SB523-SSA1,13,19 16(2) Organization. (a) Council created. The Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River
17Basin Water Resources Council is hereby created as a body politic and corporate,
18with succession for the duration of this compact, as an agency and instrumentality
19of the governments of the respective parties.
SB523-SSA1,13,2120 (b) Council membership. The council shall consist of the governors of the
21parties, ex officio.
SB523-SSA1,14,322 (c) Alternates. Each member of the council shall appoint at least one alternate
23who may act in his or her place and stead, with authority to attend all meetings of
24the council and with power to vote in the absence of the member. Unless otherwise
25provided by law of the party for which he or she is appointed, each alternate shall

1serve during the term of the member appointing him or her, subject to removal at the
2pleasure of the member. In the event of a vacancy in the office of alternate, it shall
3be filled in the same manner as an original appointment for the unexpired term only.
SB523-SSA1,14,54 (d) Voting. 1. Each member is entitled to one vote on all matters that may come
5before the council.
SB523-SSA1,14,66 2. Unless otherwise stated, the rule of decision shall be by a simple majority.
SB523-SSA1,14,117 3. The council shall annually adopt a budget for each fiscal year and the amount
8required to balance the budget shall be apportioned equitably among the parties by
9unanimous vote of the council. The appropriation of such amounts shall be subject
10to such review and approval as may be required by the budgetary processes of the
11respective parties.
SB523-SSA1,14,1312 4. The participation of council members from a majority of the parties shall
13constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the council.
SB523-SSA1,14,2314 (e) Organization and procedure. The council shall provide for its own
15organization and procedure, and may adopt rules and regulations governing its
16meetings and transactions, as well as the procedures and timeline for submission,
17review, and consideration of proposals that come before the council for its review and
18action. The council shall organize, annually, by the election of a chairperson and vice
19chairperson from among its members. Each member may appoint an advisor, who
20may attend all meetings of the council and its committees, but shall not have voting
21power. The council may employ or appoint professional and administrative
22personnel, including an executive director, as it may deem advisable, to carry out the
23purposes of this compact.
SB523-SSA1,15,424 (f) Use of existing offices and agencies. It is the policy of the parties to preserve
25and utilize the functions, powers, and duties of existing offices and agencies of

1government to the extent consistent with this compact. Further, the council shall
2promote and aid the coordination of the activities and programs of the parties
3concerned with water resources management in the basin. To this end, but without
4limitation, the council may:
SB523-SSA1,15,65 1. Advise, consult, contract, assist, or otherwise cooperate with any and all such
6agencies;
SB523-SSA1,15,87 2. Employ any other agency or instrumentality of any of the parties for any
8purpose; and
SB523-SSA1,15,109 3. Develop and adopt plans consistent with the water resources plans of the
10parties.
SB523-SSA1,15,1511 (g) Jurisdiction. The council shall have, exercise, and discharge its functions,
12powers, and duties within the limits of the basin. Outside the basin, it may act in
13its discretion, but only to the extent such action may be necessary or convenient to
14effectuate or implement its powers or responsibilities within the basin and subject
15to the consent of the jurisdiction wherein it proposes to act.
SB523-SSA1,15,2116 (h) Status, immunities, and privileges. 1. The council, its members and
17personnel in their official capacity and when engaged directly in the affairs of the
18council, its property, and its assets, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall
19enjoy the same immunity from suit and every form of judicial process as is enjoyed
20by the parties, except to the extent that the council may expressly waive its immunity
21for the purposes of any proceedings or by the terms of any contract.
SB523-SSA1,15,2522 2. The property and assets of the council, wherever located and by whomsoever
23held, shall be considered public property and shall be immune from search,
24requisition, confiscation, expropriation, or any other form of taking or foreclosure by
25executive or legislative action.
SB523-SSA1,16,6
13. The council, its property and its assets, income, and the operations it carries
2out pursuant to this compact shall be immune from all taxation by or under the
3authority of any of the parties or any political subdivision thereof; provided, however,
4that in lieu of property taxes the council may make reasonable payments to local
5taxing districts in annual amounts that shall approximate the taxes lawfully
6assessed upon similar property.
