In 2002, America celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act - a law that is widely considered one of the most successful environmental laws in the country. Yet in spite of the progress that has been made over the last 30 years, enormous water quality challenges still remain, and now in 2003, those challenges are mounting and we find ourselves facing a direct assault on the Clean Water Act itself!
In January, 2001, the Supreme Court created a legal loophole that states that certain "isolated, intrastate, non-navigable waters," can no longer be protected under the Clean Water Act based solely on their use by migratory birds, leaving as much as a third or more of our nation's wetlands vulnerable to both physical destruction and discharges of pollutants. And earlier this year, spurred by the Bush Administration, both the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - the two federal government agencies primarily responsible for implementing and adhering to provisions of the Clean Water Act -- moved ahead with efforts to remove Clean Water Act protections from a number of wetlands and waterways, despite an outpouring of public support in opposition to the change.
Fortunately, there is a proposal pending in the U.S. Congress right now that would reverse these rulings and keep the promise made over 30 years ago with the enactment of the Clean Water Act, it's the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act, bill number S.473 in the Senate, and H.R.962 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Act reaffirms the original intent of the Clean Water Act which is to restore, maintain and provide clean, safe, swimmable and fishable water, and reinstates protections for isolated wetlands that provide habitat for fish and wildlife, help with flood control, and filtering pollutants from our water, making it safer for birds, wildlife and most importantly, people.
When protections for our waters are removed, the only things that are guaranteed are more pollution, less birds and wildlife, and greater human health and safety risks. That's too great a risk for us and for future generations. That's why Audubon and our partners in conservation are working hard to see that Congress passes the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act. And you can help! Please contact your two U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative and urge them to pass the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act now!
COASTAL PROTECTION: Before they adjourn for the year, we are working to see that the Senate takes up and votes on bill number S.861, the Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act sponsored by Senator Fritz Hollings (D-South Carolina.) S.861 calls for the protection of important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical or aesthetic values and are threatened by development and other threats. Passage of this legislation can significantly help birds and other wildlife that rely on our nation's coasts for survival.
URBAN STORMWATER: It's possible the U.S. Senate will take up and debate a measure to increase nationwide efforts to control pollution from roads, buildings, driveways and lawns - referred to as "urban stormwater." Urban stormwater is the technical name for rainwater washing over dirty surfaces like roads and sidewalks, flushing cigarette butts, pieces of paper or plastic bags, detergents, oils and fertilizers, and drips of gasoline directly into our streams, rivers and beach areas, after traveling through stormwater drains. It's a growing problem local and state governments are beginning to face, and the U.S. Congress can provide significant assistance in these efforts.
1-800-659-2622 audubonaction@audubon.org
