Sen. Debbie Stabenow has asked the U.S. EPA immediately to halt cross-border shipments from Canada of Toronto trash. Although the article linked below doesn't mention it, EPA technically has the power to do this under an international pact signed years ago.
Which raises the question NOBODY has posed during the argument over how to stop Great Lakes water exports. Most observers believe the interstate commerce clause prevents states from simply banning the import or export of trash, water and other "goods" supposedly in commerce. Even if that's true, there is NO doubt that a U.S.-Canada treaty could ban water exports from the Great Lakes. Treaties are the supreme law of the land and supersede even Constitutional clauses. So why hasn't anyone proposed that the next President and Canadian Prime Minister sign such a treaty and get it ratified?
Here's the trash story:
http://www.mlive.com/news/statewide/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1094854201249290.xml
Posted by Dave at September 11, 2004 08:55 PM