Great Lakes Compact compromise likely in Wisconsin
April 10, 08 by TheFleetIf you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Shelley Nelson | Source: Superior Daily Telegram
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle plans to make what his office called a “major announcement” regarding the Great Lakes Compact that has stalled in the Legislature under Republican opposition.
Doyle scheduled a news conference this afternoon in New Berlin along with several mayors from the area, state lawmakers and others to address the compact, which would regulate the transit of Great Lakes water to cities inside and outside of this region, along with industrial users.
Doyle has urged the Legislature to approve the compact, but Assembly Republicans have blocked it. They are concerned about a provision that allows any Great Lakes governor to block any request to pull water from any of the lakes.
There also has been concern locally, where a larger Murphy Oil refinery may need considerably more water than the existing plant. That concern was addressed in the final bill passed by the Wisconsin Senate. Dave Podratz, refinery manager for Murphy Oil, praised the senate’s final bill.
The governor is expected to call a special session of the Legislature to consider the compact, said Shauna Cook, communications creative director with Clean Wisconsin.
