Will John Kasich insist that Ohio honor the Great Lakes Compact? The answer resides in whether the governor will do the right thing and veto a misguided bill now sitting on his desk. House and Senate proponents argue that the legislation meets the spirit and letter of the compact, an agreement among eight states and two Canadian provinces to join in the sound stewardship of a most valuable natural resource, the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world. Those lawmakers couldn’t be more wrong.
The haste with which they have acted reveals much, the Senate gaining passage in a few weeks. Most compelling is the sweep and credibility of the opposition. George Voinovich, a former governor and U.S. senator, long an able advocate for the lakes, has argued that the legislation would undermine the protections in the compact. Bob Taft, another former governor and firm voice for the lakes, has made the same point, from the perspective of serving as the state’s chief executive when the compact was formed.
Add Sam Speck and Joseph Sommer, two former directors of the state Department of Natural Resources, plus, Chris Jones, a former director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. These aren’t foes of business. They have reputations for striking a sensible balance, understanding that enlightened environmental policies prove beneficial to the state economy.
State Sen. Timothy Grendell, a leading supporter of the legislation, contends that such opponents are engaged in “fear-mongering.” The accusation strains, at best. Critics are concerned, correctly, about a provision that would allow companies to withdraw 5 million gallons a day before facing state review. That is far more generous than other states, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania at roughly 100,000 gallons.
To be sure, Indiana sets one standard at 5 million gallons, yet it is tapping Lake Michigan, a significantly different body of water than the shallow, warm, more nutrient rich Lake Erie.
Opponents make persuasive arguments about the legislation relying insufficiently on science for assessing an adverse impact, for failing to account enough for how harm in a small way affects the whole, for lacking mandatory conservation measures and leaving the state Department of Natural Resources without the necessary muscle. This flawed legislation makes Lake Erie more vulnerable to such things as harmful algal blooms. It invites the erosion of a $10 billion industry in commercial fishing, travel and tourism.
The Great Lakes Compact represents a signal achievement, states and provinces coming together to share responsibility. In that way, Ohio has an obligation to its partners, an obligation the current legislation falls short in meeting. The governor should put his veto pen to work, reflecting the impressive roster of opponents, pushing lawmakers to deliver a better product.
