April 1, 2005   

Governor

Dear Governor           :

            I am writing to inform you about a serious withdrawal and diversion of Great Lakes water.  The Nestle/Ice Mountain Corporation is entering into a deal with the City of Evart, Michigan to withdraw substantial amounts of water from two spring water wells owned and operated by the City of Evart.  The water will be bottled at the Nestle/Ice Mountain, Stanwood, Michigan plant.  Then most of the water will be exported out of the Great Lakes basin.

            Perhaps the amount of water being diverted does not concern you (yet), but the aggressive, spring water mining operations of the Nestle/Ice Mountain Corporation and other water bottling companies certainly will exceed whatever the City of Webster, New York planned in 2001.  The former Governor of Michigan, John Engler, pressured the mayor of the City of Webster to cease and desist any water bottling operations there.

            The time is now for you to use your veto power under the Water Resources Development Act before spring water bottlers, who can make up to $1 million a day in profit, become so legitimate and entrenched that it will take decades of legal battles (and possibly federal government intervention) to reverse the environmental damages.  In the court case, Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation v. Nestle, the Circuit Court in Michigan found that spring water mining causes environmental damage at any level of water pumping.

            Thank you for your consideration of this important environmental issue.

Sincerely,