Dave Dempsey is the communications director of Conservation Minnesota, a leading advocate for the protection of the Great Lakes and author of several books. His latest work, "Great Lakes For Sale: From Whitecaps to Bottlecaps" published by University of Michigan Press, focuses on the export and diversion of water from within the Great Lakes basin.

Dempsey was an aide to Michigan Gov. James Blanchard at the inception of a policy that would later turn into the Great Lakes Compact and now he has concerns over language in the legislation that would commoditize fresh water. After being ratified by the eight great lakes states the legislation was quickly approved by the U.S. Senate. President Bush has endorsed the legislation, which is now pending in the House of Representatives.

"There is a huge loop-hole that would allow a potentially unlimited amounts of water to leave [the Great Lakes Basin] as long as it was in containers under 20 liters," Dempsey says of the compact. "There is no resource-based reason for distinguishing between 300 million gallons taken out in a pipeline and 300 million gallons taken out in bottles."

Listen: Author interview with Dave Dempsey