What's New
On May 22, Representatives John Dingell (D-MI), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI),
James Oberstar (D-MN), and 155 members of the House of Representatives
introduced the Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007, a bipartisan bill
to
protect America’s
waterways. Clean Water Act protections
provide communities and Americans with clean drinking water and the
opportunity
to safely swim, fish and boat. These
goals have recently been jeopardized by polluter-led attacks to
eliminate
protections for many streams, wetlands and other waters across the
country. The Clean Water Restoration Act would protects America’s
waters by ensuring that all U.S. waterways continue to be safeguarded
by the Clean Water Act.
Brief Summary
Over the last 30 years, we have made significant progress in
cleaning up our water, but we still have important work to do. Many of Florida's waterways from the St. John's River to Florida
Bay to Lake Okeechobee are struggling from too much pollution.
Instead
of improving the quality of our water, the Bush administration is
weakening water protections by putting in place a
"No Protection Policy" for America’s waters that removes basic Clean
Water Act safeguards from small streams, wetlands and ponds that feed
and clean our great waters. The "No Protection Policy" puts these
streams, wetlands and other waters at risk of unlimited development,
pollution and destruction.
Environment Florida is calling on
the Bush administration to drop the "No Protection Policy " and for
Congress to restore the original intent of the Clean Water Act to
protect all waters in the U.S.
Additionally,
a recent Supreme
Court’s decision has left the extent of existing clean
water protections in question. Absent some corrective action from
Congress, this
decision could leave some vital wetlands, sensitive streams, and other
water bodies open to unregulated pollution, dredging or fill.
Environment Florida opposes any efforts by powerful developers and
other
polluters to weaken the Clean Water Act. We support efforts, local
state and federal to ensure clean and safe water supplies for all
Floridians.
