We All Live Downstream

By Tom Taylor, Energy Program Intern 

This week Clean Water Action will host the 2013 Great Lakes Awards Celebration. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 17th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm at the Avenue Café in Lansing. The suggested donation is $60 and tickets are available at the door. This year’s event promises to be an exciting evening with dinner, live music, locally brewed beer, a silent auction, and guests with a passion for our environment. RSVP today!

Although our work to protect our environment is never finished, events like these are a perfect opportunity to thank all those who fight to maintain and improve our Great Lakes way of life. The biggest award of the evening will go to Cyndi Roper. Cyndi has been making a difference with Clean Water Action since 1990, and led the fight in Michigan for over a decade as State Director. She has played a vital role in numerous successful water policy, environmental health, and waste issues in Michigan and Rhode Island. Cyndi now serves as the Director of Michigan Voice, a coalition of 501(c)(3) nonprofits dedicated to civic engagement. Other award recipients include State Representative Sam Singh, 5 Lakes Energy principal Douglas Jester, photographer Cheri Smith, and Arbor Brewing Company owner Rene Greff. Read the rest of this entry »

By Lynn Thorp, National Campaigns Director

It’s the sound of our government implementing the clean air and clean water laws we work so hard to pass.

Today’s announcement of new air pollution controls for cars and gasoline production are welcome news for people struggling with asthma, especially in areas where the health threat from smog and other air pollution is high.  The new program is needed because we still haven’t met our clean air goals for soot, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. That sounds complicated, but it’s not. It means we can get $6 billion in health benefits PER YEAR by 2020 while creating jobs. And it means healthier people and meeting the goals of our landmark Clean Air Act because our U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is doing its job.

By Tara Shumate, Colorado Field Canvasser and Trainer

I am proud to say my faith in our country’s democratic system is restored.

For years my only exposure to our political process was news reports about politicians repetitively making decisions that negatively impact our environment, human rights progress, economic well-being, and more. It seemed politicians were only in place to maintain a state of constant backpedaling and to ensure that we would never reach our full potential – the indefatigable embodiment of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people, not just the one percent.

Then, about  four  months ago I became a community organizer for Clean Water Action, and things began to change. The work breathed new life into me and upended my pessimistic ways.  I found myself immersed in a group of individuals with deeply rooted passion and drive. Read the rest of this entry »

By Susan Harley, Michigan Policy Director

That about sums it up…

The coal-fired ferry S.S. Badger will be allowed to continuing dumping toxic coal ash into Lake Michigan for another two years, according to a proposed consent decree filed by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 22nd, 2013. Unfortunately for the Great Lakes and the health of Michiganders, that’s two years too long.

Each day the ferry dumps over four tons of toxic coal ash as it crosses Lake Michigan – that’s 509 tons of pollution every year.  This coal ash contains arsenic, mercury, lead, selenium and other pollutants, which can harm humans and wildlife.  With a fish advisory for mercury on all of our Great Lakes and inland lakes and streams, we can’t afford to wait two more years.

EPA’s proposed consent decree requires the S.S. Badger to pay $25,000 in fines for releasing too much mercury into the Lake, which is a good thing.  But at the same time, the agreement would allow the ship to continue to dump toxic ash into the Lake as long as the total amount is reduced by only 15% per year before phasing-out the practice by the end of the ferry’s 2014 sailing season. That means the Badger can dump 433 tons of ash this year and 368 tons in 2014.
Read the rest of this entry »

#ProtectCleanWater

By Bob Wendelgass, President & CEO

A new study released by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today found that 55% of our nation’s waters are in poor condition for fish and other aquatic life.  The major problems identified in the study were too much nitrogen and phosphorus (from fertilizer used on farm fields and suburban lawns), decreased vegetation and too much human disturbance along streams, increased bacteria levels and increased mercury levels.

The new study is an important call to action.  And hopefully, it will prod EPA and the White House to take some strong action this spring to protect and upgrade our streams and rivers.

At the top of the list has to be finishing the process of restoring protection under the Clean Water Act for small streams and wetlands.  Changes during the Bush Administration removed protection from thousands of small streams that provide drinking water to 117 million Americans.  EPA started the process of reversing this change, but their draft guidance (and a rulemaking after that) has been stuck at the White House for over a year now.  It’s time for the White House to take action…our streams can’t afford to wait any longer!

Next up should be a strong federal rule about stormwater – the water that runs off streets, sidewalks and other surfaces after rainstorms.  EPA found that 24% of the rivers and streams studied were rated poor because of vegetation loss and increased disturbance by humans.  A strong stormwater rule could address this, by requiring developers to leave more land undisturbed and planted with natural vegetation.  EPA is talking about proposing a new stormwater rule this year.  Hopefully this study will make sure that plan stays on track.

