Reps. McDowell, Espinoza, Byrum, Dillon, Lipsey, Tobocman, Zelenko, Condino, Angerer, Adamini, Brown, Sheltrown, Kolb, Gillard, Accavitti, Ball, Bennett, Bieda, Casperson, Clack, Clemente, Farrah, Gleason, Gonzales, Hopgood, Kathleen Law, Lemmons, Jr., Meisner, Polidori, Sak, Alma Smith, Spade, Vagnozzi, Waters and Wojno offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 298.

            A resolution to request that the President of the United States and the United States Department of State ask the International Joint Commission to investigate sewage discharges in the St. Mary's River near Sugar Island.

            Whereas, The Great Lakes and their connecting waters are a shared resource between the United States and Canada. Activities on either side of the border can affect water quality and the quality of life on the other side of the border; and

            Whereas, The United States and Canada signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement that acknowledges their joint responsibility to restore and enhance water quality in the Great Lakes basin; and

            Whereas, The United States is making significant investments into the restoration of the St. Mary's River, as most recently demonstrated by the commitment of $8 million in federal, state, and private funds to clean up contaminated sediment in the river; and

            Whereas, Raw sewage discharges into the St. Mary's River are a threat to public health. Current and past discharges, apparently originating in Canada, have fouled the waters around Sugar Island, closing the area to swimming, putting Michigan citizens' health at risk, and potentially hurting tourism. Of particular concern, these discharges are not necessarily related to high flows associated with storm water but also occur during dry weather; and

            Whereas, The state of Michigan cannot enforce corrective actions on Canadian facilities that may contaminate Michigan's waters but may bear the brunt of cleaning up the problems that they create. Michigan and Chippewa County taxpayers should not bear the cost of cleanup for sewage overflows originating in Canada that foul Michigan's waters; and

            Whereas, Pursuant to Article IX of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, the International Joint Commission is responsible for examining and reporting on matters of difference involving water quality along the common water borders between the United States and Canada referred by the governments of the United States or Canada; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we request the United States Department of State to submit a letter of reference asking the International Joint Commission to examine, report, and make recommendations as it deems appropriate on sewage discharges into the St. Mary's River near Sugar Island. In particular, the International Joint Commission should identify the problem source as well as make recommendations on preventing future discharges and on responsibility for paying cleanup costs; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States and the Secretary of State.