CHAPTER 13. GREAT LAKES BASIN COMPACT
IC 14-25-13
Chapter 13. Great Lakes Basin Compact
IC 14-25-13-1
"Basin" defined
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "Basin" refers to the Great Lakes
Basin.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18.
IC 14-25-13-2
"Commission" defined
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "Commission" refers to the Great
Lakes Commission.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18.
IC 14-25-13-3
"State" defined
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "state" includes a province of
Canada.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18.
IC 14-25-13-4
Great Lakes Basin Compact
Sec. 4. The Great Lakes Basin Compact is ratified, enacted into
law, and entered into by Indiana as a party thereto with any other
state or province which, pursuant to Article 2 of the compact, has
legally joined therein in the form substantially as follows:
Article 1.
The purposes of this compact are, through means of joint or cooperative action, the following:
(1) To promote the orderly, integrated, and comprehensive development, use, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes Basin.
(2) To plan for the welfare and development of the water resources of the Basin as a whole as well as for those portions of the Basin which may have problems of special concern.
(3) To make it possible for the states of the Basin and their people to derive the maximum benefit from utilization of public works, in the form of navigational aids or otherwise, which may exist or which may be constructed from time to time.
(4) To advise in securing and maintaining a proper balance among industrial, commercial, agricultural, water supply, residential, recreational, and other legitimate uses of the water resources of the Basin.
(5) To establish and maintain an intergovernmental agency to the end that the purposes of this compact may be accomplished more effectively.
Article 2.
(a) This compact shall enter into force and become effective and binding when the compact has been enacted by the legislatures of
any four of the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New
York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin and thereafter shall enter
into force and become effective and binding as to any other of the
states when enacted by the legislature of the other state.
(b) The Province of Ontario and the Province of Quebec, or either
of them, may become states party to this compact by taking such
action as their laws and the laws of the Government of Canada may
prescribe for adherence thereto.
Article 3.
The Great Lakes Commission created by Article 4 of this compact shall exercise the Commission's powers and perform the Commission's functions in respect to the Basin which, for the purposes of this compact, shall consist of so much of the following as may be within the party states:
(1) Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, St. Clair, Superior, and the St. Lawrence River, together with any and all natural or man-made water interconnections between or among them.
(2) All rivers, ponds, lakes, streams, and other watercourses which, in their natural state or in their prevailing condition, are tributary to Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, St. Clair, and Superior or any of them or which comprise part of any watershed draining into any of the lakes.
Article 4.
(a) There is created an agency of the party states to be known as The Great Lakes Commission. In that name the Commission may sue and be sued and acquire, hold, and convey real and personal property and any interest therein. The Commission shall have a seal with the words "The Great Lakes Commission" and such other design as the Commission may prescribe engraved thereon by which the Commission shall authenticate the Commission's proceedings. Transactions involving real or personal property shall conform to the laws of the state in which the property is located, and the Commission may by bylaws provide for the execution and acknowledgment of all instruments in the Commission's behalf.
(b) The Commission shall be composed of not less than three (3) commissioners nor more than five (5) commissioners from each party state designated or appointed in accordance with the law of the state which they represent and serving and subject to removal in accordance with such law.
(c) Each state delegation shall be entitled to three (3) votes in the Commission. The presence of commissioners from a majority of the party states shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Commission. Actions of the Commission shall be by a majority of the votes cast, except that any recommendations made pursuant to Article 6 of this compact shall require an affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the votes cast from each of a majority of the states present and voting.
(d) The commissioners of any two (2) or more party states may meet separately to consider problems of particular interest to their states but no action taken at any such meeting shall be deemed an
action of the Commission unless and until the Commission shall
specifically approve the action.
(e) In the absence of any commissioner, the commissioner's vote
may be cast by another representative or commissioner of the
commissioner's state provided that the commissioner or other
representative casting the vote shall have a written proxy in proper
form as may be required by the Commission.
(f) The Commission shall elect annually from among the
Commission's members a chairman and vice chairman. The
Commission shall appoint an Executive Director who shall also act
as secretary-treasurer and who shall be bonded in such amount as the
Commission may require. The Executive Director shall serve at the
pleasure of the Commission and at such compensation and under
such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the Commission. The
Executive Director shall be custodian of the records of the
Commission with authority to affix the Commission's official seal
and to attest to and certify such records or copies of the Commission.
(g) The Executive Director, subject to the approval of the
Commission in such cases as the Commission's bylaws may provide,
shall appoint and remove or discharge such personnel as may be
necessary for the performance of the Commission's functions.
Subject to the approval, the Executive Director may fix the
compensation, define the duties, and require bonds of such of the
personnel as the Commission may designate.
(h) The Executive Director, on behalf of, as trustee for, and with
the approval of the Commission, may do the following:
(1) Borrow, accept, or contract for the services of personnel
from:
(A) any state or government or any subdivision or agency of
a state or government;
(B) any intergovernmental agency; or
(C) any institution, person, firm, limited liability company,
or corporation.
