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 Comments on Nationwide Permits Submitted to Corps
This Monday (November 27th) was the deadline for submitting comments to the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) regarding its proposed new package of nationwide permits (NWPs) pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Network provided members with templates and other resources to help them submit their own comments. In addition, nine national groups in the Network worked together to prepare comprehensive comments. Those comments highlighted concerns that these permits are in large part unlawful and unwise. Copies of comment letters are available online.
(Jul 19, 2007)
Blumenauer Amendment to WRDA Passes
On April 19th the Blumenauer amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA; H.R. 1495) was passed by a voice vote. The amendment requires the Army Corps of Engineers to update its Principles and Guidelines. This would further ensure Corps projects are environmentally, structurally, and fiscally sound.
(Apr 30, 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 issue the “water quality certification” allowed by the law.
(Mar 21, 2007)
Corps Announces Reissuance of Nationwide Permits (“NWPs”)
The Corps of Engineers has issued final notice of reissuance of Nationwide Permits (“NWP”) for dredged and fill materials that would increase flooding risks, write of protection of many streams and allow for senseless industry give aways that harm our waters. NWPs are general permits that permit certain activities that result in the dredge and fill of waters without the stricter review of the individual permit process. The reissuance of the NWPs is particularly troubling in light of the recent events of Katrina and other warnings that global warming will increase flood risks in the future, making policies designed to protect us from flooding all the more important. It appears that the Corps is finalizing these without the normal advance 401 water quality certification by the states. The Network will be examining this issue further and will update members again soon.
(Mar 12, 2007)
Recent US District Court Decision on 2001 "Tulloch II Rule"
Bad news on the wetland ditching and drainage front. The US District Court in DC has ruled against the Corps and EPA and intervenors NWF, North Carolina Wildlife Federation and Sierra Club on the 2001 "Tulloch II Rule" regarding the definition of discharge of dredged material.
(Feb 1, 2007)
CWN Alert: Act Now to Limit the Use Of Nationwide Permits to Destroy Wetlands and Streams
On September 26, 2006, the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) proposed a new package of nationwide permits (NWPs) pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The proposal renews the 44 nationwides that have been in effect for the last 5 years and are expiring in March 2007, including those that have proven to be especially destructive of streams and wetlands, such as the surface coal mining nationwide (mountaintop removal) NWP 21. In addition, the Corps is proposing to expand NWPs by adding 6 new nationwide permits, and by weakening environmental safeguards and limitations, such as restrictions on the filling of wetlands in floodplains.
(Nov 8, 2006)
Request for Proposals for The Mississippi River Water Quality Collaborative's Water Quality Standards Workgroup
The Mississippi River Water Quality Collaborative (“the Collaborative”) is a group of state, regional and national non-profit organizations working together to improve water quality in the Mississippi River basin. The Collaborative is working to achieve this important goal through a number of avenues, including improved implementation of the Clean Water Act.
To that end, the Collaborative is seeking a contractor with technical expertise in state and federal water quality criteria to review the numeric criteria of the main-stem Mississippi River states, and to assess the sufficiency of those criteria. Main-stem states include: Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota
(Aug 10, 2006)
Wetlands Workgroup's Comments on Mitigation Rulemaking Available
Collaborative comments submited to EPA on June 30th by groups from the Clean Water Network's Wetlands Workgroup are posted on the Clean Water Network website.
(Jul 10, 2006)
Wetlands Workgroup Wrapping up Comments on EPA’s Proposed Wetlands Mitigation Rulemaking
EPA has proposed a rule drastically weakening the standards for compensating for destroying streams and wetlands. Despite the abysmal track record of the agencies’ mitigation program to date, this rule loosens mitigation requirements. The proposed rule eases the regulations on how polluters compensate for destroyed ecologically crucial streams and wetlands and will effectively promote, not discourage, continued destruction.
The Clean Water Network’s Wetlands Workgroup is completing comments on EPA’s proposed Wetlands Mitigation Rule due on June 30, 2006.
(Jun 30, 2006)
Comments by NWF, Sierra Club, American Rivers, NRDC and National Audubon Society on the Mitigation Action Plan
(Dec 14, 2004)
Agencies Protecting Industry Bottom Line Instead of Wetlands
Please contact EPA and NOAA and let them know you oppose issuance of the “Federal Guidance on the Use of Off-Site and Out-of-Kind Compensatory Mitigation Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.”
(Dec 14, 2004)
NRDC and the National Wildlife Federation Released Report
http://www.nwf.org/wetlands/wetlandsatrisk.html
NRDC and the National Wildlife Federation released a new report on the importance of "isolated" wetlands and waters. These wetlands are threatened with destruction due to a recent court ruling.
(Apr 14, 2004)
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