Latest News & Events

National Clean Water Call-in Day to Halt the Filling of Streams with Mine Waste is March 15th!

March 9, 2010

Action Alert

On March 15th, 2010 many longtime Clean Water Network groups will be holding a national call in day to help stop the dumping of mining waste in our water. Please call the White House on March 15th and ask President Obama to restore the Clean Water Act's prohibition on filling waters with waste. This issue is one of the CWN's top administrative priorities.

Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act (HR 4202)

March 8, 2010

Legislative Update

On March 3rd, the Clean Water Network's Board of Directors voted to endorse HR 4202, The Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act. The bill will provide critical support for green infrastructure strategies, improving our ability to effectively manage polluted runoff and sewage overflows while relieving pressure on aging infrastructure.

Great Lakes Legislative Update

March 4, 2010

Legislative Update

The Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act was introduced in both the House and the Senate today by Great Lakes champions. The bill, S. 3073, was introduced in the Senate by Carl Levin along with co-sponsors George Voinovich (R-OH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy klobuchar (D-MN), Al Franken (D-MN) and Richard Durbin (D-IL). The House bill, H.R. 4755, was introduced by Representative Vern Ehlers with co-sponsors John Dingell (D-MI), Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Mark Kirk (R-IL). The House sponsors are also circulating a dear colleague letter to elicit support for this bill from other members.

New York Times: Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act

March 3, 2010

Action Alert

Newspaper Article

On March 1st the New York Times published a compelling article describing how the SWANCC and Rapanos Supreme Court decisions are hampering the ability of federal regulators to protect our nation's waters from pollution. Since 2001, Clean Water Act violations have risen while EPA enforcement has declined.

Columbia River Restoration Act Introduced in Congress

February 25, 2010

Legislative Update

Yesterday Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Columbia River Resotration Act (H.R. 4652) that will fund the clean-up and restoration of the Columbia River, the largest river in the Pacific Northwest. The Columbia River is plauged by habitat loss and degraded with dangerous PCBs and chemical pollutants that are detrimental to fish and wildlife, including many species of salmon and steelhead that are listed as threatened or endangered species.