(2) Accept, receive, and utilize for any of the Commission's
purposes and functions under this compact any and all
donations, gifts, and grants of money, equipment, supplies,
materials, and services from any state or government or any
subdivision or agency of a state or government or
intergovernmental agency or from any institution, person, firm,
limited liability company, or corporation.
(i) The Commission may establish and maintain one (1) or more
offices for the transacting of the Commission's business and for such
purposes the Executive Director, on behalf of, as trustee for, and with
the approval of the Commission, may acquire, hold, and dispose of
real and personal property necessary to the performance of the
Commission's functions.
(j) No tax levied or imposed by any party state or any political
subdivisions of a party state shall be deemed to apply to property,
transactions, or income of the Commission.
(k) The Commission may adopt, amend, and rescind bylaws,
rules, and regulations for the conduct of the Commission's business
and may adopt an official seal.
(l) The organization meeting of the Commission shall be held
within six months from the effective date of this compact.
(m) The Commission and the Executive Director shall make
available to the party states any information within the Commission's
possession and shall always provide free access to the Commission's
records by duly authorized representatives of such party states.
(n) The Commission shall keep a written record of the
Commission's meetings and proceedings and shall annually make a
report of the meetings and proceedings to be submitted to the duly
designated official of each party state.
(o) The Commission shall make and transmit annually to the
legislature and Governor of each party state a report covering the
activities of the Commission for the preceding year and embodying
such recommendations as may have been adopted by the
Commission. The Commission may issue such additional reports as
the Commission may deem desirable.
Article 5.
(a) The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but the expenses of each commissioner shall be met by the state which the Commissioner represents in accordance with the law of that state. All other expenses incurred by the Commission in the course of exercising the powers conferred upon the Commission by this compact, unless met in some other manner specifically provided by this compact, shall be paid by the Commission out of the Commission's own funds.
(b) The Commission shall submit to the executive head or designated officer of each party state a budget of the Commission's estimated expenditures for such period as may be required by the laws of that state for presentation to the legislature of the state.
(c) Each of the Commission's budgets of estimated expenditures shall contain specific recommendations of the amount or amounts to be appropriated by each of the party states. Detailed Commission budgets shall be recommended by a majority of the votes cast, and the costs shall be allocated equitably among the party states in accordance with the respective interests of the party states.
(d) The Commission shall not pledge the credit of any party state. The Commission may meet any of the Commission's obligations in whole or in part with funds available to the Commission under Article 4(h) of this compact, provided that the Commission takes specific action setting aside such funds prior to the incurring of any obligations to be met in whole or in part in this manner. Except where the Commission makes use of funds available to the Commission under Article 4(h) of this compact, the Commission shall not incur any obligations prior to the allotment of funds by the party states adequate to meet the same.
(e) The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures
established under the bylaws. However, all receipts and
disbursements of funds handled by the Commission shall be audited
yearly by a qualified public accountant and the report of the audit
shall be included in and become a part of the annual report of the
Commission.
(f) The accounts of the Commission shall be open at any
reasonable time for inspection by such agency, representative, or
representatives of the party states as may be duly constituted for that
purpose and by others who may be authorized by the Commission.
Article 6.
The Commission shall have power to do the following:
(1) Collect, correlate, interpret, and report on data relating to the water resources and the use of the water resources in the Basin or any portion of the Basin.
(2) Recommend methods for the orderly, efficient, and balanced development, use, and conservation of the water resources of the Basin or any portion of the Basin to the party states and to any other governments or agencies having interests in or jurisdiction over the Basin or any portion of the Basin.
(3) Consider the need for and desirability of public works and improvements relating to the water resources in the Basin or any portion of the Basin.
(4) Consider means of improving navigation and port facilities in the Basin or any portion of the Basin.
(5) Consider means of improving and maintaining the fisheries of the Basin or any portion of the Basin.
(6) Recommend policies relating to water resources, including the institution and alteration of flood plain and other zoning laws, ordinances, and regulations.
(7) Recommend uniform or other laws, ordinances, or regulations relating to the development, use, and conservation of the Basin's water resources to the party states or any of the party states and to other governments, political subdivisions, agencies, or intergovernmental bodies having interests in or jurisdiction sufficient to affect conditions in the Basin or any portion of the Basin.
(8) Consider and recommend amendments or agreements supplementary to this compact to the party states or any of the party states and assist in the formulation and drafting of such amendments or supplementary agreements.
(9) Prepare and publish reports, bulletins, and publications appropriate to this work and fix reasonable sale prices for the reports, bulletins, and publications.
(10) With respect to the water resources of the Basin or any portion of the Basin, recommend agreements between the governments of the United States and Canada.
(11) Recommend mutual arrangements expressed by concurrent or reciprocal legislation on the part of Congress and the Parliament of Canada, including but not limited to such agreements and mutual arrangements as are provided for by
Article 13 of the Treaty of 1909 Relating to Boundary Waters
and Questions Arising Between the United States and Canada.
