2.2. Council Membership.273

The Council shall consist of the Governors of the Parties, ex 274
officio.275

Section 2.3. Alternates.276

Each member of the Council shall appoint at least one alternate 277
who may act in his or her place and stead, with authority to 278
attend all meetings of the Council and with power to vote in the 279
absence of the member. Unless otherwise provided by law of the 280
Party for which he or she is appointed, each alternate shall serve 281
during the term of the member appointing him or her, subject to 282
removal at the pleasure of the member. In the event of a vacancy 283
in the office of alternate, it shall be filled in the same manner 284
as an original appointment for the unexpired term only.285

Section 2.4. Voting.286

1. Each member is entitled to one vote on all matters that may 287
        come before the Council.288
       

2. Unless otherwise stated, the rule of decision shall be by a 289
        simple majority.290
       

3. The Council shall annually adopt a budget for each fiscal year 291
        and the amount required to balance the budget shall be 292
        apportioned equitably among the Parties by unanimous vote of 293
        the Council. The appropriation of such amounts shall be 294
        subject to such review and approval as may be required by the 295
        budgetary processes of the respective Parties.296
       

4. The participation of Council members from a majority of the 297
        Parties shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of 298
        business at any meeting of the Council.299
       

Section 2.5. Organization and Procedure.300

The Council shall provide for its own organization and procedure, 301
and may adopt rules and regulations governing its meetings and 302
transactions, as well as the procedures and timeline for 303
submission, review and consideration of Proposals that come before 304
the Council for its review and action. The Council shall organize, 305
annually, by the election of a Chair and Vice-Chair from among its 306
members. Each member may appoint an advisor, who may attend all 307
meetings of the Council and its committees, but shall not have 308
voting power. The Council may employ or appoint professional and 309
administrative personnel, including an Executive Director, as it 310
may deem advisable, to carry out the purposes of this Compact.311

Section 2.6. Use of Existing Offices and Agencies.312

It is the policy of the Parties to preserve and utilize the 313
functions, powers and duties of existing offices and agencies of 314
government to the extent consistent with this Compact. Further, 315
the Council shall promote and aid the coordination of the 316
activities and programs of the Parties concerned with Water 317
resources management in the Basin. To this end, but without 318
limitation, the Council may:319

       1. Advise, consult, contract, assist or otherwise cooperate with 320
        any and all such agencies;321
       

2. Employ any other agency or instrumentality of any of the 322
        Parties for any purpose; and,323
       

3. Develop and adopt plans consistent with the Water resources 324
        plans of the Parties.325
       

Section 2.7. Jurisdiction.326

The Council shall have, exercise and discharge its functions, 327
powers and duties within the limits of the Basin. Outside the 328
Basin, it may act in its discretion, but only to the extent such 329
action may be necessary or convenient to effectuate or implement 330
its powers or responsibilities within the Basin and subject to the 331
consent of the jurisdiction wherein it proposes to act.332

Section 2.8. Status, Immunities and Privileges.333

1. The Council, its members and personnel in their official 334
        capacity and when engaged directly in the affairs of the 335
        Council, its property and its assets, wherever located and by 336
        whomsoever held, shall enjoy the same immunity from suit and 337
        every form of judicial process as is enjoyed by the Parties, 338
        except to the extent that the Council may expressly waive its 339
        immunity for the purposes of any proceedings or by the terms 340
        of any contract.341
       

2. The property and assets of the Council, wherever located and by 342
        whomsoever held, shall be considered public property and 343
        shall be immune from search, requisition, confiscation, 344
        expropriation or any other form of taking or foreclosure by 345
        executive or legislative action.346
       

3. The Council, its property and its assets, income and the 347
        operations it carries out pursuant to this Compact shall be 348
        immune from all taxation by or under the authority of any of 349
        the Parties or any political subdivision thereof; provided, 350
        however, that in lieu of property taxes the Council may make 351
        reasonable payments to local taxing districts in annual 352
        amounts which shall approximate the taxes lawfully assessed 353
        upon similar property.354
       

Section 2.9. Advisory Committees.355

The Council may constitute and empower advisory committees, which 356
may be comprised of representatives of the public and of federal, 357
State, tribal, county and local governments, water resources 358
agencies, water-using industries and sectors, water-interest 359
groups and academic experts in related fields.360

ARTICLE 3
361

GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES
362

Section 3.1. General.363

The Waters and Water Dependent Natural Resources of the Basin are 364
subject to the sovereign right and responsibilities of the 365
Parties, and it is the purpose of this Compact to provide for 366
joint exercise of such powers of sovereignty by the Council in the 367
common interests of the people of the region, in the manner and to 368
the extent provided in this Compact. The Council and the Parties 369
shall use the Standard of Review and Decision and procedures 370
contained in or adopted pursuant to this Compact as the means to 371
exercise their authority under this Compact.372

The Council may revise the Standard of Review and Decision, after 373
consultation with the Provinces and upon unanimous vote of all 374
Council members, by regulation duly adopted in accordance with 375
Section 3.3 of this Compact and in accordance with each Party's 376
respective statutory authorities and applicable procedures.377

The Council shall identify priorities and develop plans and 378
policies relating to Basin Water resources. It shall adopt and 379
promote uniform and coordinated policies for Water resources 380
conservation and management in the Basin.381

Section 3.2. Council Powers.382

The Council may: plan; conduct research and collect, compile, 383
analyze, interpret, report and disseminate data on Water resources 384
and uses; forecast Water levels; conduct investigations; institute 385
court actions; design, acquire, construct, reconstruct, own, 386
operate, maintain, control, sell and convey real and personal 387
property and any interest therein as it may deem necessary, useful 388
or convenient to carry out the purposes of this Compact; make 389
contracts; receive and accept such payments, appropriations, 390
grants, gifts, loans, advances and other funds, properties and 391
services as may be transferred or made available to it by any 392
Party or by any other public or private agency, corporation or 393
individual; and, exercise such other and different powers as may 394
be delegated to it by this Compact or otherwise pursuant to law, 395
and have and exercise all powers necessary or convenient to carry 396
out its express powers or which may be reasonably implied 397
therefrom.398

Section 3.3. Rules and Regulations.399

1. The Council may promulgate and enforce such rules and 400
        regulations as may be necessary for the implementation and 401
        enforcement of this Compact. The Council may adopt by 402
        regulation, after public notice and public hearing, 403
        reasonable Application fees with respect to those Proposals 404
        for Exceptions that are subject to Council review under 405
        Section 4.9. Any rule or regulation of the Council, other 406
        than one which deals solely with the internal management of 407
        the Council or its property, shall be adopted only after 408
        public notice and hearing.409
       

2. Each Party, in accordance with its respective statutory 410
        authorities and applicable procedures, may adopt and enforce 411
        rules and regulations to implement and enforce this Compact 412
        and the programs adopted by such Party to carry out the 413
        management programs contemplated by this Compact.414
       

Section 3.4. Program Review and Findings.415

1. Each Party shall submit a report to the Council and the 416
        Regional Body detailing its Water management and conservation 417
        and efficiency programs that implement this Compact. The 418
        report shall set out the manner in which Water Withdrawals 419
        are managed by sector, Water source, quantity or any other 420
        means, and how the provisions of the Standard of Review and 421
        Decision and conservation and efficiency programs are 422
        implemented. The first report shall be provided by each Party 423
        one year from the effective date of this Compact and 424
        thereafter every five years.425
       

2. The Council, in cooperation with the Provinces, shall review 426
        its Water management and conservation and efficiency programs 427
        and those of the Parties that are established in this Compact 428
        and make findings on whether the Water management program 429
        provisions in this Compact are being met, and if not, 430
        recommend options to assist the Parties in meeting the 431
        provisions of this Compact. Such review shall take place:432
       

a. Thirty days after the first report is submitted by all Parties; 433
        and,434
       

b. Every five years after the effective date of this Compact; and,435
       

c. At any other time at the request of one of the Parties.436
       

3. As one of its duties and responsibilities, the Council may 437
        recommend a range of approaches to the Parties with respect 438
        to the development, enhancement and application of Water 439
        management and conservation and efficiency programs to 440
        implement the Standard of Review and Decision reflecting 441
        improved scientific understanding of the Waters of the Basin, 442
        including groundwater, and the impacts of Withdrawals on the 443
        Basin Ecosystem.444
       

4. In the exercise of its authority under this Compact, the 445
        Council shall not take any action that results in any Party 446
        being prohibited from using at least as much Water, based on 447
        a gallons-per-day standard, as any other Party. In addition, 448
        the Compact shall not be interpreted to prohibit and any 449
        action of the Council shall not prohibit access to or use of 450
        Waters of the Basin by Persons who used or had such access to 451
        Waters of the Basin on February 1, 2008.452
       