Keeping development back from the edges of our streams and requiring buffers along streams is one of the best ways to reduce runoff and pollution of our rivers and streams.  Several years ago, Pennsylvania added a requirement for 150 foot vegetated buffers along the state’s best streams.  More states and the federal government should move in this direction.  Building right up to the edge of a stream and mowing all the vegetation on the stream bank is a recipe for disaster.  Keeping development back and allowing natural vegetation along the stream bank will reduce pollution and flooding while also raising the value of properties nearby.

Letting our streams and rivers be strangled by pollution is a bad policy—bad for our environment, our health and our economy.  Millions of Americans get our drinking water from nearby rivers and streams.  The more polluted they are, the more expensive it is to make them safe for us to drink.  Swimming, fishing, boating and other outdoor activities are a huge part of our economy, contributing $145 billion to our economy each year and creating thousands of jobs.  But no one wants to swim or fish in a polluted river.  Keeping our waters clean will protect our health, save us money and create jobs.

It’s time for action.  Our rivers and streams can’t wait any longer.  Hopefully, this new study will push the White House to take action now!

The April 15 tax deadline is one of our least-eagerly-anticipated, most procrastinated-about deadlines.

In addition to the costs, the tax filing process can consume tons of paper. Wasted paper usually means more trees being cut, more water impacts from the tree-cutting and from the process of turning trees into paper. Paper mills consume water and can send polluted water downstream when they’re done using it.

We can’t avoid the tax deadline. But we can avoid unnecessary paper waste. Conserving paper can save trees and protect water quality.

As a Clean Water Action supporter you probably already knew that.

But did you know this? There’s a way you can avoid paper waste (thus helping our water) and generate new funding for Clean Water Action at the same time.

Last year, online tax software that lets you do your returns electronically (saving paper) helped generate more than $600,000 in donations for Clean Water Action and other great causes.

You can be a part of this community of tree-saving, water-loving e-filers this year. Here’s one product to get you started.

Or, if you’d like to see a larger range of offerings, those are available, too.

Moving away from paper may not make the tax deadline any less painful. But it is already making a critical, positive difference for Clean Water Action.

If you want to take one additional step, check out this online shopping app from our friends at We-Care.com. The app lets you generate donations for Clean Water Action automatically and at no cost to you, from your online purchases at thousands of participating merchants.

By Kim Klimpel, National Program Intern

Happy World Water Day everyone!

Across the globe, people are spending the day reflecting on the accomplishments that have given more people access to clean drinking water.  Our most precious resource gets to wear a party hat and be the highlight of a multitude of events taking place in many different countries.

Amidst the celebrating, however, we cannot forget that there is still a lot of work to be done.

The United Nations (UN) has declared 2013 as the “International Year of Water Cooperation.” The UN wants to use World Water Day to educate people about the work that we will all need to do in order to make progress globally, and to guarantee access to clean drinking water for everyone. Take a moment to stand up for our water today – email your Senators now. Read the rest of this entry »

By Michael Kelly, Director of Online Communications

Finally! After nearly four years without a budget from the Senate, our Senators are working on, and debating, a budget. Of course, it won’t be easy.

This is the Senate, after all. Watch the debate live in CSPAN, here

Polluters and their allies are attempting to slip back-door “riders” or amendments onto the budget that would weaken or defund programs that are essential to the health of our environment, our communities, and our families. This is all being done without a hearing and little chance for public debate. It’s a terrible way to decide environmental policy, but that’s exactly what defenders of the status quo want. Read the rest of this entry »

By Cindy Luppi, New England Regional Director

I’m proud to report this week Clean Water Action endorsed Representative Ed Markey in the United States Senate race in Massachusetts. For decades, Rep. Markey has been a consistent and powerful friend to all who value clean air, clean water and healthy communities.

Over Representative Markey’s decades of service, he has been at the forefront of every major movement to protect our drinking water, air quality and community health and safety. A short list of his leadership efforts includes leading the drive for a smart response to the climate crisis, repeatedly protecting the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts from industry attacks, leading efforts to prevent harm to our health from toxic chemicals  — ranging from banning the notorious chemical bisphenol A (BPA) to phasing out dangerous chemicals in personal care products, being the most effective and persistent watchdog of nuclear safety issues and more.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Steve Hvozdovich, Marcellus Campaign Coordinator

For those in the heart of gas country, impacts from natural gas drilling to water and air quality are a daily concern and a threat to their quality of life. The bills introduced in the U.S. Congress today by Representatives Matthew Cartwright (D-PA) and Jared Polish (D-CO) mean so much to these people and show them that their government is concerned about their well being and working to protect them. Their leadership is welcomed.

Too often industry has been given a free pass. The BREATHE and FRESHER Acts close loopholes in the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act that have left stormwater runoff pollution and toxic air pollution from hydraulic fracturing operations go uncontrolled.

We need environmental champions now more than ever. Thanks to Reps. Cartwright and Polis for leading the way in making sure natural gas drillers play by the rules. It’s the very least we can do to protect the water we drink and the air we breathe.