SB523-SSA1,16,117 (i) Advisory committees. The council may constitute and empower advisory
8committees, which may be comprised of representatives of the public and of federal,
9state, tribal, county, and local governments, water resources agencies, water-using
10industries and sectors, water-interest groups, and academic experts in related
11fields.
SB523-SSA1,16,19 12(3) General powers and duties. (a) General. 1. The waters and water
13dependent natural resources of the basin are subject to the sovereign right and
14responsibilities of the parties, and it is the purpose of this compact to provide for joint
15exercise of such powers of sovereignty by the council in the common interests of the
16people of the region, in the manner and to the extent provided in this compact. The
17council and the parties shall use the standard of review and decision and procedures
18contained in or adopted pursuant to this compact as the means to exercise their
19authority under this compact.
SB523-SSA1,16,2320 2. The council may revise the standard of review and decision, after
21consultation with the provinces and upon unanimous vote of all council members, by
22regulation duly adopted in accordance with par. (c) and in accordance with each
23party's respective statutory authorities and applicable procedures.
SB523-SSA1,17,3
13. The council shall identify priorities and develop plans and policies relating
2to basin water resources. It shall adopt and promote uniform and coordinated
3policies for water resources conservation and management in the basin.
SB523-SSA1,17,164 (b) Council powers. The council may plan; conduct research and collect,
5compile, analyze, interpret, report, and disseminate data on water resources and
6uses; forecast water levels; conduct investigations; institute court actions; design,
7acquire, construct, reconstruct, own, operate, maintain, control, sell, and convey real
8and personal property and any interest therein as it may deem necessary, useful, or
9convenient to carry out the purposes of this compact; make contracts; receive and
10accept such payments, appropriations, grants, gifts, loans, advances, and other
11funds, properties, and services as may be transferred or made available to it by any
12party or by any other public or private agency, corporation, or individual; and
13exercise such other and different powers as may be delegated to it by this compact
14or otherwise pursuant to law, and have and exercise all powers necessary or
15convenient to carry out its express powers or that may be reasonably implied
16therefrom.
SB523-SSA1,17,2317 (c) Rules and regulations. 1. The council may promulgate and enforce such
18rules and regulations as may be necessary for the implementation and enforcement
19of this compact. The council may adopt by regulation, after public notice and public
20hearing, reasonable application fees with respect to those proposals for exceptions
21that are subject to council review under sub. (4n). Any rule or regulation of the
22council, other than one that deals solely with the internal management of the council
23or its property, shall be adopted only after public notice and hearing.
SB523-SSA1,18,224 2. Each party, in accordance with its respective statutory authorities and
25applicable procedures, may adopt and enforce rules and regulations to implement

1and enforce this compact and the programs adopted by such party to carry out the
2management programs contemplated by this compact.
SB523-SSA1,18,103 (d) Program review and findings. 1. Each party shall submit a report to the
4council and the regional body detailing its water management and conservation and
5efficiency programs that implement this compact. The report shall set out the
6manner in which water withdrawals are managed by sector, water source, quantity,
7or any other means, and how the provisions of the standard of review and decision
8and conservation and efficiency programs are implemented. The first report shall
9be provided by each party one year from the effective date of this compact and
10thereafter every 5 years.
SB523-SSA1,18,1611 2. The council, in cooperation with the provinces, shall review its water
12management and conservation and efficiency programs and those of the parties that
13are established in this compact and make findings on whether the water
14management program provisions in this compact are being met, and if not,
15recommend options to assist the parties in meeting the provisions of this compact.
16Such review shall take place:
SB523-SSA1,18,1717 a. Thirty days after the first report is submitted by all parties; and
SB523-SSA1,18,1818 b. Every 5 years after the effective date of this compact; and
SB523-SSA1,18,1919 c. At any other time at the request of one of the parties.
SB523-SSA1,18,2520 3. As one of its duties and responsibilities, the council may recommend a range
21of approaches to the parties with respect to the development, enhancement, and
22application of water management and conservation and efficiency programs to
23implement the standard of review and decision reflecting improved scientific
24understanding of the waters of the basin, including groundwater, and the impacts
25of withdrawals on the basin ecosystem.