ARTICLE 4
453

WATER MANAGEMENT AND REGULATION
454

Section 4.1. Water Resources Inventory, Registration and 455
Reporting.456

1. Within five years of the effective date of this Compact, each 457
        Party shall develop and maintain a Water resources inventory 458
        for the collection, interpretation, storage, retrieval, 459
        exchange and dissemination of information concerning the 460
        Water resources of the Party, including, but not limited to, 461
        information on the location, type, quantity and use of those 462
        resources and the location, type and quantity of Withdrawals, 463
        Diversions and Consumptive Uses. To the extent feasible, the 464
        Water resources inventory shall be developed in cooperation 465
        with local, State, federal, tribal and other private agencies 466
        and entities, as well as the Council. Each Party's agencies 467
        shall cooperate with that Party in the development and 468
        maintenance of the inventory.469
       

2. The Council shall assist each Party to develop a common base of 470
        data regarding the management of the Water resources of the 471
        Basin and to establish systematic arrangements for the 472
        exchange of those data with other States and Provinces.473
       

3. To develop and maintain a compatible base of Water use 474
        information, within five years of the effective date of this 475
        Compact any Person who Withdraws Water in an amount of 476
        100,000 gallons per day or greater average in any 30-day 477
        period (including Consumptive Uses) from all sources, or 478
        Diverts Water of any amount, shall register the Withdrawal or 479
        Diversion by a date set by the Council unless the Person has 480
        previously registered in accordance with an existing State 481
        program. The Person shall register the Withdrawal or 482
        Diversion with the Originating Party using a form prescribed 483
        by the Originating Party that shall include, at a minimum and 484
        without limitation: the name and address of the registrant 485
        and date of registration; the locations and sources of the 486
        Withdrawal or Diversion; the capacity of the Withdrawal or 487
        Diversion per day and the amount Withdrawn or Diverted from 488
        each source; the uses made of the Water; places of use and 489
        places of discharge; and, such other information as the 490
        Originating Party may require. All registrations shall 491
        include an estimate of the volume of the Withdrawal or 492
        Diversion in terms of gallons per day average in any 30-day 493
        period.494
       

4. All registrants shall annually report the monthly volumes of 495
        the Withdrawal, Consumptive Use and Diversion in gallons to 496
        the Originating Party and any other information requested by 497
        the Originating Party.498
       

5. Each Party shall annually report the information gathered 499
        pursuant to this Section to a Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River 500
        Water use data base repository and aggregated information 501
        shall be made publicly available, consistent with the 502
        confidentiality requirements in Section 8.3.503
       

6. Information gathered by the Parties pursuant to this Section 504
        shall be used to improve the sources and applications of 505
        scientific information regarding the Waters of the Basin and 506
        the impacts of the Withdrawals and Diversions from various 507
        locations and Water sources on the Basin Ecosystem, and to 508
        better understand the role of groundwater in the Basin. The 509
        Council and the Parties shall coordinate the collection and 510
        application of scientific information to further develop a 511
        mechanism by which individual and Cumulative Impacts of 512
        Withdrawals, Consumptive Uses and Diversions shall be 513
        assessed.514
       

Section 4.2. Water Conservation and Efficiency Programs.515

1. The Council commits to identify, in cooperation with the 516
        Provinces, Basin-wide Water conservation and efficiency 517
        objectives to assist the Parties in developing their Water 518
        conservation and efficiency program. These objectives are 519
        based on the goals of:520
       

a. Ensuring improvement of the Waters and Water Dependent Natural 521
        Resources;522
       

b. Protecting and restoring the hydrologic and ecosystem integrity 523
        of the Basin;524
       

c. Retaining the quantity of surface water and groundwater in the 525
        Basin;526
       

d. Ensuring sustainable use of Waters of the Basin; and,527
       

e. Promoting the efficiency of use and reducing losses and waste 528
        of Water.529
       

2. Within two years of the effective date of this Compact, each 530
        Party shall develop its own Water conservation and efficiency 531
        goals and objectives consistent with the Basin-wide goals and 532
        objectives, and shall develop and implement a Water 533
        conservation and efficiency program, either voluntary or 534
        mandatory, within its jurisdiction based on the Party's goals 535
        and objectives. Each Party shall annually assess its programs 536
        in meeting the Party's goals and objectives, report to the 537
        Council and the Regional Body and make this annual assessment 538
        available to the public.539
       

3. Beginning five years after the effective date of this Compact, 540
        and every five years thereafter, the Council, in cooperation 541
        with the Provinces, shall review and modify as appropriate 542
        the Basin-wide objectives, and the Parties shall have regard 543
        for any such modifications in implementing their programs. 544
        This assessment will be based on examining new technologies, 545
        new patterns of Water use, new resource demands and threats 546
        and Cumulative Impact assessment under Section 4.15.547
       

4. Within two years of the effective date of this Compact, the 548
        Parties commit to promote Environmentally Sound and 549
        Economically Feasible Water Conservation Measures such as:550
       

a. Measures that promote efficient use of Water;551
       

b. Identification and sharing of best management practices and 552
        state of the art conservation and efficiency technologies;553
       

c. Application of sound planning principles;554
       

d. Demand-side and supply-side Measures or incentives; and,555
       

e. Development, transfer and application of science and research.556
       

5. Each Party shall implement in accordance with Paragraph 2 above 557
        a voluntary or mandatory Water conservation program for all, 558
        including existing, Basin Water users. Conservation programs 559
        need to adjust to new demands and the potential impacts of 560
        cumulative effects and climate.561
       

Section 4.3. Party Powers and Duties. 562

1. Each Party, within its jurisdiction, shall manage and regulate 563
        New or Increased Withdrawals, Consumptive Uses and 564
        Diversions, including Exceptions, in accordance with this 565
        Compact.566
       

2. Each Party shall require an Applicant to submit an Application 567
        in such manner and with such accompanying information as the 568
        Party shall prescribe.569
       

3. No Party may approve a Proposal if the Party determines that 570
        the Proposal is inconsistent with this Compact or the 571
        Standard of Review and Decision or any implementing rules or 572
        regulations promulgated thereunder. The Party may approve, 573
        approve with modifications or disapprove any Proposal 574
        depending on the Proposal's consistency with this Compact and 575
        the Standard of Review and Decision.576
       

4. Each Party shall monitor the implementation of any approved 577
        Proposal to ensure consistency with the approval and may take 578
        all necessary enforcement actions.579
       

5. No Party shall approve a Proposal subject to Council or 580
        Regional Review, or both, pursuant to this Compact unless it 581
        shall have been first submitted to and reviewed by either the 582
        Council or Regional Body, or both, and approved by the 583
        Council, as applicable. Sufficient opportunity shall be 584
        provided for comment on the Proposal's consistency with this 585
        Compact and the Standard of Review and Decision. All such 586
        comments shall become part of the Party's formal record of 587
        decision, and the Party shall take into consideration any 588
        such comments received.589
       

Section 4.4. Requirement for Originating Party Approval.590

No Proposal subject to management and regulation under this 591
Compact shall hereafter be undertaken by any Person unless it 592
shall have been approved by the Originating Party.593

Section 4.5. Regional Review.594

1. General.595

a. It is the intention of the Parties to participate in Regional 596
        Review of Proposals with the Provinces, as described in this 597
        Compact and the Agreement.598
       

b. Unless the Applicant or the Originating Party otherwise 599
        requests, it shall be the goal of the Regional Body to 600
        conclude its review no later than 90 days after notice under 601
        Section 4.5.2 of such Proposal is received from the 602
        Originating Party.603
       

c. Proposals for Exceptions subject to Regional Review shall be 604
        submitted by the Originating Party to the Regional Body for 605
        Regional Review, and where applicable, to the Council for 606
        concurrent review.607
       

d. The Parties agree that the protection of the integrity of the 608
        Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Ecosystem shall be the 609
        overarching principle for reviewing Proposals subject to 610
        Regional Review, recognizing uncertainties with respect to 611
        demands that may be placed on Basin Water, including 612
        groundwater, levels and flows of the Great Lakes and the St. 613
        Lawrence River, future changes in environmental conditions, 614
        the reliability of existing data and the extent to which 615
        Diversions may harm the integrity of the Basin Ecosystem.616
       

e. The Originating Party shall have lead responsibility for 617
        coordinating information for resolution of issues related to 618
        evaluation of a Proposal, and shall consult with the 619
        Applicant throughout the Regional Review process.620
       

f. A majority of the members of the Regional Body may request 621
        Regional Review of a regionally significant or potentially 622
        precedent setting Proposal. Such Regional Review must be 623
        conducted, to the extent possible, within the time frames set 624
        forth in this Section. Any such Regional Review shall be 625
        undertaken only after consulting the Applicant.626
       

2. Notice from Originating Party to the Regional Body.627

a. The Originating Party shall determine if a Proposal is subject 628
        to Regional Review. If so, the Originating Party shall 629
        provide timely notice to the Regional Body and the public.630
       

b. Such notice shall not be given unless and until all 631
        information, documents and the Originating Party's Technical 632
        Review needed to evaluate whether the Proposal meets the 633
        Standard of Review and Decision have been provided.634
       

c. An Originating Party may:635
       

i. Provide notice to the Regional Body of an Application, even if 636
        notification is not required; or,637
       

ii. Request Regional Review of an application, even if Regional 638
        Review is not required. Any such Regional Review shall be 639
        undertaken only after consulting the Applicant.640
       

d. An Originating Party may provide preliminary notice of a 641
        potential Proposal.642
       

