Mich. Legislature Finishes Approving Water Bills
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Legislature has finished approving bills to strengthen regulation of large-scale water withdrawals in the state.
The final bills were passed by the House yesterday and now are headed to Governor Jennifer Granholm, who is expected to sign them.
Approval of the regulations means Michigan also okays a regional compact preventing Great Lakes water from being diverted elsewhere.
Business and environmental groups are supporting the regulations, which represent a compromise from earlier proposals.
Farms and businesses will use a point-and-click computer tool to measure when and where they can withdraw water. They will need state permits for big withdrawals or those that will hurt lakes, rivers and streams.
