FROM OUR FRIENDS AT NCLCV: Fight Trump’s Clean Water Rollback
Trump’s Administration Seeks to Gut Clean Water Protections – Tell EPA to Protect Our Water
The Trump Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is nearing the end of its review process for gutting one of the most important remaining protections in the Clean Water Act – the ability of states and tribes to object to destructive projects (from pipelines to data centers) through the Section 401 certification process.
Fortunately, there’s still time for concerned citizens to register objections to this latest assault on clean water. We have until February 17 to submit objecting comments, which will strengthen the foundation for court challenges if Trump’s EPA does as expected and finalizes a decision to gut this key clean water rule.
The Change & Its Impact
The Trump EPA published its proposed new rule January 13. In a news release shortly thereafter, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) summarized what’s at stake in this proposed rule change. “The Clean Water Act empowers states and Tribes to stop or fix projects that would foul their waters. The EPA’s proposal would weaken the law to fast-track pipelines and other polluting projects, leaving it to people downstream to pay the price without input in the process. Instead of sidelining experts, the agency should abandon its latest attack on our waterways, follow the Clean Water Act, and let communities keep their rivers, lakes, and drinking water supplies safe.”
The Clean Water for All Coalition adds that the rule change would limit “the ability of states, tribes and local governments to ensure federally permitted or licensed projects – like pipelines, dams, or data centers – do not pollute local rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources. This directly undermines the central purpose of section 401 which is to ensure federal permitting decisions do not override local water quality concerns. It is critical that we flood the public register with comments opposing this proposed rule and show that the public cares about protections for their water.”
NCLCV has signed on to a multiorganizational letter to the EPA objecting to the changes.
Conservation Voters Movement Takes Action
According to the League of Conservation Voters’ (LCV) Healthy Communities Government Affairs Advocate Lizzy Duncan, “The Trump administration has proven time and time again that they will say and do whatever it takes to eliminate environmental safeguards and pad the pockets of their polluter allies at the expense of the health and safety of our communities. This latest proposal would strip states and Tribes of their right to protect their waterways from health harming pollution. The proposal is especially galling after the administration pointed to states’ rights as a key reason to undermine the Waters of the United States’ rule. This administration’s continued assault on the Clean Water Act threatens our communities and economic growth. It will make our waters dirtier and families sicker at a time when healthcare costs are already going up for millions.”
Flood the Public Register: Tell EPA to Protect Our Water
Take action today and tell the EPA to protect our water, our families, and our communities. Comments should be submitted no later than February 17th.
