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Last Updated: Nov 12th, 2006 - 20:38:00 |
May 27 (foodconsumer.org) - Sierra Club, an environmental organization, released a report May 17 saying that more than 111 million Americans are subject to unhealthy drinking water because of the Environmental Protection Agency's policy to withhold Clean Water Act protections from headwater and seasonal streams.
The report is based on EPA data, providing state-by-state information on drinking water supplies which rely, at least in part, on the small streams that are affected by the policy. The report is available at www.sierraclubplus.org
According to the report, the most affected states include Utah (79/2.0/90*), Colorado (68/3.6/83), Kentucky (55/3.1/77), Massachusetts (52/4.7/75), Maryland (59/3.7/70), Oklahoma (74/2.4/70), Connecticut (52/2.2/65), Pennsylvania (59/7.9/65), Alabama (61/2.6/58), New York (55/10.2/54).
(* 79 % streams potentially at risk from EPA's policy directive/2.0 million population served by source water protection areas receiving water from streams potentially at risk from EPA Policy Directive/90 % of state's population potentially affected.)
The report came as Congress was about to have the chance to block this weakening of our anti-pollution safeguards.
"The EPA's policy directive puts our drinking water sources at risk from waste disposal, sewage discharges, oil spills, development projects and other polluting activities," said Navis Bermudez, author of the report.
"Congress should stop this destructive policy and ensure that the EPA protects our drinking water sources to the fullest extent of the law."
Rep. Oberstar (D-MN), Leach (R-IA) and Dingell (D-MI) indicated they would introduce an amendment to block funding for implementation of the EPA policy directive, according to Sierra Club.
The new directive to remove Clean Water Act protections for many streams, wetlands, ponds, lakes and other waters was announced on January 15, 2003 by the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers.
"This 'no protection' policy effectively directed federal regulators to withhold protection from millions of acres of wetlands, thousands of streams and other waters on grounds that are 'isolated,' unless they first get permission from their national headquarters in Washington, DC. Since most states lack effective protections for these waters, failing to enforce the provisions of the Clean Water Act in these waters means that sewage, chemical and mining waste, fill materials and other pollutants may be dumped without any permit,"Sierra Club said in a statement.
"By failing to protect our headwater streams, our drinking water sources are at risk for pollution and destruction," Bermudez said. "That imposes an unfair burden on drinking water providers, and ultimately ratepayers, who must treat dirtier water to provide the public with safe drinking water."
Based on concerns raised by EPA regional staff, Sierra Club also reveals in the report a half dozen communities including New York City; parts of southern California; central Arizona; southwestern New Mexico; Boise; and the City of Rancho Cordova, California could be affected by the EPA's policy directive.
The report is available at: www.sierraclubplus.org
© 2004-2005 by foodconsumer.org unless otherwise specified
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