WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE

The new Clean Water Rule, issued by the US EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, reduces the agencies’ jurisdiction to protect waters that have previously been covered by the Clean Water Act since the 1970s. The rule redefines what exactly constitutes the Waters of the US, exempting streams and rivers and allowing these waters to be filled with toxic coal ash and other waste. The rule also grants immunity to industrial-scale livestock facilities and includes an exclusion that allows industries to escape treatment requirements by impounding waters of the United States and claiming the impoundment is a waste treatment system, or by discharging wastes into wetlands.

“From the smallest tributary, to the mightiest river, to our lakes, bays and ocean, clean water connects us to many valuable resources. Maintaining legal protection is essential for safeguarding public health and the environment, including drinking water supplies, recreation, and fisheries,” stated Chris Wilke, Puget Soundkeeper in Seattle, WA. “The narrowing of jurisdiction proposed by the EPA and the Corps is not supported by sound science or legal precedent.”

Waterkeeper Alliance Pushes for Meaningful Oil Tank Car Safety Regulations The shipment of oil by rail has grown from fewer than 10,000 carloads in 2008 to over 400,000 carloads in 2013. As a result, communities and waterways surrounding these railways are at a greater risk of spills, fires, and explosions. That’s why we challenged the U.S. Department of Transportation’s new rule which fails to provide meaningful protections from such risks in several major ways. More »

Proposed Nuclear Dump Threatens Drinking Water Supply for 40 Million People Great Lakes Waterkeepers are voicing opposition to a new report from a Canadian Joint Review Panel. The report proposes the development of a repository for nuclear waste… less than one mile away from the Great Lakes. More »

Billions of Dollars Divested From Coal in Norway The Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global is the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, as well as one of the top ten investors in the global coal industry. On May 27th, they issued a unanimous recommendation and committed to divest from the coal industry. More »

Waterkeepers In The News Refugio Oil Spill “Black and Blue: Santa Barbara Oil Spill Takes Another Toll on California,” by Kira Redmond for Huffington Post More » #NoLNGexports in Oregon “LNG pipeline protest draws hundreds from around Oregon,” by Tracy Loew for Statesman Journal More » New Apps for Ottawa River “Ottawa Riverkeeper holds summit, develops monitoring apps,” by Steph Willems for Ottawa Community News More »