Since Atlanta and Georgia are is doing their best 'Las Vegas imitation' vis-a-vis Southeast water, neighboring states might do well to ensure that their own 'water houses' are in order. Remember Georgia's effort to move its border so it could access Tennessee River water?
Looks like Tennessee has taken that advice to heart. Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) has signed into law a bill that revises Tennessee's water laws. It takes effect immediately.
But not everyone thinks it is a great idea. From U.S. Water News Online:
Sponsors say the new law is necessary to clarify what are “waters of the state.”
Opponents, however, say some provisions of the measure weaken the state's oversight by shifting the decision making from the public to the private sector.
For instance, the law allows a company or individual to hire a professional to determine how a watercourse should be classified and allow that person's finding to be conclusive.
Read it for yourself:
Hey, I'm classified as a 'qualified hydrologic professional' by the law. Awesome.
"The solution to our water problems is more rain." -- attributed to Mark Twain
It is hardly surprising that one of our first responses to any crisis is to make new laws, promulgate new rules, gerrymander boundaries, take every action possible to divide and conquer, to separate. Maybe it's not within the American mindset to choose to cooperate first, before we stick the dagger.
Posted by: PAUL F. MILLER | July 02, 2009 at 05:49 PM