Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
emphasis, they don't necessarily reach the best possible solution.
But at least they act jointly; they aren't at cross-purposes; they aren't
injuring each other. It's a defi nite step forward.”
The Great Lakes Compact.
One of the more recent much-discussed
interstate water agreements is the Great Lakes Basin compact that
former President George W. Bush signed into law in 2008. “It's
a good idea for the present,” says Tarlock, who worked on the
compact.
Dellapenna, however, questions its effi cacy. Participants in the
compact agreed to set basin-wide standards collectively. But they left
enforcement of those standards up to individual states. “Let's hope
it works. Obviously that is potentially a huge, huge problem if one
state turns out not to be enforcing the standards the way other states
think it should,” says Dellapenna. “In theory they have a council that
can override decisions, but I think that will be a hard sell. . . . These
commissioners very clearly represent individual state governments.
“So what is going to happen in the Great Lakes Council?” he
asks. “Perhaps in a very egregious case the council might act, but
for the most part they are likely to say, 'If I jump on Illinois for
doing that, then they'll jump on me for doing something else.' It's
a can of worms.”
It gets tougher.
Whatever happens with the Great Lakes and
beyond, it's clear that decisions on water supply issues are likely to
become more diffi cult as supplies dry up. The solutions are likely
to become more and more expensive, too, says Orlando attorney
Sims. “Water is such a controversial subject that any change in
the laws is going to vary state to state, depending on the politics
of the state. Those areas that have water really don't want anyone
managing their water out from under them. And those that don't
have it obviously would like some state or federal help to make
water from water-rich areas available to them. . . . Given enough
time and enough urgency, though, there may be enough political
wherewithal to make something happen at a centralized level, but
I think it would be extraordinarily controversial.”
When the crisis is big enough, people will be more open to
changes in water laws, adds Dellapenna. “If there is a severe enough
crisis, most people come to their senses. We have seen that in lots
of Eastern states where they have abandoned traditional riparian