3. Public Participation.643

a. To ensure adequate public participation, the Regional Body 644
        shall adopt procedures for the review of Proposals that are 645
        subject to Regional Review in accordance with this Article.646
       

b. The Regional Body shall provide notice to the public of a 647
        Proposal undergoing Regional Review. Such notice shall 648
        indicate that the public has an opportunity to comment in 649
        writing to the Regional Body on whether the Proposal meets 650
        the Standard of Review and Decision.651
       

c. The Regional Body shall hold a public meeting in the State or 652
        Province of the Originating Party in order to receive public 653
        comment on the issue of whether the Proposal under 654
        consideration meets the Standard of Review and Decision.655
       

d. The Regional Body shall consider the comments received before 656
        issuing a Declaration of Finding.657
       

e. The Regional Body shall forward the comments it receives to the 658
        Originating Party.659
       

4. Technical Review.660

a. The Originating Party shall provide the Regional Body with its 661
        Technical Review of the Proposal under consideration.662
       

b. The Originating Party's Technical Review shall thoroughly 663
        analyze the Proposal and provide an evaluation of the 664
        Proposal sufficient for a determination of whether the 665
        Proposal meets the Standard of Review and Decision.666
       

c. Any member of the Regional Body may conduct their own Technical 667
        Review of any Proposal subject to Regional Review.668
       

d. At the request of the majority of its members, the Regional 669
        Body shall make such arrangements as it considers appropriate 670
        for an independent Technical Review of a Proposal.671
       

e. All Parties shall exercise their best efforts to ensure that a 672
        Technical Review undertaken under Sections 4.5.4.c and 673
        4.5.4.d does not unnecessarily delay the decision by the 674
        Originating Party on the Application. Unless the Applicant or 675
        the Originating Party otherwise requests, all Technical 676
        Reviews shall be completed no later than 60 days after the 677
        date the notice of the Proposal was given to the Regional 678
        Body.679
       

5. Declaration of Finding.680

a. The Regional Body shall meet to consider a Proposal. The 681
        Applicant shall be provided with an opportunity to present 682
        the Proposal to the Regional Body at such time.683
       

b. The Regional Body, having considered the notice, the 684
        Originating Party's Technical Review, any other independent 685
        Technical Review that is made, any comments or objections 686
        including the analysis of comments made by the public, First 687
        Nations and federally recognized Tribes, and any other 688
        information that is provided under this Compact shall issue a 689
        Declaration of Finding that the Proposal under consideration:690
       

i. Meets the Standard of Review and Decision;691
       

ii. Does not meet the Standard of Review and Decision; or,692
       

iii. Would meet the Standard of Review and Decision if certain 693
        conditions were met.694
       

c. An Originating Party may decline to participate in a 695
        Declaration of Finding made by the Regional Body.696
       

d. The Parties recognize and affirm that it is preferable for all 697
        members of the Regional Body to agree whether the Proposal 698
        meets the Standard of Review and Decision.699
       

e. If the members of the Regional Body who participate in the 700
        Declaration of Finding all agree, they shall issue a written 701
        Declaration of Finding with consensus.702
       

f. In the event that the members cannot agree, the Regional Body 703
        shall make every reasonable effort to achieve consensus 704
        within 25 days.705
       

g. Should consensus not be achieved, the Regional Body may issue a 706
        Declaration of Finding that presents different points of view 707
        and indicates each Party's conclusions.708
       

h. The Regional Body shall release the Declaration of Finding to 709
        the public.710
       

i. The Originating Party and the Council shall consider the 711
        Declaration of Finding before making a decision on the 712
        Proposal.713
       

Section 4.6. Proposals Subject to Prior Notice.714

1. Beginning no later than five years from the effective date of 715
        this Compact, the Originating Party shall provide all Parties 716
        and the Provinces with detailed and timely notice and an 717
        opportunity to comment within 90 days on any Proposal for a 718
        New or Increased Consumptive Use of 5 million gallons per day 719
        or greater average in any 90-day period. Comments shall 720
        address whether or not the Proposal is consistent with the 721
        Standard of Review and Decision. The Originating Party shall 722
        provide a response to any such comment received from another 723
        Party.724
       

2. A Party may provide notice, an opportunity to comment and a 725
        response to comments even if this is not required under 726
        Paragraph 1 of this Section. Any provision of such notice and 727
        opportunity to comment shall be undertaken only after 728
        consulting the Applicant.729
       

Section 4.7 Council Actions.730

1. Proposals for Exceptions subject to Council Review shall be 731
        submitted by the Originating Party to the Council for Council 732
        Review, and where applicable, to the Regional Body for 733
        concurrent review.734
       

2. The Council shall review and take action on Proposals in 735
        accordance with this Compact and the Standard of Review and 736
        Decision. The Council shall not take action on a Proposal 737
        subject to Regional Review pursuant to this Compact unless 738
        the Proposal shall have been first submitted to and reviewed 739
        by the Regional Body. The Council shall consider any findings 740
        resulting from such review.741
       

Section 4.8. Prohibition of New or Increased Diversions.742

All New or Increased Diversions are prohibited, except as provided 743
for in this Article.744

Section 4.9. Exceptions to the Prohibition of Diversions.745

1.        Straddling Communities.        A Proposal to transfer Water to an area 746
        within a Straddling Community but outside the Basin or 747
        outside the Source Great Lake Watershed shall be excepted 748
        from the prohibition against Diversions and be managed and 749
        regulated by the Originating Party provided that, regardless 750
        of the volume of Water transferred, all the Water so 751
        transferred shall be used solely for Public Water Supply 752
        Purposes within the Straddling Community, and:753
       

a. All Water Withdrawn from the Basin shall be returned, either 754
        naturally or after use, to the Source Watershed less an 755
        allowance for Consumptive Use. No surface water or 756
        groundwater from outside the Basin may be used to satisfy any 757
        portion of this criterion except if it:758
       

i. Is part of a water supply or wastewater treatment system that 759
        combines water from inside and outside of the Basin;760
       

ii. Is treated to meet applicable water quality discharge 761
        standards and to prevent the introduction of invasive species 762
        into the Basin;763
       

iii. Maximizes the portion of water returned to the Source 764
        Watershed as Basin Water and minimizes the surface water or 765
        groundwater from outside the Basin;766
       

b. If the Proposal results from a New or Increased Withdrawal of 767
        100,000 gallons per day or greater average over any 90-day 768
        period, the Proposal shall also meet the Exception Standard; 769
        and,770
       

c. If the Proposal results in a New or Increased Consumptive Use 771
        of 5 million gallons per day or greater average over any 772
        90-day period, the Proposal shall also undergo Regional 773
        Review.774
       

2.        Intra-Basin Transfer.        A Proposal for an Intra-Basin Transfer 775
        that would be considered a Diversion under this Compact, and 776
        not already excepted pursuant to Paragraph 1 of this Section, 777
        shall be excepted from the prohibition against Diversions, 778
        provided that:779
       

a. If the Proposal results from a New or Increased Withdrawal of 780
        less than 100,000 gallons per day average over any 90-day 781
        period, the Proposal shall be subject to management and 782
        regulation at the discretion of the Originating Party.783
       

b. If the Proposal results from a New or Increased Withdrawal of 784
        100,000 gallons per day or greater average over any 90-day 785
        period and if the Consumptive Use resulting from the 786
        Withdrawal is less than 5 million gallons per day average 787
        over any 90-day period:788
       

i. The Proposal shall meet the Exception Standard and be subject 789
        to management and regulation by the Originating Party, except 790
        that the Water may be returned to another Great Lake 791
        watershed rather than the Source Watershed;792
       

ii. The Applicant shall demonstrate that there is no feasible, 793
        cost effective, and environmentally sound water supply 794
        alternative within the Great Lake watershed to which the 795
        Water will be transferred, including conservation of existing 796
        water supplies; and,797
       

iii. The Originating Party shall provide notice to the other 798
        Parties prior to making any decision with respect to the 799
        Proposal.800
       

c. If the Proposal results in a New or Increased Consumptive Use 801
        of 5 million gallons per day or greater average over any 802
        90-day period:803
       

i. The Proposal shall be subject to management and regulation by 804
        the Originating Party and shall meet the Exception Standard, 805
        ensuring that Water Withdrawn shall be returned to the Source 806
        Watershed;807
       

ii. The Applicant shall demonstrate that there is no feasible, 808
        cost effective, and environmentally sound water supply 809
        alternative within the Great Lake watershed to which the 810
        Water will be transferred, including conservation of existing 811
        water supplies;812
       

iii. The Proposal undergoes Regional Review; and,813
       

iv. The Proposal is approved by the Council. Council approval 814
        shall be given if a majority of the Council members vote to 815
        approve the Proposal.816
       

