Clean Water Currents | Spring 2012
clean water currents
Administration has helped to block many of the worst proposals from becoming law.
As the first describes, the Obama Administration has been moving forward with a number of new protections for our water and our air. They have proposed new rules to keep mercury and other toxic chemicals out of our air and our water, reduce toxic air pollution from fracking wells, cut gasoline use by cars and trucks and reduce greenhouse gas pollution from new power plants. All these are helping clean up our air and water, create new jobs and protect our health. Read more
house anti-environment voting binge continues in 2012
U.S. Senate Takes Up Safer Chemicals
spring 2012 edition
Inside
obama administration steps up
Making progress despite anti-environment Congress
Administration has helped to block many of the worst proposals from becoming law.
EPA Action on Fracking:
Safe Drinking Water Act tools being brought to bear
In April, EPA finalized controls on air pollution caused by new oil and
gas operations, including fracking. In May, the agency proposed the
first federal Safe Drinking Water Act protections around fracking.
from the president
Bob Wendelgass
After months of unrelenting attacks on clean water and clean air, it's nice to be able to share some good news for our water and our health!
As the first describes, the Obama Administration has been moving forward with a number of new protections for our water and our air. They have proposed new rules to keep mercury and other toxic chemicals out of our air and our water, reduce toxic air pollution from fracking wells, cut gasoline use by cars and trucks and reduce greenhouse gas pollution from new power plants. All these are helping clean up our air and water, create new jobs and protect our health. Read more
2012 Presidential Endorsement
Clean Water Action, allies support second Obama term
On April 18, together with Sierra Club, Environment America and the League of Conservation Voters, Clean Water Action issued a joint endorsement for President Obama's reelection. The unprecedented early endorsement, based on the candidates' records and positions, was the first ever done by all four groups together. "We can either continue moving forward to build a future of clean water and clean jobs," said Clean Water Action's Bob Wendelgass, "or we can go back forty years to a time when rivers caught on fire and the air in most cities was unhealthy to breathe."
"Like President Obama, Clean Water Action and most Americans understand that strong environmental protections are essential for both healthy communities and a healthy economy." The groups' combined member and supporter base exceeds four million, and they expect to reach millions more during the campaign.
Clean Water Action, allies support second Obama term
On April 18, together with Sierra Club, Environment America and the League of Conservation Voters, Clean Water Action issued a joint endorsement for President Obama's reelection. The unprecedented early endorsement, based on the candidates' records and positions, was the first ever done by all four groups together. "We can either continue moving forward to build a future of clean water and clean jobs," said Clean Water Action's Bob Wendelgass, "or we can go back forty years to a time when rivers caught on fire and the air in most cities was unhealthy to breathe."
"Like President Obama, Clean Water Action and most Americans understand that strong environmental protections are essential for both healthy communities and a healthy economy." The groups' combined member and supporter base exceeds four million, and they expect to reach millions more during the campaign.
This the Story of Congressperson X, elected in November 2010. She/he was part of a perceived "sea change" election which shifted control of the U.S. House from one party to the other. Those who remained in office and in power once the dust settled, like Congressperson X, felt they had a strong mandate to change policies, transform government and revive an economy stalled in deep recession.
Preventing Harm
The Cosmetic Safety Amendments Act (HR 4395) introduced this April in the U.S. House sounds like long-overdue progress on reforming this country's failed "industry self-regulation" system for personal care products. But the measure drew immediate criticism from Clean Water Action and the Safe Cosmetics Campaign.
A new bill to put common-sense limits on toxic chemicals could face its first test in the U.S. Senate this spring. The Safe Chemicals Act (S 847), introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (NJ) with sixteen Senate cosponsors, may soon be voted on by the powerful Environment and Public Works committee and could move from there to the Senate floor. Clean Water Action and the national Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families coalition support the measure and are working simultaneously to advance health-protective chemical reforms through proposals being considered in twenty-eight states. Read more
Lead in Lipstick
A February 2012 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study found lead in
hundreds of lipsticks. The issue first came to light when through
independent lab tests by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in 2007, which
found lead in 61 percent of samples from 33 popular brands, including
L'Oreal, Cover Girl and Dior.
