Great Lakes Water Compact--Half Empty or Half Full

Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce Hosts Forum

Thursday--February 28, 7:00 Country Springs Hotel

 

(February 25, 2008—Waukesha, WI)  The Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) is pleased to announce it will be hosting a forum in an effort to review the recently released legislation which would implement the Great Lakes—St. Lawrence  River Basin Water Resource Compact (The Compact).  The forum is titled, “Half Empty or Half Full—The Great Lakes Water Compact.”  The WCCC-sponsored forum will take place:                                                    

When:  Thursday February 28, 2002

Sign-in/Continental Breakfast:  7:00 AM

                                                                                                                Forum: 7:30 AM

                                                                                Where:                Country Springs Hotel, Waukesha

                                                               

The forum will feature an esteemed panel offering differing opinions including; Matt Moroney—         

Metropolitan Builders Association, Mayor Larry Nelson—City of Waukesha, Peter McAvoy—VP of Environmental Health, Sixteenth Street Community Health Center and County Executive Dan Vrakas— Waukesha County.  Moderating the event will be the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s associate editorial page editor, Ernest-Ulrich Franzen.

 

“How Waukesha’s future water needs will be met will in-part determined by the Great Lakes Water Compact,” said Patti Wallner, President of the WCCC.  “This forum will help give the community expert opinion from business leaders, advocates and political leaders coming together to discuss the merits of The Compact.”  

The Compact is an agreement all eight Great Lakes governors signed in Milwaukee over two years ago with the intent of blocking any new water diversions outside the Great Lakes basin.  A key component of The Compact is the provision allowing any one of the eight governors to veto a request for Great Lakes Water from any community straddling the great lakes basin, like the City of Waukesha.   Prior to the introduction of the state’s proposed implementation legislation, the WCCC has opposed the so-called “veto provision.” 

The WCCC is hoping to use the upcoming forum as part of its efforts to educate members, and consider its future advocacy efforts as they relate to the recently introduced legislation enabling The Compact.

About the Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce:

The Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce is Waukesha County’s resource and advocate for business. The Chamber networks, promotes, develops and advocates for local businesses and community organizations, representing more than 800 businesses and over 40,000 employees in Waukesha County and surrounding areas.   The Chamber is a non-profit membership organization serving the diverse needs of the business community. 

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