3.        Straddling Counties.        A Proposal to transfer Water to a 817
        Community within a Straddling County that would be considered 818
        a Diversion under this Compact shall be excepted from the 819
        prohibition against Diversions, provided that it satisfies 820
        all of the following conditions:821
       

a. The Water shall be used solely for the Public Water Supply 822
        Purposes of the Community within a Straddling County that is 823
        without adequate supplies of potable water;824
       

b. The Proposal meets the Exception Standard, maximizing the 825
        portion of water returned to the Source Watershed as Basin 826
        Water and minimizing the surface water or groundwater from 827
        outside the Basin;828
       

c. The Proposal shall be subject to management and regulation by 829
        the Originating Party, regardless of its size;830
       

d. There is no reasonable water supply alternative within the 831
        Basin in which the community is located, including 832
        conservation of existing water supplies;833
       

e. Caution shall be used in determining whether or not the 834
        Proposal meets the conditions for this Exception. This 835
        Exception should not be authorized unless it can be shown 836
        that it will not endanger the integrity of the Basin 837
        Ecosystem;838
       

f. The Proposal undergoes Regional Review; and,839
       

g. The Proposal is approved by the Council. Council approval shall 840
        be given if a majority of the Council members vote to 841
        approve the Proposal.842
       

A Proposal must satisfy all of the conditions listed above. 843
Further, substantive consideration will also be given to whether 844
or not the Proposal can provide sufficient scientifically based 845
evidence that the existing water supply is derived from 846
groundwater that is hydrologically interconnected to Waters of the 847
Basin.848

4.        Exception Standard.        Proposals subject to management and 849
        regulation in this Section shall be declared to meet this 850
        Exception Standard and may be approved as appropriate only 851
        when the following criteria are met:852
       

a. The need for all or part of the proposed Exception cannot be 853
        reasonably avoided through the efficient use and conservation 854
        of existing water supplies;855
       

b. The Exception will be limited to quantities that are considered 856
        reasonable for the purposes for which it is proposed;857
       

c. All Water Withdrawn shall be returned, either naturally or 858
        after use, to the Source Watershed less an allowance for 859
        Consumptive Use. No surface water or groundwater from outside 860
        the Basin may be used to satisfy any portion of this 861
        criterion except if it:862
       

i. Is part of a water supply or wastewater treatment system that 863
        combines water from inside and outside of the Basin;864
       

ii. Is treated to meet applicable water quality discharge 865
        standards and to prevent the introduction of invasive species 866
        into the Basin;867
       

d. The Exception will be implemented so as to ensure that it will 868
        result in no significant individual or cumulative adverse 869
        impacts to the quantity or quality of the Waters and Water 870
        Dependent Natural Resources of the Basin with consideration 871
        given to the potential Cumulative Impacts of any 872
        precedent-setting consequences associated with the Proposal;873
       

e. The Exception will be implemented so as to incorporate 874
        Environmentally Sound and Economically Feasible Water 875
        Conservation Measures to minimize Water Withdrawals or 876
        Consumptive Use;877
       

f. The Exception will be implemented so as to ensure that it is in 878
        compliance with all applicable municipal, State and federal 879
        laws as well as regional interstate and international 880
        agreements, including the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909; 881
        and,882
       

g. All other applicable criteria in Section 4.9 have also been 883
        met.884
       

Section 4.10. Management and Regulation of New or Increased 885
Withdrawals and Consumptive Uses.886

1. Within five years of the effective date of this Compact, each 887
        Party shall create a program for the management and 888
        regulation of New or Increased Withdrawals and Consumptive 889
        Uses by adopting and implementing Measures consistent with 890
        the Decision-Making Standard. Each Party, through a 891
        considered process, shall set and may modify threshold levels 892
        for the regulation of New or Increased Withdrawals in order 893
        to assure an effective and efficient Water management program 894
        that will ensure that uses overall are reasonable, that 895
        Withdrawals overall will not result in significant impacts to 896
        the Waters and Water Dependent Natural Resources of the 897
        Basin, determined on the basis of significant impacts to the 898
        physical, chemical, and biological integrity of Source 899
        Watersheds, and that all other objectives of the Compact are 900
        achieved. Each Party may determine the scope and thresholds 901
        of its program, including which New or Increased Withdrawals 902
        and Consumptive Uses will be subject to the program.903
       

2. Any Party that fails to set threshold levels that comply with 904
        Section 4.10.1 any time before ten years after the effective 905
        date of this Compact shall apply a threshold level for 906
        management and regulation of all New or Increased Withdrawals 907
        of 100,000 gallons per day or greater average in any 90-day 908
        period.909
       

3. The Parties intend programs for New or Increased Withdrawals 910
        and Consumptive Uses to evolve as may be necessary to protect 911
        Basin Waters. Pursuant to Section 3.4, the Council, in 912
        cooperation with the Provinces, shall periodically assess the 913
        Water management programs of the Parties. Such assessments 914
        may produce recommendations for the strengthening of the 915
        programs, including without limitation, establishing lower 916
        thresholds for management and regulation in accordance with 917
        the Decision-Making Standard.918
       

Section 4.11. Decision-Making Standard.919

Proposals subject to management and regulation in Section 4.10 920
        shall be declared to meet this Decision-Making Standard and 921
        may be approved as appropriate only when the following 922
        criteria are met:923
       

1. All Water Withdrawn shall be returned, either naturally or 924
        after use, to the Source Watershed less an allowance for 925
        Consumptive Use;926
       

2. The Withdrawal or Consumptive Use will be implemented so as to 927
        ensure that the Proposal will result in no significant 928
        individual or cumulative adverse impacts to the quantity or 929
        quality of the Waters and Water Dependent Natural Resources 930
        and the applicable Source Watershed;931
       

3. The Withdrawal or Consumptive Use will be implemented so as to 932
        incorporate Environmentally Sound and Economically Feasible 933
        Water Conservation Measures;934
       

4. The Withdrawal or Consumptive Use will be implemented so as to 935
        ensure that it is in compliance with all applicable 936
        municipal, State and federal laws as well as regional 937
        interstate and international agreements, including the 938
        Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909;939
       

5. The proposed use is reasonable, based upon a consideration of 940
        the following factors:941
       

a. Whether the proposed Withdrawal or Consumptive Use is planned 942
        in a fashion that provides for efficient use of the Water, 943
        and will avoid or minimize the waste of Water;944
       

b. If the Proposal is for an increased Withdrawal or Consumptive 945
        Use, whether efficient use is made of existing water 946
        supplies;947
       

c. The balance between economic development, social development 948
        and environmental protection of the proposed Withdrawal and 949
        use and other existing or planned withdrawals and water uses 950
        sharing the Water source;951
       

d. The supply potential of the Water source, considering quantity, 952
        quality and reliability and safe yield of hydrologically 953
        interconnected water sources;954
       

e. The probable degree and duration of any adverse impacts caused 955
        or expected to be caused by the proposed Withdrawal and use 956
        under foreseeable conditions, to other lawful consumptive or 957
        non-consumptive uses of water or to the quantity or quality 958
        of the Waters and Water Dependent Natural Resources of the 959
        Basin, and the proposed plans and arrangements for avoidance 960
        or mitigation of such impacts; and,961
       

f. If a Proposal includes restoration of hydrologic conditions and 962
        functions of the Source Watershed, the Party may consider 963
        that.964
       

Section 4.12. Applicability.965

1.        Minimum Standard.        This Standard of Review and Decision shall be 966
        used as a minimum standard. Parties may impose a more 967
        restrictive decision-making standard for Withdrawals under 968
        their authority. It is also acknowledged that although a 969
        Proposal meets the Standard of Review and Decision it may not 970
        be approved under the laws of the Originating Party that has 971
        implemented more restrictive Measures.972
       

2.        Baseline.973
       

a. To establish a baseline for determining a New or Increased 974
        Diversion, Consumptive Use or Withdrawal, each Party shall 975
        develop either or both of the following lists for their 976
        jurisdiction:977
       

i. A list of existing Withdrawal approvals as of the effective 978
        date of the Compact;979
       

ii. A list of the capacity of existing systems as of the effective 980
        date of this Compact. The capacity of the existing systems 981
        should be presented in terms of Withdrawal capacity, 982
        treatment capacity, distribution capacity, or other capacity 983
        limiting factors. The capacity of the existing systems must 984
        represent the state of the systems. Existing capacity 985
        determinations shall be based upon approval limits or the 986
        most restrictive capacity information.987
       

b. For all purposes of this Compact, volumes of Diversions, 988
        Consumptive Uses, or Withdrawals of Water set forth in the 989
        list(s) prepared by each Party in accordance with this 990
        Section, shall constitute the baseline volume.991
       

c. The list(s) shall be furnished to the Regional Body and the 992
        Council within one year of the effective date of this 993
        Compact.994
       

3.        Timing of Additional Applications.        Applications for New or 995
        Increased Withdrawals, Consumptive Uses or Exceptions shall 996
        be considered cumulatively within ten years of any 997
        application.998
       

4.        Change of Ownership.        Unless a new owner proposes a project that 999
        shall result in a Proposal for a New or Increased Diversion 1000
        or Consumptive Use subject to Regional Review or Council 1001
        approval, the change of ownership in and of itself shall not 1002
        require Regional Review or Council approval.1003
       

