Michigan, with a land mass almost entirely within the Great Lakes basin
has a rich state and regional history of executive branch leadership on water water.
In fact, Michigan Republican Gov. John Engler vetoed a Waukesha-style diversion of Lake Michigan water for Lowell, Indiana - - under a set of rules no longer in force - - because he thought the diversion would set a harmful precedent.
That stewardship is hard to see from this side of Lake Michigan today:
has a rich state and regional history of executive branch leadership on water water.
In fact, Michigan Republican Gov. John Engler vetoed a Waukesha-style diversion of Lake Michigan water for Lowell, Indiana - - under a set of rules no longer in force - - because he thought the diversion would set a harmful precedent.
That stewardship is hard to see from this side of Lake Michigan today:
* Michigan has just ended the provision of bottled water to residents in the predominately low-income and minority City of Flint.
* But is allowing Nestle's to increase its withdrawal of spring water to 400 gallons per minute from 250 for bottling under the geographically-challenged "Ice Mountain" label- - for which it pays only a $200 paperwork fee, no per-gallon charge or taxes.
* And has granted three of four permits needed for the operation of a controversial, potentially-polluting sulfide ore mine for Aquila Resources on the Michigan-Wisconsin Upper Peninsula border very close to the Menominee River.
Opposition to the mine is led by Native Americans - - so, again, Michigan finds itself siding against its minority citizens against major corporations which want more control over water.
These matters do not take place in a vacuum.
Backers of a new Wisconsin law to allow the same kind of mining in Wisconsin say the same mining company could open operations here.
* But is allowing Nestle's to increase its withdrawal of spring water to 400 gallons per minute from 250 for bottling under the geographically-challenged "Ice Mountain" label- - for which it pays only a $200 paperwork fee, no per-gallon charge or taxes.
* And has granted three of four permits needed for the operation of a controversial, potentially-polluting sulfide ore mine for Aquila Resources on the Michigan-Wisconsin Upper Peninsula border very close to the Menominee River.
Opposition to the mine is led by Native Americans - - so, again, Michigan finds itself siding against its minority citizens against major corporations which want more control over water.
These matters do not take place in a vacuum.
Backers of a new Wisconsin law to allow the same kind of mining in Wisconsin say the same mining company could open operations here.
[Hazelhurst GOP State Sen. Tom] Tiffany has previously said he believes there are exploration companies prepared to start work in Wisconsin if the bill becomes law. He said he expects Canadian companies Highland Copper Company and Aquila Resources would have an interest in the state's mineral deposits.
Related Posts :
U.S. Navy To Test 150-kW Laser Systems Within A Year
Israel And The U.S. Successfully Test The David's Sling Weapon System- And now Rand Paul has an Obamacare replacement proposal...
- Did Russia Bust A U.S. Spy Ring That Provided Information On Russian Hacking?
- China Is Testing New Missiles That Could Put US Air Superiority At Risk