Last Thursday, May 9th, marked the groundbreaking of a new greenscaping project at Lake St. Clair Metropark’s 42-acre parking lot. The project is a welcome addition to the park, which is Macomb County’s best access point to one of Michigan’s greatest natural treasures – Lake St. Clair. The parking lot is currently made of solid pavement. When it rains, fuel, oil, and other contaminants flow across the lot into Lake St. Clair, putting our health at risk, and causing problems like frequent beach closings.
Posted on May 21, 2013 | Filed Under Healthy, Safer Families and Communities, Protecting America's Waters | Leave a Comment
By Jennifer Clary, California Program Associate
In February two reports about Californians’ drinking water quality were delivered to the state legislature. The first report “Californians with Contaminated Groundwater” found that the source water for 21 million Californians is contaminated and that nearly half a million Californians have unsafe water at the tap (see footnote 1) . The second report “Recommendations Addressing Nitrate in Groundwater” provides 15 recommendations to prevent continued contamination of groundwater by nitrate and provide safe drinking water in two of California’s most intensively cultivated agricultural areas.
The highest priority recommendation from California’s State Water Quality Control Board is that “a new funding source be established to ensure that all Californians, including those in Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) have access to safe drinking water.” Read more…
Posted on May 17, 2013 | Filed Under Healthy, Safer Families and Communities, Making Democracy Work, Protecting America's Waters | 1 Comment
Posted on May 15, 2013 | Filed Under Global Warming and a New Energy Economy, Healthy, Safer Families and Communities, Making Democracy Work, Protecting America's Waters | 2 Comments
By Lynn Thorp, National Campaigns Director
Today the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee was supposed to vote on the nomination of Gina McCarthy to be the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Clean Water Action fully supports this nomination, and we fully support letting EPA do its job.
I’ve been hearing a lot of Senate Republicans criticizing McCarthy and the EPA’s work. This morning they boycotted the hearing due to a perceived lack of “transparency.” And, because all 8 Republicans stayed home the Committee couldn’t vote. The nomination can’t move forward until they show up and vote. It is unacceptable obstructionism. It makes me wonder – who are they representing (hint – it’s not you and me)? Read more…
Posted on May 9, 2013 | Filed Under Global Warming and a New Energy Economy, Healthy, Safer Families and Communities, Making Democracy Work, Protecting America's Waters | 4 Comments
By Lynn Thorp, National Campaigns Director
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, at the direction of Congress, is conducting a multi-faceted scientific study of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water. Because this study is being conducted in a transparent, peer-reviewed process, EPA is consulting with its Science Advisory Board which convened a special panel to answer specific questions related to the five aspects of the hydraulic fracturing water cycle being covered in the project.
We think it’s a good way to celebrate Drinking Water Week.
You can read Clean Water Action’s comments to the Science Advisory Board Hydraulic Fracturing Research Panel here. You can learn more about the Study of Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources here.
Posted on May 8, 2013 | Filed Under Protecting America's Waters | 1 Comment