5.        Groundwater.        The Basin surface water divide shall be used for 1004
        the purpose of managing and regulating New or Increased 1005
        Diversions, Consumptive Uses or Withdrawals of surface water 1006
        and groundwater.1007
       

6.        Withdrawal Systems.        The total volume of surface water and 1008
        groundwater resources that supply a common distribution 1009
        system shall determine the volume of a Withdrawal, 1010
        Consumptive Use or Diversion.1011
       

7.        Connecting Channels.        The watershed of each Great Lake shall 1012
        include its upstream and downstream connecting channels.1013
       

8.        Transmission in Water Lines.        Transmission of Water within a 1014
        line that extends outside the Basin as it conveys Water from 1015
        one point to another within the Basin shall not be considered 1016
        a Diversion if none of the Water is used outside the Basin.1017
       

9.        Hydrologic Units.        The Lake Michigan and Lake Huron watersheds 1018
        shall be considered to be a single hydrologic unit and 1019
        watershed.1020
       

10.        Bulk Water Transfer.        A Proposal to Withdraw Water and to 1021
        remove it from the Basin in any container greater than 5.7 1022
        gallons shall be treated under this Compact in the same 1023
        manner as a Proposal for a Diversion. Each Party shall have 1024
        the discretion, within its jurisdiction, to determine the 1025
        treatment of Proposals to Withdraw Water and to remove it 1026
        from the Basin in any container of 5.7 gallons or less.1027
       

Section 4.13. Exemptions.1028

Withdrawals from the Basin for the following purposes are exempt 1029
from the requirements of Article 4:1030

1. To supply vehicles, including vessels and aircraft, whether for 1031
        the needs of the persons or animals being transported or for 1032
        ballast or other needs related to the operation of the 1033
        vehicles.1034
       

2. To use in a non-commercial project on a short-term basis for 1035
        firefighting, humanitarian, or emergency response purposes.1036
       

Section 4.14. U.S. Supreme Court Decree: Wisconsin et al. v. 1037
Illinois et al.1038

1. Notwithstanding any terms of this Compact to the contrary, with 1039
        the exception of Paragraph 5 of this Section, current, New or 1040
        Increased Withdrawals, Consumptive Uses and Diversions of 1041
        Basin Water by the State of Illinois shall be governed by the 1042
        terms of the United States Supreme Court decree in        Wisconsin 1043
        et al. v. Illinois et al.        and shall not be subject to the 1044
        terms of this Compact nor any rules or regulations 1045
        promulgated pursuant to this Compact. This means that, with 1046
        the exception of Paragraph 5 of this Section, for purposes of 1047
        this Compact, current, New or Increased Withdrawals, 1048
        Consumptive Uses and Diversions of Basin Water within the 1049
        State of Illinois shall be allowed unless prohibited by the 1050
        terms of the United States Supreme Court decree in        Wisconsin 1051
        et al. v. Illinois et al.1052
       

2. The Parties acknowledge that the United States Supreme Court 1053
        decree in        Wisconsin et al. v. Illinois et al.        shall continue 1054
        in full force and effect, that this Compact shall not modify 1055
        any terms thereof and that this Compact shall grant the 1056
        parties no additional rights, obligations, remedies or 1057
        defenses thereto. The Parties specifically acknowledge that 1058
        this Compact shall not prohibit or limit the State of 1059
        Illinois in any manner from seeking additional Basin Water as 1060
        allowed under the terms of the United States Supreme Court 1061
        decree in        Wisconsin et al. v. Illinois et al.       , any other 1062
        party from objecting to any request by the State of Illinois 1063
        for additional Basin Water under the terms of said decree, or 1064
        any party from seeking any other type of modification to said 1065
        decree. If an application is made by any party to the Supreme 1066
        Court of the United States to modify said decree, the Parties 1067
        to this Compact who are also parties to the decree shall seek 1068
        formal input from the Canadian Provinces of Ontario and 1069
        Quebec, with respect to the proposed modification, use best 1070
        efforts to facilitate the appropriate participation of said 1071
        Provinces in the proceedings to modify the decree, and shall 1072
        not unreasonably impede or restrict such participation.1073
       

3. With the exception of Paragraph 5 of this Section, because 1074
        current, New or Increased Withdrawals, Consumptive Uses and 1075
        Diversions of Basin Water by the State of Illinois are not 1076
        subject to the terms of this Compact, the State of Illinois 1077
        is prohibited from using any term of this Compact, including 1078
        Section 4.9, to seek New or Increased Withdrawals, 1079
        Consumptive Uses or Diversions of Basin Water.1080
       

4. With the exception of Paragraph 5 of this Section, because 1081
        Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12 1082
        (Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 10 only) and 4.13 of this 1083
        Compact all relate to current, New or Increased Withdrawals, 1084
        Consumptive Uses and Diversions of Basin Waters, said 1085
        provisions do not apply to the State of Illinois. All other 1086
        provisions of this Compact not listed in the preceding 1087
        sentence shall apply to the State of Illinois, including the 1088
        Water Conservation Programs provision of Section 4.2.1089
       

5. In the event of a Proposal for a Diversion of Basin Water for 1090
        use outside the territorial boundaries of the Parties to this 1091
        Compact, decisions by the State of Illinois regarding such a 1092
        Proposal would be subject to all terms of this Compact, 1093
        except Paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of this Section.1094
       

6. For purposes of the State of Illinois' participation in this 1095
        Compact, the entirety of this Section 4.14 is necessary for 1096
        the continued implementation of this Compact and, if severed, 1097
        this Compact shall no longer be binding on or enforceable by 1098
        or against the State of Illinois.1099
       

Section 4.15. Assessment of Cumulative Impacts.1100

1. The Parties in cooperation with the Provinces shall 1101
        collectively conduct within the Basin, on a Great Lake 1102
        watershed and St. Lawrence River Basin basis, a periodic 1103
        assessment of the Cumulative Impacts of Withdrawals, 1104
        Diversions and Consumptive Uses from the Waters of the Basin, 1105
        every five years or each time the incremental Basin Water 1106
        losses reach 50 million gallons per day average in any 90-day 1107
        period in excess of the quantity at the time of the most 1108
        recent assessment, whichever comes first, or at the request 1109
        of one or more of the Parties. The assessment shall form the 1110
        basis for a review of the Standard of Review and Decision, 1111
        Council and Party regulations and their application. This 1112
        assessment shall:1113
       

a. Utilize the most current and appropriate guidelines for such a 1114
        review, which may include but not be limited to Council on 1115
        Environmental Quality and Environment Canada guidelines;1116
       

b. Give substantive consideration to climate change or other 1117
        significant threats to Basin Waters and take into account the 1118
        current state of scientific knowledge, or uncertainty, and 1119
        appropriate Measures to exercise caution in cases of 1120
        uncertainty if serious damage may result;1121
       

c. Consider Adaptive Management principles and approaches, 1122
        recognizing, considering and providing adjustments for the 1123
        uncertainties in, and evolution of science concerning the 1124
        Basin's Water resources, watersheds and Ecosystems, including 1125
        potential changes to Basin-wide processes, such as lake level 1126
        cycles and climate.1127
       

2. The Parties have the responsibility of conducting this 1128
        Cumulative Impact assessment. Applicants are not required to 1129
        participate in this assessment.1130
       

3. Unless required by other statutes, Applicants are not required 1131
        to conduct a separate Cumulative Impact assessment in 1132
        connection with an Application but shall submit information 1133
        about the potential impacts of a Proposal to the quantity or 1134
        quality of the Waters and Water Dependent Natural Resources 1135
        of the applicable Source Watershed. An Applicant may, 1136
        however, provide an analysis of how their Proposal meets the 1137
        no significant adverse Cumulative Impact provision of the 1138
        Standard of Review and Decision.1139
       

ARTICLE 5
1140

TRIBAL CONSULTATION
1141

Section 5.1. Consultation with Tribes.1142

1. In addition to all other opportunities to comment pursuant to 1143
        Section 6.2, appropriate consultations shall occur with 1144
        federally recognized Tribes in the Originating Party for all 1145
        Proposals subject to Council or Regional Review pursuant to 1146
        this Compact. Such consultations shall be organized in the 1147
        manner suitable to the individual Proposal and the laws and 1148
        policies of the Originating Party.1149
       

2. All federally recognized Tribes within the Basin shall receive 1150
        reasonable notice indicating that they have an opportunity to 1151
        comment in writing to the Council or the Regional Body, or 1152
        both, and other relevant organizations on whether the 1153
        Proposal meets the requirements of the Standard of Review and 1154
        Decision when a Proposal is subject to Regional Review or 1155
        Council approval. Any notice from the Council shall inform 1156
        the Tribes of any meeting or hearing that is to be held under 1157
        Section 6.2 and invite them to attend. The Parties and the 1158
        Council shall consider the comments received under this 1159
        Section before approving, approving with modifications or 1160
        disapproving any Proposal subject to Council or Regional 1161
        Review.1162
       

