Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement:
Governments Silent on Lack of Public Input
Environmental groups warn that the public is at risk of being shut out of renegotiation of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, a landmark policy that since 1972 has driven critical public health and water quality improvements in the region. In a letter sent to the governments three weeks ago, the groups expressed concern that the oversight would seriously undermine confidence in the final agreement, depriving the governments of public input now and public support later. To date, government negotiators have failed to acknowledge the letter and its recommendations. “Without public guidance during renegotiation of this binational agreement, we’re far less likely to see any eventual restoration benefit on the ground,” said Lyman Welch, Water Quality Program manager for the Alliance for the Great Lakes. “If no one’s watching now, who will be watching when the rubber meets the road during the agreement’s implementation?” The letter of concern was sent Jan. 26 after the governments outlined steps for the renegotiation that would rush the process through by the end of the year. The first step of that process, a “governance” comment period, closed Monday -– giving the public just a month’s notice to offer input on a complex set of issues and no hint of what either nation is proposing. In comments on governance issues submitted Monday, the groups stated that if the governments fail to reform governance issues -– those rules and systems by which the United States and Canada and their agencies work together on Great Lakes challenges -– their ability to make genuine progress on issues such as toxics, invasive species and climate change will fall short of what the lakes need. The groups say that if this comment period is any example, the whole process of renegotiating the agreement could fail. The agreement has been renegotiated twice in the past. In each instance, public and scientific input has been critical in better defining the agreement’s scope, and in setting strong obligations that have dramatically improved the health of the Great Lakes. In 1987, for example, members of the public voiced their opinions at more than 30 public hearings around the region. The groups are calling on the negotiators, members of Congress and Parliament, and leaders in state and provincial governments to urge President Obama and Prime Minister Harper to instruct their negotiators to give citizens of both nations the opportunity to participate in this essential agreement. The January letter to the governments included six recommendations to improve the process: - Release a draft government position or options paper on governance issues.
- The release of the draft government position or options paper should set off a 60-day public comment period.
- Once the governments have negotiated draft language on governance, release it again for a public comment period.
- For the “issues” consultations, follow a process similar to recommendations 1-3, with the release of a draft position or options paper followed by a 60-day public comment period. Follow this with another opportunity for comment after the governments have completed their first round of negotiations on the topic.
- Compile a web-posted summary of comments received from the public at each stage of the consultations.
- Release a final draft of the complete revised Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement for comment prior to completing negotiations, and hold public hearings in both countries on this draft.
For more information:
See governance recommendations, endorsed by 32 groups >> See letter to the governments regarding public comment process >>Posted 2-16-10
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