Alliance for the Great Lakes - Clean Water Action Minnesota - Freshwater Future -
Great Lakes United - Healing Our Waters–Great Lakes Coalition –
National Wildlife Federation - Natural Resources Defense Council -
Sierra Club-Ontario - Ohio Environmental Council

A much-anticipated study says separating the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins to prevent the spread of Asian carp and other invasive species is not only possible, but a natural step toward much-needed action to improve Chicago’s water infrastructure.

Lack Of Federal Reform Makes State Laws More Urgent

(Boston, MA) - In 2012, Massachusetts and 27 other state legislatures will consider bills that address concerns over toxic chemicals in consumer products, according to a new analysis by Safer States, a national coalition of state-based environmental organizations which Clean Water Action participates in. Bills to be introduced this year will cover a broad list of topics, including safer alternatives to toxic chemicals to bans on toxic chlorinated Tris flame retardants and cadmium, and requirements that makers of consumer products publicly disclose chemicals in products. 

Taxpayers in Massachusetts currently fund statewide energy efficiency programs, but policymakers lack the tools to track who is being served by the programs and how they have impacted local communities. A new piece of Green Justice legislation, approved by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy (TUE) on January 24, would change that.

“We applaud the Committee for its role in advancing transparency and increasing access for previously underserved communities,” said Staci Rubin of Alternatives for Community & Environment, a member of the Green Justice Coalition (GJC). The GJC has, since 2008, worked with utility companies and state agencies to address inequities in state efficiency programs and address job quality standards. “We are encouraged that the bill aims to provide equitable access to efficiency programs for hard to reach communities, including low-to-moderate- income homeowners and renters, residents whose primary language is not English, and small businesses.”

The bill, “An Act Further Promoting Energy Efficiency and Green Jobs,” mandates public accountability in Massachusetts’ energy efficiency programs and would establish a new Oil Heat Energy Efficiency Fund.

Stuart, Martin County - Today, Martin County Commissioners Sarah Heard and Ed Ciampi, Sewall's Point Town Commissioner Tom Bausch, and City of Stuart Commissioner Jeffrey Krauskropf, joined representatives of Clean Water Action, Indian Riverkeepers, Ocean Research and Conservation Association, Sierra Club and students from RiverKidz under the Stuart Causeway bridge on the St. Lucie River, where clean water is essential to the local economy and environment.

Trenton, NJ -- When the Governor delivered his State of the State on Tuesday, January 17, the outcry for clean water and against current efforts to rollback key protections has increased.

While the state's environmental community, the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and leading media outlets have been highlighting the fast tracking of "The Dirty Water Bill" (S3156/A4335) for over a month, former Governors Kean and Byrne have joined the chorus.

In yesterday's Star Ledger in response to the Ledger's question about the Legislature's passage last week of S3156/A4335 whose purpose the Ledger says is "to relax clean water protections to create new construction jobs." Governor Byrne responded: Water's "a very fragile commodity. To put some other priority ahead of it is tragic."