1. For some time, there have been discussions about building a pipeline from the
ID: 287287 • Letter: 1
Question
1. For some time, there have been discussions about building a pipeline from the Great Lakes to areas in the southwestern United States to support the demands for water brought on by population growth and the potential to further develop agriculture production in that region. Since the Great Lakes are shared with Canada, this is an international water issue.
a. List and describe 5 issues that interest groups may raise in support of this pipeline proposal.
b. List and describe 5 issues that interest groups may raise in opposition to this pipeline proposal.
c. Would you support this proposal? Why or why not?
Explanation / Answer
a. The five issues in support of this pipeline proposal are:
1. The pipeline would quench the thirst of drought-prone states of Southwest and result in a better agriculture productivity in the region.
2. The pipeline would be a symbol of unity among the states of the USA and the engineering capabilities of the country.
3. The construction and transfer of the pipeline would generate thousands of jobs and will boost the local economy.
4. During the flooding years, the pipeline will work as an effective flood control method at the great lake states.
5. The project would supply water to the much-needed people outside the basin area like the city of Waukesha, a well-to-do suburb west of Milwaukee, whose drinking water is contaminated with naturally occurring pollutant 'radium'.
. The five issues in opposition to this pipeline proposal are:
1. The uncertainty related to the environmental impact which might turn out to be huge in terms of soil erosion, ecosystem disruption, land loss, micro-climatic impacts and so on.
2. The huge money required for the attempt would make it impossible at the current ROI.
3. The agreement between the eight great lake states and the Canadian lake states approved by the president in 2008, strictly prohibits the transfer of large volumes of water out of the basin.
4. Allowing the transfer once may establish a precedent for a continuous extraction in future that may compromise the water security of the local people in long-term.
5. The international dispute that may arise as the Great lake basin is shared by Canada as well and the citizens of Canada might not be too comfortable sharing their right.
c) I would not support the proposal at this point as the complete understanding of the costs and benefits is not available. Though many of the benefits are apparent, the impacts in terms of environment, society, and economy are very uncertain. By the virtue of precautionary principle, I would like to pause and study the basin and the impacts in a comprehensive manner. Only based on such studies, an informed decision can be made.
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