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DIRTY WATER BILL CONFERENCE CALL ALERT
As reported last week, a number of dirty water bills are trying to take us back to the pre-Clean Water Act days - back to when there was a fragmented patchwork of state clean water laws and no strong federal uniform standards.
CWN is organizing several calls to update members and discuss strategies on these dangerous bills. Details on the first call to discuss Dirty Water Bill #1, HR 2018, follow. The Network is also organizing Summer Solstice briefings on Capitol Hill for June 21st. Information on the briefings can be found HERE.
(1) HR 2018, The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011, would "amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to preserve the authority of each State to make determinations relating to the State's water quality standards and for other purposes."
Among other things this dangerous piece of legislation would restrict EPA's ability to issue a revised or new water quality standard for a pollutant whenever a state has adopted - and EPA has already approved - a standard, unless the state concurs. In Florida, for example, EPA recently promulgated federal water quality standards over the state's objections. This legislation also would restrict EPA's ability to veto a Corps 404 permitting decision unless the state concurs with the veto. The bill would also prohibit EPA from superseding a water quality certification (that a discharge will comply with applicable water quality requirements) granted by a state under CWA section 401.
Clean Water Network is hosting a conference call on this bill for all interested CWN members. The call will take place tomorrow, Thursday, June 9th at 11:30 A
M Eastern. To RSVP for the call and to get the call in number please email [log in to unmask].
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