HARRISBURG, Pa., July 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell has followed through on an agreement reached in 2005 to protect one of the world's largest bodies of fresh water -- the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin -- as he signed House Bill 1705, which will ensure this invaluable resource is protected for the millions of people who rely on its resources for energy, recreation, agriculture and industry.

H.B. 1705 ratifies an interstate agreement reached with seven other Great Lake states and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The five Great Lakes are the world's largest surface freshwater system -- accounting for about 20 percent of the freshwater on the planet. The compact will prohibit water diversions outside of the Great Lakes basin combined with state programs to conserve and manage the basin waters adhering to unified and cooperative principles, policies and programs throughout the basin.

'Today, Pennsylvania is proud to join with other Great Lakes states in forging a renewed commitment to protect the region's vast water resources that provide so many environmental and economic benefits for our communities,' said Governor Rendell. 'Effective management of the waters of the Great Lakes basin is essential for sustaining tourism, recreation, boating and fishing, our state parks at Presque Isle and Erie Bluffs, international shipping through the Port of Erie, as well as water supplies for homes, farms and businesses in Pennsylvania's Lake Erie and Lake Ontario watersheds.'

Today's signing enacts the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania joins Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan in approving the agreement. The compact will not become effective until the U.S. Congress provides its consent.

In December 2005, following a nearly five-year negotiation, the Great Lakes governors endorsed the agreement on the compact.