3. In addition to the specific consultation mechanisms described 1163
        above, the Council shall seek to establish mutually agreed 1164
        upon mechanisms or processes to facilitate dialogue with, and 1165
        input from federally recognized Tribes on matters to be dealt 1166
        with by the Council; and, the Council shall seek to establish 1167
        mechanisms and processes with federally recognized Tribes 1168
        designed to facilitate on-going scientific and technical 1169
        interaction and data exchange regarding matters falling 1170
        within the scope of this Compact. This may include 1171
        participation of tribal representatives on advisory 1172
        committees established under this Compact or such other 1173
        processes that are mutually-agreed upon with federally 1174
        recognized Tribes individually or through duly-authorized 1175
        intertribal agencies or bodies.1176
       

ARTICLE 6
1177

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
1178

Section 6.1. Meetings, Public Hearings and Records.1179

1. The Parties recognize the importance and necessity of public 1180
        participation in promoting management of the Water Resources 1181
        of the Basin. Consequently, all meetings of the Council shall 1182
        be open to the public, except with respect to issues of 1183
        personnel.1184
       

2. The minutes of the Council shall be a public record open to 1185
        inspection at its offices during regular business hours.1186
       

Section 6.2. Public Participation.1187

It is the intent of the Council to conduct public participation 1188
processes concurrently and jointly with processes undertaken by 1189
the Parties and through Regional Review. To ensure adequate public 1190
participation, each Party or the Council shall ensure procedures 1191
for the review of Proposals subject to the Standard of Review and 1192
Decision consistent with the following requirements:1193

1. Provide public notification of receipt of all Applications and 1194
        a reasonable opportunity for the public to submit comments 1195
        before Applications are acted upon.1196
       

2. Assure public accessibility to all documents relevant to an 1197
        Application, including public comment received.1198
       

3. Provide guidance on standards for determining whether to 1199
        conduct a public meeting or hearing for an Application, time 1200
        and place of such a meeting(s) or hearing(s), and procedures 1201
        for conducting of the same.1202
       

4. Provide the record of decision for public inspection including 1203
        comments, objections, responses and approvals, approvals with 1204
        conditions and disapprovals.1205
       

ARTICLE 7
1206

DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ENFORCEMENT
1207

Section 7.1. Good Faith Implementation.1208

Each of the Parties pledges to support implementation of all 1209
provisions of this Compact, and covenants that its officers and 1210
agencies shall not hinder, impair or prevent any other Party 1211
carrying out any provision of this Compact.1212

Section 7.2. Alternative Dispute Resolution.1213

1. Desiring that this Compact be carried out in full, the Parties 1214
        agree that disputes between the Parties regarding 1215
        interpretation, application and implementation of this 1216
        Compact shall be settled by alternative dispute resolution.1217
       

2. The Council, in consultation with the Provinces, shall provide 1218
        by rule procedures for the resolution of disputes pursuant to 1219
        this section.1220
       

Section 7.3. Enforcement.1221

1. Any Person aggrieved by any action taken by the Council 1222
        pursuant to the authorities contained in this Compact shall 1223
        be entitled to a hearing before the Council. Any Person 1224
        aggrieved by a Party action shall be entitled to a hearing 1225
        pursuant to the relevant Party's administrative procedures 1226
        and laws. After exhaustion of such administrative remedies, 1227
        (i) any aggrieved Person shall have the right to judicial 1228
        review of a Council action in the United States District 1229
        Court for the District of Columbia or the District Court in 1230
        which the Council maintains offices, provided such action is 1231
        commenced within 90 days; and, (ii) any aggrieved Person 1232
        shall have the right to judicial review of a Party's action 1233
        in the relevant Party's court of competent jurisdiction, 1234
        provided that an action or proceeding for such review is 1235
        commenced within the time frames provided for by the Party's 1236
        law. For the purposes of this paragraph, a State or Province 1237
        is deemed to be an aggrieved Person with respect to any Party 1238
        action pursuant to this Compact.1239
       

2.a. Any Party or the Council may initiate actions to compel 1240
        compliance with the provisions of this Compact, and the rules 1241
        and regulations promulgated hereunder by the Council. 1242
        Jurisdiction over such actions is granted to the court of the 1243
        relevant Party, as well as the United States District Court 1244
        for the District of Columbia and the District Court in which 1245
        the Council maintains offices. The remedies available to any 1246
        such court shall include, but not be limited to, equitable 1247
        relief and civil penalties.1248
       

b. Each Party may issue orders within its respective jurisdiction 1249
        and may initiate actions to compel compliance with the 1250
        provisions of its respective statutes and regulations adopted 1251
        to implement the authorities contemplated by this Compact in 1252
        accordance with the provisions of the laws adopted in each 1253
        Party's jurisdiction.1254
       

3. Any aggrieved Person, Party or the Council may commence a civil 1255
        action in the relevant Party's courts and administrative 1256
        systems to compel any Person to comply with this Compact 1257
        should any such Person, without approval having been given, 1258
        undertake a New or Increased Withdrawal, Consumptive Use or 1259
        Diversion that is prohibited or subject to approval pursuant 1260
        to this Compact.1261
       

a. No action under this subsection may be commenced if:1262
       

i. The Originating Party or Council approval for the New or 1263
        Increased Withdrawal, Consumptive Use or Diversion has been 1264
        granted; or,1265
       

ii. The Originating Party or Council has found that the New or 1266
        Increased Withdrawal, Consumptive Use or Diversion is not 1267
        subject to approval pursuant to this Compact.1268
       

b. No action under this subsection may be commenced unless:1269
       

i. A Person commencing such action has first given 60 days' prior 1270
        notice to the Originating Party, the Council and Person 1271
        alleged to be in noncompliance; and,1272
       

ii. Neither the Originating Party nor the Council has commenced 1273
        and is diligently prosecuting appropriate enforcement actions 1274
        to compel compliance with this Compact.1275
       

The available remedies shall include equitable relief, and the 1276
prevailing or substantially prevailing party may recover the costs 1277
of litigation, including reasonable attorney and expert witness 1278
fees, whenever the court determines that such an award is 1279
appropriate.1280

4. Each of the Parties may adopt provisions providing additional 1281
        enforcement mechanisms and remedies including equitable 1282
        relief and civil penalties applicable within its jurisdiction 1283
        to assist in the implementation of this Compact.1284
       

ARTICLE 8
1285

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
1286

Section 8.1. Effect on Existing Rights.1287

1. Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to affect, limit, 1288
        diminish or impair any rights validly established and 1289
        existing as of the effective date of this Compact under State 1290
        or federal law governing the Withdrawal of Waters of the 1291
        Basin.1292
       

2. Nothing contained in this Compact shall be construed as 1293
        affecting or intending to affect or in any way to interfere 1294
        with the law of the respective Parties relating to common law 1295
        Water rights.1296
       

3. Nothing in this Compact is intended to abrogate or derogate 1297
        from treaty rights or rights held by any Tribe recognized by 1298
        the federal government of the United States based upon its 1299
        status as a Tribe recognized by the federal government of the 1300
        United States.1301
       

4. An approval by a Party or the Council under this Compact does 1302
        not give any property rights, nor any exclusive privileges, 1303
        nor shall it be construed to grant or confer any right, 1304
        title, easement or interest in, to or over any land belonging 1305
        to or held in trust by a Party; neither does it authorize any 1306
        injury to private property or invasion of private rights, nor 1307
        infringement of federal, State or local laws or regulations; 1308
        nor does it obviate the necessity of obtaining federal assent 1309
        when necessary.1310
       

Section 8.2. Relationship to Agreements Concluded by the United 1311
States of America.1312

1. Nothing in this Compact is intended to provide nor shall be 1313
        construed to provide, directly or indirectly, to any Person 1314
        any right, claim or remedy under any treaty or international 1315
        agreement nor is it intended to derogate any right, claim or 1316
        remedy that already exists under any treaty or international 1317
        agreement.1318
       

2. Nothing in this Compact is intended to infringe nor shall be 1319
        construed to infringe upon the treaty power of the United 1320
        States of America, nor shall any term hereof be construed to 1321
        alter or amend any treaty or term thereof that has been or 1322
        may hereafter be executed by the United States of America.1323
       

3. Nothing in this Compact is intended to affect nor shall be 1324
        construed to affect the application of the Boundary Waters 1325
        Treaty of 1909 whose requirements continue to apply in 1326
        addition to the requirements of this Compact.1327
       

Section 8.3. Confidentiality.1328

1. Nothing in this Compact requires a Party to breach 1329
        confidentiality obligations or requirements prohibiting 1330
        disclosure, or to compromise security of commercially 1331
        sensitive or proprietary information. 1332
       

2. A Party may take measures, including but not limited to 1333
        deletion and redaction, deemed necessary to protect any 1334
        confidential, proprietary or commercially sensitive 1335
        information when distributing information to other Parties. 1336
        The Party shall summarize or paraphrase any such information 1337
        in a manner sufficient for the Council to exercise its 1338
        authorities contained in this Compact.1339
       

