Four Decades
Restoring the Clean Water Act
Minnesota Currents|Online, Summer 2010
The drinking water sources for nearly 1 million Minnesotans are at risk of losing Clean Water Act protections. Congress now has an opportunity to fix this and restore protections weakened by the Supreme Court and Bush Administration.
For those whose water sources are no longer protected under the Clean Water Act, the status quo means increased contamination risks. Communities also face the prospect of higher water costs as expensive filtration and disinfection technologies are deployed.
"Preventing pollution in the first place is cheaper, better and faster than having to get it out at treatment plants," said Clean Water Action President and CEO John DeCock, "there is a serious common-sense aspect to passing this bill."
The America’s Commitment to Clean Water Act (ACCWA – H.R. 5088) was introduced in the U.S. House earlier this year by Representative Oberstar (D-MN). The bill will restore Congress’ original intent for the Clean Water Act to protect all of our nation’s waters. It is as clear today as it was in 1972 when the Clean Water Act was passed--you cannot get the job done by only protecting some of our waters; you have to protect all of them.
The Clean Water Act has been one of our most important and fundamental environmental protection laws. For 38 years the Clean Water Act has prevented millions of tons of pollution from entering our waters and led to the cleanup of polluted lakes, rivers and streams across the country. Big polluters have been working to reduce the protections claiming the Clean Water Act should not cover numerous wetlands, streams, rivers and lakes that have been historically protected. In just one year, more than 500 enforcement cases have been dropped by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Justice Department.
Boyer Lake is one of the lakes which was removed from Clean Water Act protection
An illustration of what is at risk is Boyer Lake in Becker County, Minnesota. The local Corps of Engineer’s office ruled that the 310-acre lake no longer falls under the protection of the Clean Water Act. Their interpretation of the Supreme Court rulings left the local fishing spot vulnerable to pollution and outright destruction. Luckily, the EPA overturned the ruling but it illustrates how vulnerable our waters are to losing Clean Water Act protections.
More than 500,000 Clean Water Action members have written to Members of Congress asking for Clean Water Act protections to be restored for all drinking water sources. Contact your representative today and ask them to support and cosponsor H.R. 5088.
Publication Date:
06/08/2010
In this issue of Minnesota Currents|online:
The 2010 legislative session ended in the early morning hours of May 17 after a brief special session was called by the Governor. Fights over the state budget and funding for health care and education dominated the atmosphere at the Capitol, making it a tough year to pass meaningful environmental legislation. However, once again Clean Water Action was able to celebrate several legislative victories this session. In addition to passing another bill to keep toxins out of our environment, we were able to stop attempts to weaken current environment laws and move Minnesota towards dirty energy options.
Earth Day Birthday Bash Highlights
Clean Water Action members, volunteers, allies and staff celebrated Earth Day’s 40th Birthday with food, fun and activism!
The drinking water sources for nearly 1 million Minnesotans are at risk of losing Clean Water Act protections. Congress now has an opportunity to fix this and restore protections weakened by the Supreme Court and Bush Administration.
Tips For Water Conservation and Safety
The summer is a time for hot weather and enjoying our lakes, rivers and streams. It is also a time when we tend to have our water closer to the forefront of our minds. Sometimes it seems like there is not much we can do to protect the health and vitality of our water because these problems seem too big. Increasingly, we all share a responsibility to do our part to protect our waters. How we use water, what happens to the rainwater falling on our lands and what we send down our drains are the next greatest challenges we must face together.
Clean Water Action would like to offer a few tips that each of us can do at home to help protect, restore and conserve our precious water resources
Pesticide Issues Gain Urgency At Federal Level
Pesticide issues have gained momentum and long awaited attention at the federal level this year. Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota is leading the fight to ban the highly toxic and commonly used pesticide atrazine, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking to disclose inert ingredients in pesticides and the President’s Cancer Panel released a report stating that chemicals threaten our bodies.
Meet Our Canvassers - Is This Job In Your Future?
Summer is in full swing and so is Clean Water Action’s canvass recruitment program! We are currently hiring for part time and full time positions for our field and phone canvasses. Learn valuable skills, work with fun and exciting people, chat with our members about important environmental issues and build your resume. Spend your summer with us by calling today to learn more about our exciting employment opportunities.
Here is what phone canvass manager, Terrance Noble, and field canvass manager, Anna Waugh, have to say about working for the Clean Water Action canvasses.
Creating Healthy Homes and Healthy Water
Clean Water Action continues our work to protect environmental and human health from toxic chemical exposure through our involvement in the Healthy Legacy Coalition. This past year, we educated over 500 Minnesotans about how to reduce their toxic chemical exposure in their homes and actively support protective policies with our Healthy Home Presentations. If you would like to host a Healthy Home, Healthy Water Presentation in your community, contact Kim LaBo.
The potential invasion of Asian Carp has been one of the dominant Great Lakes issues as of late. Asian Carp are voracious eaters that have been moving up the Mississippi River system threatening native species wherever they go. An electric fence was constructed near Chicago to prevent the carp from traveling from the Illinois River through the artificial canal system and into Lake Michigan. Unfortunately, last year Asian Carp DNA was found in the waterway beyond the electric fence sparking fears the fish have breached the barrier and will establish themselves in the Great Lakes. Efforts since then have focused on a dual track of determining the extent of the immediate problem and finding a long-term solution. Initial results are promising that they have not established themselves in the Great Lakes, yet, but efforts will continue to determine the extent of the Asian Carp invasion.
Clean Water Action and all of the other activists and allies working for strong, comprehensive climate and energy legislation are still waiting for the introduction of new climate and energy legislation by US Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Lieberman (I-CT). These senators have been working with Senator Graham (R-SC) to craft a bill capable of passing the Senate since earlier efforts stalled. A draft was released during the middle of May.
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version