14.78 Great Lakes compact commission.

(1) Members; terms. There is created a Great Lakes compact commission consisting of 3 commissioners appointed by the governor. The commissioners shall be persons having knowledge of and interest in problems of the Great Lakes basin. One commissioner, appointed for an indefinite term, shall be a state officer or employee and shall serve as secretary of the Great Lakes compact commission. The other commissioners shall be appointed for terms of 4 years. The commissioners shall receive no salaries but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses.

(2) Duties. It is the duty of the Wisconsin Great Lakes compact commission:

(a) To represent this state on the Great Lakes commission created by the Great Lakes basin compact ratified and enacted by chapter 275, laws of 1955, and through such representation to perform the functions of the Great Lakes commission in conjunction with the commissioners of other party states. Whenever a vote is required by the terms of the Great Lakes basin compact, each member of the Wisconsin Great Lakes compact commission is authorized to cast the same proportion of the 3 votes to which the state of Wisconsin is entitled under the compact as each of the other members of the Wisconsin Great Lakes compact commission.

(b) To maintain a continuing investigation of the project of connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic ocean by means of the Welland canal and the St. Lawrence River and to urge upon congress the enactment of additional appropriate legislation to enable the full development of such waterway, the commission to work in conjunction with similar commissions in other states and with other interested groups and agencies in the promotion of such project.

(c) To direct and execute a program of education in such form as the commission may determine, in support of the projects for development of the St. Lawrence seaway and the deepening of the Great Lakes connecting channels, using not to exceed the amount of funds appropriated for that purpose.

(d) To report biennially in accordance with s. 15.04 (1) (d), and to make such other reports as are requested by the governor or which it deems appropriate.

(3) Financing commission. The Great Lakes compact commission may annually contribute to the Great Lakes commission not to exceed the amount appropriated for that purpose.

(4) State officers to aid commission. It is the policy of the state to carry out the Great Lakes basin compact and to accomplish the purposes thereof, and all officers of the state shall do all things falling within their respective jurisdictions necessary or incidental to carrying out such compact. Officers, agencies and employees of the state government shall, at reasonable times and upon the request of the Great Lakes commission, furnish such commission with information and data within their possession and aid such commission by loan of personnel and other means lying within their respective legal powers.

History: 1975 c. 39, 198; 1977 c. 196 s. 131.

That the Waters Shall be Forever Free: Navigating Wisconsin's Obligations Under the Public Trust Doctrine and the Great Lakes Compact. Johnson-Karp. 94 MLR 414 (2010).