young boy fishes on pristine river (photo taken by tanakawho/Flickr)

As we slog through another scorching summer and head out to swim, paddle, fish and enjoy America’s waterways, the rumblings from Washington indicate that dirtier water may be on the way.

Even though this Congress has made several attacks on clean water, now is still a prime opportunity for candidates to stand up for clean water. What could be more basic to the American people than clean water?

The latest signs from Washington are pointing in the wrong direction

After a year of hard work and thoughtful public and interagency review, the Obama Administration is poised for much-needed action to clarify the waters protected by the 1972 Clean Water Act. But now the White House is dragging its feet in finalizing the “Clean Water Act Guidance,” which, as a June 20 New York Times editorial unfortunately put it, is “another prisoner of election-year politics.”

The House of Representatives has approved a measure (H.R. 5325) to block the U.S. Corps of Engineers from issuing the guidance.

The House of Representatives Transportation Committee has voted out a bill (H.R. 4965) blocking both the Corps and the Environmental Protection Agency from publishing the guidance.

These attacks on the Clean Water Act smell as bad as the Potomac did in 1965—before the Clean Water Act started cleaning up the “Nation’s River.” What’s going on? Big Ag, Big Coal and developer-dominated trade associations want to weaken, not fortify, these rules even though they facilitate business planning.

‘Guidance’ Isn’t a Four Letter Word

“Guidance” may sound like an innocuous word, but in this case, the guidance document has significant implications. It would clarify what waters are protected under the Clean Water Act, a 1972 law credited with cleaning up many bodies of water. The guidance would restore protections for many streams, wetlands and other waters where it is shown that they have a significant nexus—a physical, chemical or biological connection—to traditionally-navigable or interstate water. We are not talking about upland ditches, mud puddles and farm ponds. We are talking about significant rivers, streams, wetlands and similar waters.

EPA’s guidance is needed because a series of court and administrative decisions have created great confusion and uncertainty. The New York Times June 21 editorial explains it succinctly.

The bottom line is that all this industry manipulation of the Congress is taking us back to the old days of dirty water. If the Administration fails to act and Congress’ mischief succeeds, we’ll have dirtier water just when we’re headed to our favorite lakes, rivers and beaches.

Take Action

If you care about clean water and would like future generations to have fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters, take action and call, e-mail, tweet, or Facebook your Congressional Representative today and tell them how important clean water is to you!

Keep America's waters clean for our children's future (Photo by Graham Crumb/Flickr)

But do Americans realize that too many of their own members of Congress are actively working in Washington, D.C., to undermine these successes?

Congressional attacks on the Clean Water Act have been relentless over the last year.

Clean Water Act Under Threat

The Clean Water Act is under attack yet again this week in the form of ill-conceived legislation introduced by Representative John Mica (R-FL) and Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV), HR 4965. The bill is scheduled for markup by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday, June 7th. If enacted, the Mica-Rahall bill would prohibit the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency from finalizing and implementing the much-needed Clean Water Act guidance that would protect the nation’s prized water resources. By blocking agency action, the Mica-Rahall bill would threaten water quality, jeopardize drinking water for 117 million Americans, and accelerate wetland losses that damage hunting, fishing and wildlife watching–pursuits that annually contribute $122 billion in direct expenditures to our nation’s economy.

Summertime and the Livin’ Ain’t Easy

Two sandhill crane chicks just days old forage in a Florida pond with their parent. (Photo by Jim Urbach.)

Currently, millions of acres of wetlands and miles of streams that recharge aquifers help retain floodwaters, provide important fish and wildlife habitat, and provide clean water for iconic systems like the Chesapeake Bay and Great Lakes are at risk. As these waters are polluted and diminished, their tremendous ecological, economic and public health benefits are lost as well.

Clean water is a public right and fundamental in protecting our livelihoods, wildlife, communities and economy and should never be the subject of partisan wrangling. Every member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee should stand up this week and oppose the Mica-Rahall bill and protect our nation’s water.

Take Action

If you care about clean water and would like future generations to have fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters, take action and call, e-mail, tweet, or Facebook the members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and urge them to VOTE NO ON THE MICA-RAHALL BILL (HR 4965).