Congress, states, scientists, citizens, and even U.S. EPA's own regional offices have spoken out in favor of maintaining the level of protection that our waters have enjoyed for more than 30 years. 

Dubuque CWN Caucus Info and Action Shots

Actions shots from the recent Clean Water Network Mississippi River Caucus held in Dubuque, Iowa. The caucus titled, "What would Mark Twain drive" took place July 11-13th. (Jul 16, 2008)

EPA Weak in Enforcing Clean Water Act

Chairmen Oberstar and Rep. Waxman recently sent a letter to EPA Administrator Johnson on the declining enforcement of the Clean Water Act post Rapanos. Below are two newspaper articles discussing this letter as well as an EPA memo. (Jul 8, 2008)

Clean Water Restoration Act Advertisement Examples

Click on the following links to find good examples of advertisements supporting the passage of the Clean Water Restoration Act. (Jun 24, 2008)

Clean Water Restoration Act May News

As the Network has previously reported, two landmark hearings on the Clean Water Restoration Act (H.R. 2421 and S. 1870) took place last month. These were the first such hearings to deal exclusively with the merits of the legislation. (May 22, 2008)

House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Hearing Held

On April 16th, the House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee held an eleven hour hearing on the Clean Water Restoration Act (H.R. 2421 (Apr 21, 2008)

Comments Submitted to EPA on Proposed CAFOs Animal Waste Exemptions Rule

On behalf of a wide range of organizations, Earthjustice submitted comments to EPA on the agency's proposed administrative reporting exemption for air releases of hazardous substances from animal waste from CAFOs from CERCLA and EPCRA. (Mar 31, 2008)

Network Members Tell EPA to Dump Rapanos Guidance

Network members sent a strong message to EPA and the Corps to dump the Rapanos Guidance. In response to alerts by numerous organizations including Earthjustice, Clean Water Action, NRDC, Sierra Club, NWF and the Clean Water Network, EPA and the Army Corps received thousands of comments criticizing their poorly thought out guidance on the Rapanos-Carabell Supreme Court decisions. (Jan 31, 2008)

Network Members Tell EPA to Dump Rapanos Guidance

Network members sent a strong message to EPA and the Corps to dump the Rapanos Guidance. In response to alerts by numerous organizations including Earthjustice, Clean Water Action, NRDC, Sierra Club, NWF and the Clean Water Network, EPA and the Army Corps received a considerable number of comments criticizing their poorly thought out guidance on the Rapanos-Carabell Supreme Court decisions. (Jan 22, 2008)

Clean Water News from the Senate

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a short but sweet (Chairman Boxer’s own words) hearing on the Clean Water Restoration Act, S. 1870 (Dec 13, 2007)

The 35th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act and CWRA Update

Many activities took place around the country to celebrate the Clean Water Act’s 35th anniversary on October 18th. As previously reported, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure (T & I) Committee held a hearing in Washington, D.C., to discuss the successes and future challenges of the Clean Water Act, one of the country's landmark environmental laws and the ultimate protector of the Nation's waterways. (Nov 5, 2007)

Ballast Water Management Act of 2007: Senate Update

As reported in an earlier Clean Water Network alert the Senate recently proposed legislation - S. 1578, the "Ballast Water Management Act of 2007," sponsored by Senators Inouye (HI) and Stevens (AK)- that would exempt ship discharges from the Clean Water Act and State regulations. (Sep 30, 2007)

The Latest on the Clean Water Restoration Act

As summer winds down, the Clean Water Network’s efforts to get the Clean Water Restoration Act (HR 2421/S. 1870) passed are intensifying. (Aug 28, 2007)

News Flash: Moving Towards Mark-Up? Clean Water Restoration Act Could See More Action In September

BTW: Congress' August Recess Will Prove Critical to Bill's Fate (Aug 7, 2007)

Congressman Westmoreland interview (opposing CWRA)

(Jul 23, 2007)

Senate holds hearing on Rapanos/Carabell Supreme Court Decision

On August 1st, the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee Chairman, Sen. Lincoln Chafee, called a hearing to brief the subcommittee on the implications of the Supreme Court decision in the Carabell and Rapanos cases. Members of the Clean Water Network's Steering Committee wrote a comment letter, on behalf of the Network, stating CWN’s position on the Court's decision and the actions that Congress should take to define "waters of the US" in the Clean Water Act. (Jul 19, 2007)

CWN Organizes Two Capitol Hill Briefings on the Supreme Court Decision

The Network coordinated two briefings for congressional staff to discuss the implications of the Rapanos/Carabell Supreme Court decision on the scope of the Clean Water Act. (Jul 19, 2007)

Speak Out Against the Mississippi Regional General Permit

The Gulf Restoration Network and other organizations are battling Gulf Coast building interests intent on filling Mississippi coastal wetlands FOR DEVELOPMENT through eased permitting rules -- or just by illegally filling in wetlands and counting on the Army Corps' inability and/or unwillingness to enforce against them. Now the Corps has introduced a Regional General Permit (RGP) to facilitate filling of up to 5 acres for development in Mississippi's coastal counties, suggesting the general permit is needed for "Katrina Rebuilding." However, the offer of these generous permit conditions is being made for any proposed residential, commercial, or institutional development in the six-county area. Network members are supporting their counterparts in the Gulf area by publicizing this issue and drafting their own comments. The Corps has granted a request to extend the comment period until December 10th. Members of the CWN Wetlands Workgroup are currently working to draft comment letters. In addition, the Network encourages other members to submit their own comments against the RGP. (Jul 19, 2007)

Action Alert on CWRA (HR 2421): Declare Your Independence from Uncontrolled Water Pollution!