The leftover ash from coal-burning power plants is toxic and largely unregulated. This dirty secret of the energy industry contaminates water and threatens health from thousands of poorly controlled disposal ponds and landfills.
The 140 million tons generated annually is enough to fill a train of boxcars stretching between the North and South poles. It contains arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium and selenium - exposure to which can cause cancer and other health harm. Arsenic-contaminated drinking water near some unlined ash ponds creates cancer risks as high as 1 in 50, according to EPA estimates, levels 2000 times higher than the agency's cancer risk reduction goals. Congress is considering bills that would block EPA from completing its first-ever rules on coal ash disposal.
Read more
The 140 million tons generated annually is enough to fill a train of boxcars stretching between the North and South poles. It contains arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium and selenium - exposure to which can cause cancer and other health harm. Arsenic-contaminated drinking water near some unlined ash ponds creates cancer risks as high as 1 in 50, according to EPA estimates, levels 2000 times higher than the agency's cancer risk reduction goals. Congress is considering bills that would block EPA from completing its first-ever rules on coal ash disposal.
2011-2012 Anti-Environment Votes (so far)
In addition to HR 2018 (the Dirty Water Act), some of the worst include:
In addition to HR 2018 (the Dirty Water Act), some of the worst include:
Federal Budget for 2011 (February 2011) slashed clean water and clean air funding and was also included add-ons (riders) aimed at weakening or blocking environmental and health protections. The budget itself passed with 235 votes. Riders to weaken the Clean Water Act block controls on toxic coal ash, encourage mountaintop removal coal mining and interfere with Chesapeake Bay cleanup and Florida water pollution limits, each passed with 230 or more votes.
TRAIN Act (HR 2401): The House voted in September (262-161) to block EPA rules on power plant pollution and to force more EPA studies for any new regulations - studies limited to considering costs, not benefits.
Cement Plant Pollution (HR 2681): 262 House members voted in October to keep EPA from regulating cement kiln pollution, the third largest source of the mercury contamination that has made so many fish unsafe to eat.
Coal Ash (HR 2273): In October 2011 the House voted again, 267-144 to prevent management of toxic coal ash as a hazardous waste, then again this April, attaching the same provisions to the massive Transportation bill.
Environmental and Health Regulations (HR 10 & HR 3010): The House approved two sweeping "reform" bills that were really aimed at stripping the federal government of its powers to regulate the nation's worst corporate polluters.
Dirty Water Act, 2012: As part of the 2012 budget, the House is expected to approve new riders that would stop EPA from reaffirming Clean Water Act protections for streams, wetlands, and drinking water, that were weakened during the Bush Administration.
Looking Upstream
Where will we find the best pollution solutions? From the beginning, Clean Water Action has been a leading proponent of going "upstream" to eliminate pollutants at the source.
"Upstream" solutions keep pollution out of the water in the first place, rather than waiting to act until after the contamination has already occurred.
Clean Water Action founder, David Zwick, documented the common sense and compelling logic behind "upstream" solutions in his book Water Wasteland, whose publication helped to fuel the public outcry leading to to the 1972 Clean Water Act's passage.
Act Now for Clean Water
Polluters and their allies in Congress have been relentless in their attacks on the President and EPA. A number of the Administration's positive actions have prompted new legislative proposals that would block, overturn or preempt the much needed measures. Letters, calls e-mails and formal comments from Clean Water Action members can help counter the attacks and ensure that these initiatives will move forward successfully. Take Action today!
Polluters and their allies in Congress have been relentless in their attacks on the President and EPA. A number of the Administration's positive actions have prompted new legislative proposals that would block, overturn or preempt the much needed measures. Letters, calls e-mails and formal comments from Clean Water Action members can help counter the attacks and ensure that these initiatives will move forward successfully. Take Action today!
Fix the Clean Water Act. Let EPA know you support fixing the clean water act to restore protections for streams wetlands and drinking water sources. Tell your Representative and Senators to allow EPA to do its job protection our water and oppose legislation to block EPA from acting.
Stop Climate Changing Pollution. Some of global warming's greatest impacts will be on our water, and the greatest benefits of reducing power plant pollution will be clean water benefits. EPA moved recently to curb carbon pollution from new power plants, first step toward curbing pollution from all plants. Let EPA know you support this action.
Publication Date:
05/11/2012
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