We All Live Downstream

By Michael Kelly, Director of Online Communications

Fracking in Weld County

We’re used to a little booster-ism from our elected officials for the industries and causes they support (see all the wild and varying claims about the hundreds of thousands of jobs that could be created by the XL Pipeline). It’s what they do. But we normally don’t expect that enthusiasm to include false statements. Especially from a politician who has been an ally in the fight against fracking.

That’s why we were so surprised and disappointed when we heard Governor Hickenlooper’s radio ad for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA), the lead industry trade group. Colorado’s Governor lends his voice to the ad which claims, that since 2008, “we have not had one instance of groundwater contamination associated with drilling and hydraulic fracturing.”  This is simply untrue and it’s easily proved.  The Governor may have helped Colorado implement the strictest fracking fluid disclosure laws in the nation, but he’s doing a huge disservice to the state when he falsely claims that groundwater has not been contaminated by fracking spills. Read the rest of this entry »

By Lynn Thorp, National Campaigns Director

Last week the President released his administration’s  2013 federal budget proposal.  Even though there is some important math involved the main thrust of the proposal is about sending signals and setting priorities.  In the face of the 191 bills and amendments to gut health and environmental protections which PASSED the U.S. House of Representatives last year, the White House budget proposal adds up pretty well.

Taken as a whole, the White House budget tells us that this Administration doesn’t support the House efforts to gut water, air and health protections.  They think that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needs to keep doing its job implementing laws that Congress has passed and that other federal agencies have roles to play in protecting our most vital resources – clean water, clean air and us. Read the rest of this entry »

By Gary Wockner, Colorado Program Director

Originally published on the Huffington Post.

Presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s three-state sweep in the 2012 Republican caucuses this week throws the Republican race into disarray and also demonstrates just how wildly anti-environmental many Republicans — including the majority here in Colorado — have become.

It’s ironic that Santorum’s sweep occurred within weeks of the international silver screen debut of Dr. Seuss’ book, The Lorax. Known worldwide as a treehugging environmentalist — “I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees.” — The Lorax is a popular children’s book first published in 1971. Since that time, the Lorax (which is a fluffy endangered species-like critter that lives in trees called “truffulas”) has become somewhat of an American environmental icon which will no doubt be re-solidified in the next few months by the Universal Pictures movie.

But in 1988, the Laytonville School District in Laytonville, California allegedly received a request and attempted to ban or downgrade the book, The Lorax, in its school libraries. It was allegedly argued that The Lorax “criminialized the forestry industry.”

Would Rick Santorum support banning The Lorax? Read the rest of this entry »

by Jonathan Scott

A version of this post was originally featured on SurveyMonkey’s blog site, and includes additional information on new survey results affirming the public’s overwhelming support for clean water.

Once Upon a Time: When Rivers Caught Fire

Not too long ago, things were pretty bad for our water. Unchecked industrial discharges and poorly-treated sewage in our water meant that massive fish-kills were commonplace. Lakes were “dead” or dying, and rivers containing more waste than water actually caught fire. It was around that time, in the 1970s, when Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund got their start. The organizations’ missions were – and remain – focused on a goal and vision of fishable, swimmable, drinkable water for all Americans.

Fast-forward four decades. Laws such as the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, created and passed with help from Clean Water Action and others, have brought incredible progress on water cleanup, water restoration and water protection. Everyone has benefited. Our clean water progress is one of the great environmental success stories of our time. Read the rest of this entry »