Pennsylvania
Accomplishments
Since starting work in Pennsylvania in 1985, Clean Water Action has emerged as a major force in protecting Pennsylvania's environment-a champion for children against exposure to toxic chemicals and a key voice for the protection of Pennsylvania's natural resources.
Jump:
Drinking Water / Health / Rivers & Streams / Toxic Pollution / Waste / Pro-Environment Candidates
Promoting Safe Drinking Water
Clean Water Action helped win passage of a new Safe Drinking Water Act, which expanded the public right-to-know about drinking water quality and promoted new efforts to protect the sources of our water.
Clean Water Action helped local residents across the state protect their drinking water supplies, helping Zelienople residents fight pollution from a steel mill that was polluting their drinking water, helping Philadelphia area residents win stronger protection for the Wissahickon Creek, and helping Bethlehem residents press for Exceptional Value status for the watershed that provides their drinking water.
Clean Water Action lobbied utilities to provide better information to consumers about contaminants in their drinking water and convinced the state to improve the rules for notifying people when their tap water is unsafe. Clean Water Action also worked with state officials to launch new initiatives to require expanded testing for possible contaminants in drinking water.
Protecting Our Health
Clean Water Action led a campaign that won passage of state legislation strengthening the standards for pesticide use in schools. The landmark Pesticide Notification Act requires public schools to use less toxic alternatives to pesticides, prohibits pesticide use in school buildings when students will be present within seven hours and requires schools to notify parents before spraying pesticides.
Clean Water Action convinced several dozen school districts, counties and municipalities to adopt less toxic pest control policies, reducing their use of pesticides and limiting the exposure of children to pesticides.
Clean Water Action educated thousands of Pennsylvania residents, physicians and medical students about the health effects of pollution and ways to reduce public exposure to health threatening chemicals. Clean Water Action also educated the public about safer alternatives to toxic household chemicals and alternatives to pesticide use.
Protecting Our Rivers And Streams
Clean Water Action helped win passage of the Clean Water Act to make all waterways fishable and swimmable, and has pressed for strong enforcement of pollution laws. Clean Water Action has also fought efforts by the EPA to eliminate Clean Water Act protection for small streams and "isolated" wetlands, which would threaten drinking water supplies for millions of people.
Clean Water Action stopped plans to weaken laws and regulations that protect Pennsylvania's rivers and streams, killing proposals which would have allowed increased discharges of toxic chemicals to rivers, lakes and streams, strengthening the standards that prevent degradation of our streams, and stopping legislation that would have weakened protection for our most pristine rivers and streams and for our state's wetlands.
Clean Water Action helped win adoption of new state guidelines for managing stormwater that will promote infiltration of rainwater, reducing flooding, recharging groundwater and protecting our rivers and streams from pollution and damage.
Clean Water Action helped organize and lead the Pennsylvania Campaign for Clean Water, a coalition of almost 150 state, regional and local watershed groups working together to protect our state's water resources.
Clean Water Action has helped over a dozen municipalities adopt ordinances to better protect their water resources, improving stormwater management, protecting public wells from contamination or protecting wetlands, forests or steep slopes from destruction.
Reducing Our Exposure To Toxic Pollution
Clean Water Action helped win state adoption of new rules that will require power plants to cut their emission of toxic mercury by 90% by 2015. Exposure to even tiny amounts of mercury can cause permanently damage the ability of children to learn and think.
Clean Water Action helped residents of South and Southwest Philadelphia win numerous improvements to the Sunoco refinery. As a result of community pressure, Sunoco funded $500,000 in community improvement projects, spent millions to upgrade the refinery, and is the first refinery in the nation to voluntarily phase out the use of highly toxic Hydrogen Fluoride, switching to a less volatile product instead.
Clean Water Action helped residents in the Neville Island area and Mon Valley force improvements at nearby industrial plants. Clean Water Action helped stop plans to expand a local coke plant and force improvements at the existing plant and forced enforcement actions by state and local officials to crack down on plants violating their permits. Clean Water Action also led the campaign that won adoption of bad actor legislation by Allegheny County, preventing facilities that have violated their permits within the past 18 months from getting permits for new or expanded facilities.
Clean Water Action helped residents in the Lehigh Valley reduce pollution from nearby cement kilns and stop proposals to burn toxic chemicals in the kilns.
Expanding Recycling & Reducing Our Exposure To Waste
Clean Water Action helped win passage of Pennsylvania's recycling law in 1989, setting a 20% recycling goal and requiring larger municipalities to set up curbside collection programs.
Clean Water Action helped defeat proposed incinerators in Berks, Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties, convincing local governments to expand recycling programs instead.
Clean Water Action has led several coalitions pressing Philadelphia officials to expand the city recycling program, promoting weekly collection of more materials in order to meet the city goal of recycling 35% of its waste.
Electing Pro-Environment Candidates
Clean Water Action has helped elect numerous pro-environment candidates to the US Congress and the PA General Assembly, including US Senator Bob Casey and US Reps. Joe Sestak, Patrick Murphy, Jason Altmire and Allyson Schwartz. Clean Water Action also helped elect pro-environment candidates to the PA Senate and House, including state Senators Connie Williams and Charles McIlhinney, and State Reps. Rick Taylor, Barbara McIlvaine Smith, Bryan Lentz, Lawrence Curry, David Levdansky, Greg Vitali, Jim Wansacz, Rich Grucela and more.
Clean Water Action has educated the public about the voting records and positions of numerous elected officials, publishing electoral guides and voting records to help the public hold their elected officials accountable.
