some diversions are different from others?
Nestle wants 70 million gallons more from Michigan, for a total of 340 million gallons per year with some of it leaving the Great Lakes Basin. New Berlin, WI, wants about 360 million gallons per year, and says it will return all the water to the Great Lakes Basin. Michigan's test is whether, while opposing the New Berlin request, it will cave to Nestle's.
Nestle Waters North America Inc. is gearing up for a major expansion of its Michigan water bottling business with a plan that targets some of the area's most treasured river systems.
http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-10/116514479922520.xml&coll=8
It appears that Nestle is about to purchase Gerber baby food in Freemont. The water returned to the basin will be minimal. I strongly support a tax on water leaving the basin. (by any process)
Posted by: Tom Knight | December 04, 2006 at 11:19 AM
I'm with you on the tax, Tom.
But we need to make sure that there are restrictions on how the money raised could be used.
Otherwise we'd just be creating more folks with a financial interest in abusing our natural resources.
Posted by: Murdoc | December 05, 2006 at 12:03 PM
I agree with restrictions. The revenue created could be used for a variety of DEQ oversight issues. Multi- national corps should not be setting our standards with one sided policies. I understand the good these mass water users feel they are doing, but their history has been to ignore the extrinalities. The stake holders are being outmanuevered by the stock holders
Posted by: Tom Knight | December 06, 2006 at 08:57 AM