Clean Water Act concerns
Published 7:00 am Saturday, September 27, 2014
Clean water is fundamental for people and wildlife. But right now, two million miles of streams and millions of acres of wetlands are stuck in a legal limbo, leaving the drinking water supplies for roughly one third of all Americans, and many species of wildlife unprotected.
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a common-sense rule that would restore Clean Water Act protections to these waters.
Nonetheless, last week agribusiness and mining lobbyists were able to convince the House of Representatives to pass a bill that would not only scuttle this particular proposal, but it would make future efforts to restore clean water protections very difficult.
This bill went too far and I was surprised to see the majority of
Congressmembers support it. Luckily, the Senate is unlikely to take it up, and the President has promised a veto.
There is a simpler solution: Everyone who is concerned about clean water and the proposal’s impacts should educate themselves by visiting http://www.epa.gov/uswaters. The public comment period is closing soon, however, so take action today.
The recent toxic algae outbreaks, dead zones, and chemical spills make it clear that leaving our waters open for further pollution and destruction is simply not an option.
Sincerely,
Mr. Adam Boudreaux