Congressional 4th of July Week Recess is a great time to get in-district meetings with Members of Congress to promote the Clean Water Restoration Act (HR 2421). (Jun 29, 2007)

Rapanos & Carabell Guidance Released

Here you will find links to member groups' press releases, relevant articles and op-eds regarding the release of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps)guidence to agency field staff on the Rapanos & Carabell Supreme Court decision. (Jun 11, 2007)

Save the Dunes Council pushes support of Congress for new Clean Water Act
http://www.post-trib.com/news/364983,cleanwater.article

The Save the Dunes Council, an Indiana-based member of the Clean Water Network, was the feature of a May 1st article in the Post-Tribune. The organization has been encouraging citizens to contact their Representatives in DC about becoming co-sponsors of the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2007. (May 8, 2007)

Call for House Members to Cosponsor the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2007

The House sponsors of the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act of 2007 have sent a "Dear Colleague" letter requesting other members to join them as co-sponsors to this legislation. Contact your U.S. Representatives today and ask them to become a co-sponsor before the bill is formally introduced. The deadline for becoming an original co-sponsor of this important legislation is Friday, April 27th. (Apr 25, 2007)

National Groups Call on House to Support Clean Water Authority Restoration Act

Ten national conservation organizations wrote to members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging them to support the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act. A copy of this letter is available online. (Apr 23, 2007)

New Coalition Lobbying Against Clean Water

The Waters Adovocacy Coalition has been lobbying against the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act. This coalition claims that the legislation would "greatly expand" the scope of the Clean Water Act. However, the Clean Water Network maintains that this bill would only reinforce the original intent of Congress to protect all waters of the U.S. Be sure to speak out and let Congress know that you support this important legislation! (Apr 10, 2007)

Action Alert---New Corps' Nationwide Permits: Use State 401 Certifications to Better Protect Water Quality

On March 12, 2007 the Army Corps of Engineers issued its latest package of Nationwide Permits (NWPs) and announced that these permits will become effective almost immediately, on March 19, 2007. This is illegal. Despite the Corps’ actions, your state or tribe still has at least 60 days – until May 11, 2007 – to review the permits and decide whether these permits will violate any state or tribal water quality standards. (Mar 30, 2007)

Action Alert—Ask your Members of Congress to co-sponsor the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act

The new chairmen of the House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over the Clean Water Act have indicated their intentions to take up the issue of Clean Water Act protections for all waters. The Network now has a tremendous opportunity to rally additional congressional support for the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act by encouraging both new and returning members of Congress to become original co-sponsors of this bill in the 110th Congress and to raise public awareness about what is at stake. ACT NOW and write to your representatives in Washington today! (Mar 30, 2007)

Everglades Coalition makes Clean Water Authority Restoration Act a Priority
www.evergladescoalition.org

The Everglades Coalition included passage of the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act in its federal priorities for 2007. For more details on this organization, please go to: www.evergladescoalition.org (Jan 30, 2007)

Network Members Celebrate the Clean Water Act's Birthday

The Clean Water Act turned 34 on October 18th. To mark the occassion, network members have been calling attention to the importance of the Act and current threats to weaken it. (Nov 20, 2006)

Update on Rapanos Guidance

Three months have passed and there is still no word yet on when the Army Corps and EPA will issue policy guidance on the Rapanos/Carabell Supreme Court decision. Even though the decision does not change the scope of the Clean Water Act, it did muddy the waters by inviting additional litigation and further attempts by polluters to pick apart the Clean Water Act. (Sep 28, 2006)

Nominate a "Most Endangered River" today!

Does a river you love face an uncertain future? If your river is facing sprawl, pollution, mining, diversion or other imminent threat, consider nominating it for the 2007 America’s Most Endangered Rivers report. The deadline for nominations is October 1, 2006. (Jan 1, 2000)

Supreme Court Delivers Murky Ruling on Carabell and Rapanos

On May 19, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a divided ruling in the joint cases of Rapanos v United States and Carabell v U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These cases involve Michigan wetlands near tributaries of traditional navigable waters, and threatened to cut over half the nation's river miles and countless acres of wetlands out of the Clean Water Act. (Jun 30, 2006)

Supreme Court Ruling in Favor of Developers Could Remove Clean Water Act Protections From 59% of Streams in the Lower 48 States

In a letter to the Association of State Wetlands Managers, Ben Grumbles, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, revealed statistical analysis on what the implications of a ruling in favor of the developers in "Carabell v. US" and "Rapanos v. The Army Corps" (the cases have been consolidated due to their similarities) could have for US Streams and Drinking Water Sources. Copies of the letter are available here on the Clean Water Network's website. (Jun 30, 2006)

Thank (or Scold) Your Member for Supporting the House Clean Water Amendment

How did your member of Congress vote on the Clean Water Amendment? Send a letter to either thank or scold them for their support (or lack of) on the Clean Water Amendment to the House Interior/EPA Appropriations Bill. (May 26, 2006)

Senator Feingold Calls on his Colleagues to Support Keeping the Clean Water Act Strong

In light of new "unprecedented challenges" facing the Clean Water Act, Sen. Feingold of Wisconsin sent a letter to the full Senate calling on his Colleagues to Co-Sponsor the Clean WAter Authority Restoration Act. To download a copy of this letter click on the link below. (Mar 9, 2006)