FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
      January 13, 2006

      CONTACT:
      Christina Kreitzer, 415-977-5619
      David Bookbinder, 202-548-4598

          Sierra Club Sides with Federal Government to Protect Valuable
                             Waterways and Wetlands
           Statement of David Bookbinder, Senior Sierra Club Attorney

      A coalition of environmental and public health groups, including the
      Sierra Club, filed a friend-of-the-court brief today in support of
      the U.S. Government's position in two important Supreme Court cases.
      Both cases - Carabell v. United States and Rapanos v. United States -
      address whether the Clean Water Act protects tributaries that flow
      into larger water bodies and their adjacent wetlands and, if so,
      whether the Constitution gives Congress such authority.  The Court is
      scheduled to hear the cases February 21.

      David Bookbinder, Senior Attorney for the Sierra Club, issued the
      following statement:

      "Thousands of waterways and the destruction of millions of acres of
      valuable wetlands are at stake in these two Supreme Court cases.  A
      ruling against the government could remove all federal limits on
      pollution flowing into our waterways.  The cases will determine what
      kind of contamination the Clean Water Act regulates - not just
      dredged or fill material discharges, but also whether sewage,
      sediment and toxic chemicals can be released into our waterways and
      neighboring wetlands.

      "The outcome of these cases has such sweeping effects that interested
      parties ranging from hunter and angler advocacy groups to scientists
      to public interest groups are filing friend-of-the-court briefs
      siding with the federal government. All are urging the Supreme Court
      to keep our waters clean and healthy by maintaining the venerable
      protections offered by the Clean Water Act."

      To obtain a copy of the amicus brief, please contact Christina
      Kreitzer at 415-977-5619.

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