AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm's moratorium on new or expanded bottled water operations in that state until its Legislature passes a water withdrawal law drew praise Tuesday from leaders of a campaign in Maine to impose a tax on water extractions.
Granholm ordered the moratorium May 27 following approval by state environmental regulators of a permit for Nestle Waters North America Inc. to buy water from a city's municipal system for bottling.
Granholm's action, combined with concerns about a contract Maine has negotiated with Nestle's, underscores the importance of having a policy to protect state water resources, said Jim Wilfong, leader of H2O for ME.
Wilfong's group is circulating petitions in hopes of forcing a referendum on its proposal to impose a 3-cent tax per 20-ounce bottle of water drawn from Maine aquifers. That amounts to about 20 cents per gallon of water, which the campaign says would bring in about $100 million in state revenue per year. Maine Gov. John Baldacci opposes the water tax.
http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw116856_20050607.htm
Posted by Dave at June 7, 2005 08:21 PM