Section 8.4. Additional Laws.1340

Nothing in this Compact shall be construed to repeal, modify or 1341
qualify the authority of any Party to enact any legislation or 1342
enforce any additional conditions and restrictions regarding the 1343
management and regulation of Waters within its jurisdiction.1344

Section 8.5. Amendments and Supplements.1345

The provisions of this Compact shall remain in full force and 1346
effect until amended by action of the governing bodies of the 1347
Parties and consented to and approved by any other necessary 1348
authority in the same manner as this Compact is required to be 1349
ratified to become effective.1350

Section 8.6. Severability.1351

Should a court of competent jurisdiction hold any part of this 1352
Compact to be void or unenforceable, it shall be considered 1353
severable from those portions of the Compact capable of continued 1354
implementation in the absence of the voided provisions. All other 1355
provisions capable of continued implementation shall continue in 1356
full force and effect.1357

Section 8.7. Duration of Compact and Termination.1358

Once effective, the Compact shall continue in force and remain 1359
binding upon each and every Party unless terminated.1360

This Compact may be terminated at any time by a majority vote of 1361
the Parties. In the event of such termination, all rights 1362
established under it shall continue unimpaired.1363

ARTICLE 9
1364

EFFECTUATION
1365

Section 9.1. Repealer.1366

All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are to the 1367
extent of such inconsistency hereby repealed.1368

Section 9.2. Effectuation by Chief Executive.1369

The Governor is authorized to take such action as may be necessary 1370
and proper in his or her discretion to effectuate the Compact and 1371
the initial organization and operation thereunder.1372

Section 9.3. Entire Agreement.1373

The Parties consider this Compact to be complete and an integral 1374
whole. Each provision of this Compact is considered material to 1375
the entire Compact, and failure to implement or adhere to any 1376
provision may be considered a material breach. Unless otherwise 1377
noted in this Compact, any change or amendment made to the Compact 1378
by any Party in its implementing legislation or by the U.S. 1379
Congress when giving its consent to this Compact is not considered 1380
effective unless concurred in by all Parties.1381

Section 9.4. Effective Date and Execution.1382

This Compact shall become binding and effective when ratified 1383
through concurring legislation by the states of Illinois, Indiana, 1384
Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin and the 1385
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and consented to by the Congress of 1386
the United States. This Compact shall be signed and sealed in nine 1387
identical original copies by the respective chief executives of 1388
the signatory Parties. One such copy shall be filed with the 1389
Secretary of State of each of the signatory Parties or in 1390
accordance with the laws of the state in which the filing is made, 1391
and one copy shall be filed and retained in the archives of the 1392
Council upon its organization. The signatures shall be affixed and 1393
attested under the following form:1394

In Witness Whereof, and in evidence of the adoption and enactment 1395
into law of this Compact by the legislatures of the signatory 1396
parties and consent by the Congress of the United States, the 1397
respective Governors do hereby, in accordance with the authority 1398
conferred by law, sign this Compact in nine duplicate original 1399
copies, attested by the respective Secretaries of State, and have 1400
caused the seals of the respective states to be hereunto affixed 1401
this        day of (month), (year).1402

       Sec. 1522.02. The governor, ex officio, shall serve as this 1403
state's administrator of the great lakes-st. Lawrence river basin 1404
water resources compact. The governor shall appoint the director 1405
of natural resources as the governor's alternate for purposes of 1406
attending all meetings of the great lakes-st. Lawrence river basin 1407
water resources council and voting on matters before the council 1408
in the governor's absence.1409

       The governor shall do all of the following as administrator:1410

       (A) Receive copies of all agreements that are entered into 1411
pursuant to the compact by this state or its political 1412
subdivisions and other states or their political subdivisions;1413

       (B) Consult with, advise, and aid this state, other states, 1414
and political subdivisions in the formulation of such agreements;1415

       (C) Make any recommendations to the general assembly, 1416
legislatures of other states, governmental agencies, and political 1417
subdivisions that the governor considers desirable in order to 1418
effectuate the purposes of the compact;1419

       (D) Consult with and cooperate with the compact 1420
administrators of other states that are parties to the compact.1421

       Sec. 1522.03. (A) Subject to the limitations established in 1422
division (B) of section 1522.05 of the Revised Code, the director 1423
of natural resources shall do both of the following:1424

       (1) Adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the 1425
Revised Code for the implementation, administration, and 1426
enforcement of this chapter;1427

       (2) Enforce the great lakes-st. Lawrence river basin water 1428
resources compact and take appropriate actions to effectuate its 1429
purposes and intent.1430

       (B) Subject to the limitations established in division (B) of 1431
section 1522.05 of the Revised Code, any appropriate state agency 1432
or governmental officer shall enforce the compact and take 1433
appropriate actions to effectuate its purpose and intent.1434

       Sec. 1522.04. (A) Prior to casting a vote under Section 3.1 1435
of the great lakes-st. Lawrence river basin water resources 1436
compact with respect to any regulation that amends or revises the 1437
standard of review and decision, the governor or the governor's 1438
alternate shall obtain authorization from the general assembly for 1439
the vote. The governor or the governor's alternate shall obtain 1440
the authorization via a concurrent resolution adopted or bill 1441
enacted by the general assembly. The governor or the governor's 1442
alternate shall exercise the vote consistent with the terms of the 1443
general assembly's authorization. The procedures established in 1444
this section are material requirements for adoption of any such 1445
regulation in accordance with Section 3.1 of the compact and 1446
Ohio's respective statutory authority and procedures.1447

       (B) No regulation duly adopted as provided for in Section 3.1 1448
of the compact that amends or revises the standard of review and 1449
decision as set forth in the compact may be adopted by the 1450
director of natural resources unless the regulation is first 1451
approved by the general assembly in the same manner as a statutory 1452
enactment.1453

       Sec. 1522.05. (A) Pursuant to Section 9.2 of the great 1454
lakes-st. Lawrence river basin water resources compact, the 1455
governor may take such actions as are necessary for the initial 1456
organization and operation of the great lakes-st. Lawrence river 1457
basin water resources council created in Section 2.1 of the 1458
compact. Agencies of the state are hereby authorized to cooperate 1459
with the council.1460

       (B)(1) The governor, the department of natural resources, or 1461
any other agency of the state shall not adopt rules or implement 1462
any program regulating the use, withdrawal, consumptive use, or 1463
diversion of water pursuant to Sections 4.10 and 4.12.2 of the 1464
compact unless the general assembly enacts legislation after the 1465
effective date of this section authorizing the implementation of 1466
the program or adoption of rules.1467

       In addition, the governor, the department of natural 1468
resources, or any other agency of the state shall not adopt rules 1469
or implement any mandatory program governing water conservation 1470
and efficiency pursuant to Section 4.2 of the compact unless the 1471
general assembly enacts legislation after the effective date of 1472
the compact authorizing the implementation of the program or 1473
adoption of rules. However, the governor, the department of 1474
natural resources, or any other agency of the state may adopt 1475
rules concerning and may implement voluntary water conservation 1476
and efficiency programs without authorization from the general 1477
assembly. Such voluntary programs shall not include any mandatory 1478
requirements.1479

       (2) Division (B)(1) of this section does not prohibit the 1480
effectuation of Sections 4.8 and 4.9 of the compact after the 1481
effective date of the compact or prohibit the continued 1482
implementation and enforcement by the governor or applicable 1483
agencies of this state of laws, rules, or programs regulating the 1484
use, withdrawal, consumptive use, or diversion of water that are 1485
in effect on or before the effective date of this section.1486

       Sec. 1522.06. It is the intent of the general assembly that 1487
any incorporation of water into a product that is produced within 1488
the great lakes-st. Lawrence river basin and packaged and intended 1489
for intermediate or end-use consumers, whether distributed inside 1490
or outside the basin, is a consumptive use and does not constitute 1491
a diversion for purposes of the great lakes-st. Lawrence river 1492
basin water resources compact. A proposal to withdraw water and 1493
remove it from the basin in a container greater than five and 1494
seven-tenths gallons in capacity shall be treated as a proposal 1495
for a diversion as provided under Section 4.12.10 of the great 1496
lakes-st. Lawrence river basin water resources compact.1497

       Sec. 1522.07. (A)(1) It is the intent of the general assembly 1498
that for purposes of establishing the baseline for determining a 1499
new or increased diversion, consumptive use, or withdrawal 1500
pursuant to Section 4.12.2 of the great lakes-st. Lawrence river 1501
basin water resources compact, the amount of each existing 1502
diversion, consumptive use, or withdrawal shall be the larger of 1503
either of the following:1504

       (a) The applicable limitation specified in a permit issued 1505
under section 1501.32, 1501.33, or 1501.34 of the Revised Code or 1506
another permit issued by an agency of the state that specifically 1507
regulates and limits the amount of a water diversion, consumptive 1508
use, or withdrawal;1509

        (b) The physical capacity of the withdrawal system of the 1510
applicable facility as of the effective date of the great 1511
lakes-st. Lawrence river basin water resources compact.1512

