Plastic bags are a persistent litter problem in the Great Lakes. And all over the country they are seen as a nuisance. Some cities--like New York--have tried to ban bags or charge a fee for them. But it's hard to make these bans stick.
With its vast water resources, the Great Lakes region could be poised to draw businesses—big and small—from other parts of the country. But even here, water quality is a big issue.
Under the complex laws governing Great Lakes water, Pennsylvania will have veto power over whether a Wisconsin city can pull its drinking water from Lake Michigan.
