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Show Great Lakes Basin Compact, 1955 The party states solemnly agree: ARTICLE I The purposes of this compact are, through means of joint or cooper- ative action: 1. To promote the orderly, integrated, and comprehensive develop- ment, use, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes Basin (hereinafter called the Basin). 2. To plan for the welfare and development of the water resources of the Basin as a whole as well as for those portions of the Basin which may have problems of special concern. 3. To make it Ipossible for the states of the Basin and their people to derive the maximum benefit from utilization of public works, in the form of navigational aids or otherwise, which may exist or which may be constructed from time to time. 4. To advise in securing and maintaining a proper balance among industrial, commercial, agricultural, water supply, residential, recrea- tional, and other legitimate uses of the water resources of the Basin. 5. To establish and maintain an intergovernmental agency to the end that the purposes of this compact may be accomplished more effectively. ARTICLE II A. This compact shall enter into force and become effective and binding when it has been enacted by the legislatures of any four of the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin and thereafter shall enter into force and become effective and binding as to any other of said states when enacted by the legislature thereof. B. The Province of Ontario and the Province of Quebec, or either of them, may become states party to this compact by taking such action as their laws and the laws of the Government of Canada may prescribe for adherence thereto. For the purpose of this compact the word "state" shall be construed to include a Province of Canada. ARTICLE III The Great Lakes Commission created by Article IV of this compact shall exercise its powers and perform its functions in respect to the Basin which, for the purposes of this compact, shall consist of so much of the following as may be within the party states: 1. Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, St. Clair, Superior, and the St. Lawrence River, together with any and all natural or man- made water interconnections between or among them. 177 |