(Treaty Series, No. 548).
(12) Cooperate with the governments of the United States,
Canada, and the party states and any public or private agencies
or bodies having interest in or jurisdiction sufficient to affect
the Basin or any portion of the Basin.
(13) At the request of the United States, or in the event that a
Province shall be a party state, at the request of the Government
of Canada, assist in the negotiation and formulation of any
treaty or other mutual arrangement or agreement between the
United States and Canada with reference to the Basin or any
portion of the Basin.
(14) Make any recommendation and do all things necessary and
proper to carry out the powers conferred upon the Commission
by this compact, provided that no action of the Commission
shall have the force of law in or be binding upon any party state.
Article 7.
Each party state agrees to consider the action the Commission recommends in respect to the following:
(1) Stabilization of lake levels.
(2) Measures for combating pollution, beach erosion, floods, and short inundation.
(3) Uniformity in navigation regulations within the constitutional powers of the states.
(4) Proposed navigation aids and improvements.
(5) Uniformity or effective coordinating action in fishing laws and regulations and cooperative action to eradicate destructive and parasitical forces endangering the fisheries, wildlife, and other water resources.
(6) Suitable hydroelectric power developments.
(7) Cooperative programs for control of soil and bank erosion for the general improvement of the Basin.
(8) Diversion of waters from and into the Basin.
(9) Other measures the Commission may recommend to the state pursuant to Article 6 of this compact.
Article 8.
This compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each party state until renounced by act of the legislature of such state, in such form and manner as the state may choose and as may be valid and effective to repeal a statute of the state, provided that such renunciation shall not become effective until six (6) months after notice of such action shall have been officially communicated in writing to the executive head of the other party states.
Article 9.
(a) It is intended that the provisions of this compact shall be reasonably and liberally construed to effectuate the purposes of this compact. The provisions of this compact shall be severable. If:
(1) any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state or
of the United States, or in the case of a Province, to the British
North American Act of 1867 as amended; or
(2) the applicability of this compact to any state, agency,
person, or circumstance is held invalid;
the constitutionality of the remainder of this compact and the
applicability of this compact to any state, agency, person, or
circumstance shall not be affected.
(b) If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of the
United States, or in the case of a Province, to the British North
American Act of 1867, as amended, or of any party state, the
compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining
states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all
severable matters.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18.
IC 14-25-13-5
Commissioners
Sec. 5. In pursuance of Article 4 of the compact, there are five (5)
commissioners on the Commission from Indiana. Each commissioner
has all the powers conferred on a commissioner by the compact or
which are necessary or incidental to the performance of the
commissioner's functions as such a commissioner. The governor
shall appoint the members of the Commission for terms of four (4)
years. The governor shall fill by appointment any vacancies
occurring in the office of a commissioner for any reason or cause for
the unexpired term.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18.
IC 14-25-13-6
Duties of state officers, bureaus, and departments
Sec. 6. (a) All officers of this state shall do all things falling
within the respective jurisdiction of the officers necessary to or
incidental to the carrying out of the compact in every particular
because it is the policy of Indiana to perform and carry out the
compact and to accomplish the purposes of the compact.
(b) All officers, bureaus, departments, and persons of and in the
state government or administration of this state shall, at reasonable
times and upon request of the Commission, do the following:
(1) Furnish the Commission with information and data
possessed by all or any of the officers, bureaus, departments,
and persons.
(2) Aid the Commission by loan of personnel or other means
lying within the legal powers of the officers, bureaus,
departments, and persons.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18.
IC 14-25-13-7
Submission of budget
Sec. 7. The budget of the estimated expenditures of the
Commission shall be submitted to the budget committee for the
period and in the form that is required by the committee.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18.
IC 14-25-13-8
Governor to transmit copies to parties
Sec. 8. The governor shall transmit an authenticated copy of this
chapter and the compact contained in this chapter to each jurisdiction
party to the compact.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18.
IC 14-25-13-9
Administrative duties; rights and obligations not affected
Sec. 9. (a) The department of natural resources shall provide
administrative and staff services for the commissioners from Indiana
on the Commission as provided by this chapter.
(b) The deputy director for the bureau of water and resource
regulation shall, without additional compensation, serve as technical
secretary to the Commission in Indiana. The deputy director shall
handle the correspondence, make or arrange for the investigations
and surveys, and obtain, assemble, or prepare the reports and data
that the commissioners direct and authorize.
(c) This section does not do any of the following:
(1) Alter or affect the obligations of all officers of this state
under section 6 of this chapter.
(2) Alter the manner in which the commissioners from Indiana
on the Commission are appointed.
(3) Alter any of the jurisdiction, authority, rights, powers,
property, duties, responsibilities, causes of action, or defense
vested on June 30, 1965, in or required of the following:
(A) The Commission.
(B) The commissioners from Indiana on the Commission.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18. Amended by P.L.1-2006, SEC.217.