SB523-SSA1,19,11
1(4) Water management and regulation; water resources inventory,
2registration, and reporting.
(a) Within 5 years of the effective date of this compact,
3each party shall develop and maintain a water resources inventory for the collection,
4interpretation, storage, retrieval, exchange, and dissemination of information
5concerning the water resources of the party, including but not limited to information
6on the location, type, quantity, and use of those resources and the location, type, and
7quantity of withdrawals, diversions, and consumptive uses. To the extent feasible,
8the water resources inventory shall be developed in cooperation with local, state,
9federal, tribal, and other private agencies and entities, as well as the council. Each
10party's agencies shall cooperate with that party in the development and maintenance
11of the inventory.
SB523-SSA1,19,1512 (b) The council shall assist each party to develop a common base of data
13regarding the management of the water resources of the basin and to establish
14systematic arrangements for the exchange of those data with other states and
15provinces.
SB523-SSA1,20,416 (c) To develop and maintain a compatible base of water use information, within
175 years of the effective date of this compact any person who withdraws water in an
18amount of 100,000 gallons per day or greater average in any 30-day period, including
19consumptive uses, from all sources, or diverts water of any amount, shall register the
20withdrawal or diversion by a date set by the council unless the person has previously
21registered in accordance with an existing state program. The person shall register
22the withdrawal or diversion with the originating party using a form prescribed by
23the originating party that shall include, at a minimum and without limitation: the
24name and address of the registrant and date of registration; the locations and sources
25of the withdrawal or diversion; the capacity of the withdrawal or diversion per day

1and the amount withdrawn or diverted from each source; the uses made of the water;
2places of use and places of discharge; and such other information as the originating
3party may require. All registrations shall include an estimate of the volume of the
4withdrawal or diversion in terms of gallons per day average in any 30-day period.
SB523-SSA1,20,75 (d) All registrants shall annually report the monthly volumes of the
6withdrawal, consumptive use, and diversion in gallons to the originating party and
7any other information requested by the originating party.
SB523-SSA1,20,118 (e) Each party shall annually report the information gathered pursuant to this
9subsection to a Great Lakes—St. Lawrence River water use data base repository and
10aggregated information shall be made publicly available, consistent with the
11confidentiality requirements in sub. (8) (c).
SB523-SSA1,20,1912 (f) Information gathered by the parties pursuant to this subsection shall be
13used to improve the sources and applications of scientific information regarding the
14waters of the basin and the impacts of the withdrawals and diversions from various
15locations and water sources on the basin ecosystem and to better understand the role
16of groundwater in the basin. The council and the parties shall coordinate the
17collection and application of scientific information to further develop a mechanism
18by which individual and cumulative impacts of withdrawals, consumptive uses, and
19diversions shall be assessed.
SB523-SSA1,20,24 20(4b) Water management and regulation; water conservation and efficiency
21programs.
(a) The council commits to identify, in cooperation with the provinces,
22basin-wide water conservation and efficiency objectives to assist the parties in
23developing their water conservation and efficiency programs. These objectives are
24based on the goals of:
SB523-SSA1,21,2
11. Ensuring improvement of the waters and water dependent natural
2resources;
SB523-SSA1,21,33 2. Protecting and restoring the hydrologic and ecosystem integrity of the basin;
SB523-SSA1,21,44 3. Retaining the quantity of surface water and groundwater in the basin;
SB523-SSA1,21,55 4. Ensuring sustainable use of waters of the basin; and
SB523-SSA1,21,66 5. Promoting the efficiency of use and reducing losses and waste of water.
SB523-SSA1,21,137 (b) Within 2 years of the effective date of this compact, each party shall develop
8its own water conservation and efficiency goals and objectives consistent with the
9basin-wide goals and objectives and shall develop and implement a water
10conservation and efficiency program, either voluntary or mandatory, within its
11jurisdiction based on the party's goals and objectives. Each party shall annually
12assess its programs in meeting the party's goals and objectives, report to the council
13and the regional body, and make this annual assessment available to the public.
SB523-SSA1,21,1914 (c) Beginning 5 years after the effective date of this compact, and every 5 years
15thereafter, the council, in cooperation with the provinces, shall review and modify as
16appropriate the basin-wide objectives, and the parties shall have regard for any such
17modifications in implementing their programs. This assessment will be based on
18examining new technologies, new patterns of water use, new resource demands and
19threats, and cumulative impact assessment under sub. (4z).
