body
WHEREAS, the nation's rivers, streams, lakes and other bodies of water are economic drivers of our communities, provide recreational opportunities to countless people each year and are essential for public health; and,
WHEREAS, the Clean Water Act is the fundamental federal law protecting these waterways from pollution, degradation and destruction; and,
WHEREAS, streams and wetlands that supply drinking water, protect against floods and filter pollution were previously protected under the Clean Water Act, but federal policy changes over the last decade have left these streams and wetlands vulnerable to degradation or destruction; and,
WHEREAS, these vulnerable waterways impact sources of drinking water for more than 117 million Americans and 8 million Pennsylvanians; and,
WHEREAS, strong federal standards are needed because water does not respect political boundaries and flows from one state to another; and,
WHEREAS, more than 1,000 peer-reviewed scientific studies have confirmed that headwater, intermittent and ephemeral streams, and wetlands affect the quantity and quality of water in larger bodies of water downstream, including the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers; and,
WHEREAS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers have proposed a clarifying rulemaking to restore protection for streams and wetlands previously protected under the Clean Water Act, safeguarding water quality in the nation's waters, protecting jobs in businesses that depend on clean water and safeguarding drinking water for one in three Americans; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed rule, supported by the National Farmers Union, leaves in place all agricultural exemptions and creates new exemptions for agricultural practices related to conservation; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed rule would not extend the scope of the Clean Water Act beyond its original limitations, and would reduce red tape to help America secure safe drinking water for a...
Click here for full text