        (2) For purposes of division (A)(1) of this section, both of 1513
the following apply:1514

        (a) A wastewater discharge permit issued under Chapter 6111. 1515
of the Revised Code or the Federal Water Pollution Control Act as 1516
defined in section 6111.01 of the Revised Code shall not be 1517
considered a permit that regulates or limits the amount of an 1518
existing diversion, consumptive use, or withdrawal.1519

        (b) Approval of a public water supply system under Chapter 1520
6109. of the Revised Code shall not be considered a permit that 1521
regulates or limits the amount of an existing diversion, 1522
consumptive use, or withdrawal unless the approval contains a 1523
specific and legally enforceable limitation on the amount of the 1524
diversion, consumptive use, or withdrawal.1525

        (B)(1) It is the understanding and intent of the general 1526
assembly that Section 4.11.2 of the great lakes-st. Lawrence river 1527
basin water resources compact as enacted in section 1522.01 of the 1528
Revised Code shall be interpreted to require that a withdrawal or 1529
consumptive use will be implemented so as to ensure that the 1530
withdrawal or consumptive use will result in no significant 1531
individual or cumulative adverse impacts on the quantity or 1532
quality of the waters and water dependent natural resources of 1533
either of the following:1534

        (a) The basin considered as a whole;1535

        (b) The applicable source watershed of lake Erie considered 1536
as a whole.1537

        (2) In addition, it is the understanding and intent of the 1538
general assembly that impacts of a withdrawal or consumptive use 1539
on the quantity or quality of waters and water dependent natural 1540
resources of more localized areas that affect less than the basin 1541
or an applicable source watershed as a whole are to be considered 1542
a part of the evaluation of reasonable use as provided in Section 1543
4.11.5 of the compact.1544

       The governor and the governor's alternate on the great 1545
lakes-st. Lawrence river basin water resources council shall 1546
advise the council, the other states that are proposed parties to 1547
the compact, and the United States congress with respect to the 1548
understanding and statement of legislative intent set forth in 1549
division (B) of this section and shall inform them that such 1550
understanding and intent are a material consideration to the 1551
general assembly's concurrence in the great lakes-st. Lawrence 1552
river basin water resources compact. Prior to seeking the consent 1553
of the United States congress to the compact, the governor and the 1554
governor's alternate on the council shall actively seek the 1555
concurrence of the council and the other state parties to the 1556
compact with respect to the understanding and legislative intent 1557
set forth in division (B) of this section, and the governor shall 1558
report to the general assembly periodically concerning those 1559
efforts.1560

       Sec. 1522.08.  (A) It is the intent and understanding of the 1561
general assembly that the enactment of the great lakes-st. 1562
Lawrence river basin water resources compact and its 1563
implementation in this state do not and shall not in any manner 1564
abrogate any private property rights established under the Revised 1565
Code or the common law of this state. In addition, it is the 1566
intent and understanding of the general assembly that the 1567
enactment of the great lakes-st. Lawrence river basin water 1568
resources compact does not confer or extend any public trust 1569
rights and does not confer any proprietary ownership rights to the 1570
state or any public entity over the ground water or surface water 1571
in the great lakes-st. Lawrence river basin in this state.1572

       (B) It is the intent and understanding of the general 1573
assembly that the great lakes-st. Lawrence river basin water 1574
resources compact does not create any cause of action that may be 1575
brought against any person beyond those causes of action that are 1576
specifically authorized under Section 7.3 of the compact.1577

       Section 2. It is the intent of the General Assembly that on 1578
the effective date of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin 1579
Water Resources Compact, as that date is specified in Section 9.4 1580
of the Compact as enacted in section 1522.01 of the Revised Code 1581
by this act, both of the following apply:1582

       (A) All provisions of the Revised Code that were inconsistent 1583
with the Compact prior to the effective date of the Compact shall 1584
have been amended or repealed in order to conform with the Compact 1585
in accordance with section 9.1 of the Compact.1586

       (B) Sections 1521.15 and 1521.16 of the Revised Code, as they 1587
exist on the effective date of this act or as subsequently 1588
amended, shall be used to implement Section 4.1 of the Compact.1589

       Section 3. (A) Not later than three months after the 1590
effective date of this section, the Director of Natural Resources 1591
shall convene an advisory board consisting of the following 1592
persons with an interest in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River 1593
Basin Water Resources Compact:1594

       (1) The Director of Natural Resources or the Director's 1595
designee, who shall serve as chairperson of the advisory board;1596

       (2) The Director of Environmental Protection or the 1597
Director's designee;1598

       (3) The Director of Development or the Director's designee;1599

       (4) The following members appointed by the Governor:1600

       (a) One water quality expert from the faculty or staff of an 1601
Ohio college or university;1602

       (b) One representative of a statewide environmental advocacy 1603
organization;1604

       (c) One representative of a local environmental advocacy 1605
organization in the Lake Erie Basin;1606

       (d) One representative of a sustainable economic development 1607
organization in the Lake Erie Basin;1608

       (e) One representative of the travel and tourism industry;1609

       (f) One representative of the electric utility industry;1610

       (g) One representative of a county government in the Lake 1611
Erie Basin.1612

       (5) The following members appointed by the President of the 1613
Senate:1614

       (a) Two members of the Senate who shall not be members of the 1615
same political party;1616

       (b) One representative of the bottled water industry;1617

       (c) One representative of a statewide land conservation 1618
advocacy organization;1619

       (d) One representative of agricultural interests in the Lake 1620
Erie Basin;1621

       (e) One representative of the aggregates industry;1622

       (f) One representative of the pulp and paper industry;1623

       (g) One representative of a large manufacturer with a 1624
facility located within the Lake Erie Basin;1625

       (h) One member of the public.1626

       (6) The following members appointed by the Speaker of the 1627
House of Representatives:1628

       (a) Two members of the House of Representatives who shall not 1629
be members of the same political party;1630

       (b) One representative of a municipal government in the Lake 1631
Erie Basin;1632

       (c) One expert in hydrogeology from the faculty or staff of 1633
an Ohio college or university;1634

       (d) One representative of a locally based organization in the 1635
Lake Erie Basin that assists in the development and implementation 1636
of a plan for the protection and management of surface and ground 1637
water resources in a watershed;1638

       (e) One representative of a fish and wildlife advocacy 1639
organization;1640

       (f) One representative of residential developers;1641

       (g) One representative of the chemical industry;1642

       (h) One representative of the petroleum industry with a 1643
facility located within the Lake Erie Basin.1644

       All appointments shall be made to the advisory board not 1645
later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. 1646
The advisory board shall meet on a regular basis. Vacancies on the 1647
advisory board shall be filled in the manner provided for original 1648
appointments. Members of the advisory board shall receive no 1649
compensation for serving on the board. The Department of Natural 1650
Resources shall provide technical support to the advisory board.1651

       (B) The advisory board shall be convened for the purpose of 1652
developing recommendations for legislation that is necessary to 1653
implement and effectuate the requirements and purposes of the 1654
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. The 1655
recommendations shall address, but not be limited to, the 1656
following:1657

       (1) The evaluation and recommendation of the threshold levels 1658
to be included in the implementing legislation for regulating new 1659
or increased water withdrawals in the state, considering at least 1660
all of the following:1661

       (a) The number of withdrawals that will be regulated;1662

       (b) The relative impact of those withdrawals;1663

       (c) The practicality of regulating those withdrawals;1664

       (d) The alternatives that are available in the establishment 1665
of a permitting program in order to meet the water management 1666
objectives of this state.1667

       (2) The establishment of requirements regarding the review of 1668
lists of existing water users in the portion of the Great 1669
Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin that is in this state;1670

       (3) The establishment of a process for use by persons that 1671
wish to appeal their inclusion in the list of existing water 1672
users;1673

       (4) The establishment of conservation objectives with respect 1674
to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources 1675
Compact and the development of the state's water conservation and 1676
efficiency programs; 1677

       (5) The method for determining the capacity of existing 1678
facilities as required in Section 4.12.2 of the Great Lakes-St. 1679
Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.1680

       (C) The advisory board shall present its final 1681
recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly not later 1682
than eighteen months after the effective date of this section. It 1683
is the intent of the General Assembly that the recommendations of 1684
the advisory board will represent a consensus of the board's 1685
members regarding the issues presented to and discussed by the 1686
board. However, if a consensus cannot be reached on any or all of 1687
the issues before the board, one or more minority opinions may 1688
accompany the recommendations of the board.1689

       (D) Upon submission of its recommendations under division (C) 1690
of this section, the advisory board shall cease to exist.1691

       Section 4. If the state of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 1692
Minnesota, New York, or Wisconsin or the commonwealth of 1693
Pennsylvania fails to enact the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River 1694
Basin Water Resources Compact not later than three years after the 1695
effective date of this section, Ohio reserves the right to 1696
reconsider its enactment of the Compact and, if necessary, repeal 1697
the Compact in its entirety.1698

       Section 5. Text that is italicized in the Great Lakes-St. 1699
Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact as presented in this 1700
act shall not be italicized but rather underlined in publications 1701
of the Compact.1702