SB523-SSA1,21,2220 (d) Within 2 years of the effective date of this compact, the parties commit to
21promote environmentally sound and economically feasible water conservation
22measures such as:
SB523-SSA1,21,2323 1. Measures that promote efficient use of water;
SB523-SSA1,21,2524 2. Identification and sharing of best management practices and state of the art
25 conservation and efficiency technologies;
SB523-SSA1,22,1
13. Application of sound planning principles;
SB523-SSA1,22,22 4. Demand-side and supply-side measures or incentives; and
SB523-SSA1,22,33 5. Development, transfer, and application of science and research.
SB523-SSA1,22,74 (e) Each party shall implement in accordance with par. (b) a voluntary or
5mandatory water conservation program for all, including existing, basin water
6users. Conservation programs need to adjust to new demands and the potential
7impacts of cumulative effects and climate.
SB523-SSA1,22,11 8(4d) Water management and regulation; party powers and duties. (a) Each
9party, within its jurisdiction, shall manage and regulate new or increased
10withdrawals, consumptive uses, and diversions, including exceptions, in accordance
11with this compact.
SB523-SSA1,22,1312 (b) Each party shall require an applicant to submit an application in such
13manner and with such accompanying information as the party shall prescribe.
SB523-SSA1,22,1814 (c) No party may approve a proposal if the party determines that the proposal
15is inconsistent with this compact or the standard of review and decision or any
16implementing rules or regulations promulgated thereunder. The party may
17approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove any proposal depending on the
18proposal's consistency with this compact and the standard of review and decision.
SB523-SSA1,22,2119 (d) Each party shall monitor the implementation of any approved proposal to
20ensure consistency with the approval and may take all necessary enforcement
21actions.
SB523-SSA1,23,322 (e) No party shall approve a proposal subject to council or regional review, or
23both, pursuant to this compact unless it shall have been first submitted to and
24reviewed by either the council or regional body, or both, and approved by the council,
25as applicable. Sufficient opportunity shall be provided for comment on the proposal's

1consistency with this compact and the standard of review and decision. All such
2comments shall become part of the party's formal record of decision, and the party
3shall take into consideration any such comments received.
SB523-SSA1,23,7 4(4f) Water management and regulation; requirement for originating party
5approval.
No proposal subject to management and regulation under this compact
6shall hereafter be undertaken by any person unless it shall have been approved by
7the originating party.
SB523-SSA1,23,10 8(4h) Water management and regulation; regional review. (a) General. 1. It
9is the intention of the parties to participate in regional review of proposals with the
10provinces, as described in this compact and the agreement.
SB523-SSA1,23,1311 2. Unless the applicant or the originating party otherwise requests, it shall be
12the goal of the regional body to conclude its review no later than 90 days after notice
13under par. (b) of such proposal is received from the originating party.
SB523-SSA1,23,1614 3. Proposals for exceptions subject to regional review shall be submitted by the
15originating party to the regional body for regional review and, where applicable, to
16the council for concurrent review.
SB523-SSA1,23,2317 4. The parties agree that the protection of the integrity of the Great Lakes—St.
18Lawrence River Basin ecosystem shall be the overarching principle for reviewing
19proposals subject to regional review, recognizing uncertainties with respect to
20demands that may be placed on basin water, including groundwater, levels and flows
21of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, future changes in environmental
22conditions, the reliability of existing data, and the extent to which diversions may
23harm the integrity of the basin ecosystem.
SB523-SSA1,24,3
15. The originating party shall have lead responsibility for coordinating
2information for resolution of issues related to evaluation of a proposal and shall
3consult with the applicant throughout the regional review process.
SB523-SSA1,24,84 6. A majority of the members of the regional body may request regional review
5of a regionally significant or potentially precedent setting proposal. Such regional
6review must be conducted, to the extent possible, within the time frames set forth in
7this subsection. Any such regional review shall be undertaken only after consulting
8the applicant.
