The sneak attack on Lake Michigan water by New Berlin casts a bright light on a little-discussed, but crucial, element of the Great Lakes water debate: exactly what is the process to be used to apply for diversion permits, evaluation standards for those applications, and the public input and oversight of this process. It should have been impossible for New Berlin to apply for, and DNR to make a decision on, a diversion request without any public knowledge, much less input.
As long as the newspapers (advertising base), and the regional planning commission (political base), have their suburban agendas, it is critical to develop a transparent process overseen by citizens, that documents need, requires prior conservation efforts, and assesses alternatives. This oversight should be provided by a citizen-appointed board.
http://www.wisopinion.com/index.iml?mdl=article.mdl&article=4716
Posted by Dave at July 20, 2006 07:04 AM