SB523-SSA1,24,119 (b) Notice from originating party to the regional body. 1. The originating party
10shall determine if a proposal is subject to regional review. If so, the originating party
11shall provide timely notice to the regional body and the public.
SB523-SSA1,24,1412 2. Such notice shall not be given unless and until all information, documents,
13and the originating party's technical review needed to evaluate whether the proposal
14meets the standard of review and decision have been provided.
SB523-SSA1,24,1515 3. An originating party may:
SB523-SSA1,24,1716 a. Provide notice to the regional body of an application, even if notification is
17not required; or
SB523-SSA1,24,2018 b. Request regional review of an application, even if regional review is not
19required. Any such regional review shall be undertaken only after consulting the
20applicant.
SB523-SSA1,24,2121 4. An originating party may provide preliminary notice of a potential proposal.
SB523-SSA1,24,2422 (c) Public participation. 1. To ensure adequate public participation, the
23regional body shall adopt procedures for the review of proposals that are subject to
24regional review in accordance with subs. (4) to (4z).
SB523-SSA1,25,4
12. The regional body shall provide notice to the public of a proposal undergoing
2regional review. Such notice shall indicate that the public has an opportunity to
3comment in writing to the regional body on whether the proposal meets the standard
4of review and decision.
SB523-SSA1,25,75 3. The regional body shall hold a public meeting in the state or province of the
6originating party in order to receive public comment on the issue of whether the
7proposal under consideration meets the standard of review and decision.
SB523-SSA1,25,98 4. The regional body shall consider the comments received before issuing a
9declaration of finding.
SB523-SSA1,25,1110 5. The regional body shall forward the comments it receives to the originating
11party.
SB523-SSA1,25,1312 (d) Technical review. 1. The originating party shall provide the regional body
13with its technical review of the proposal under consideration.
SB523-SSA1,25,1614 2. The originating party's technical review shall thoroughly analyze the
15proposal and provide an evaluation of the proposal sufficient for a determination of
16whether the proposal meets the standard of review and decision.
SB523-SSA1,25,1817 3. Any member of the regional body may conduct the member's own technical
18review of any proposal subject to regional review.
SB523-SSA1,25,2119 4. At the request of the majority of its members, the regional body shall make
20such arrangements as it considers appropriate for an independent technical review
21of a proposal.
SB523-SSA1,26,222 5. All parties shall exercise their best efforts to ensure that a technical review
23undertaken under subd. 3. or 4. does not unnecessarily delay the decision by the
24originating party on the application. Unless the applicant or the originating party

1otherwise requests, all technical reviews shall be completed no later than 60 days
2after the date the notice of the proposal was given to the regional body.
SB523-SSA1,26,53 (e) Declaration of finding. 1. The regional body shall meet to consider a
4proposal. The applicant shall be provided with an opportunity to present the
5proposal to the regional body at such time.
SB523-SSA1,26,116 2. The regional body, having considered the notice, the originating party's
7technical review, any other independent technical review that is made, any
8comments or objections including the analysis of comments made by the public and
9first nations and federally recognized tribes, and any other information that is
10provided under this compact shall issue a declaration of finding that the proposal
11under consideration:
SB523-SSA1,26,1212 a. Meets the standard of review and decision;
SB523-SSA1,26,1313 b. Does not meet the standard of review and decision; or
SB523-SSA1,26,1514 c. Would meet the standard of review and decision if certain conditions were
15met.
SB523-SSA1,26,1716 3. An originating party may decline to participate in a declaration of finding
17made by the regional body.
SB523-SSA1,26,2018 4. The parties recognize and affirm that it is preferable for all members of the
19regional body to agree whether the proposal meets the standard of review and
20decision.
SB523-SSA1,26,2221 5. If the members of the regional body who participate in the declaration of
22finding all agree, they shall issue a written declaration of finding with consensus.
SB523-SSA1,26,2423 6. In the event that the members cannot agree, the regional body shall make
24every reasonable effort to achieve consensus within 25 days.
SB523-SSA1,27,3
17. Should consensus not be achieved, the regional body may issue a declaration
2of finding that presents different points of view and indicates each party's
3conclusions.
SB523-SSA1,27,44 8. The regional body shall release the declarations of finding to the public.
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