Stand up for Clean Water
Take action with Trout Unlimited to defend clean water protections from EPA rollbacks.
*This post has been updated to reflect a recent extension of deadline for public comment. The new deadline is September 27, 2017*
What happened: In June, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would begin the process of repealing and replacing the 2015 Clean Water Rule (see related post). Following several weeks of delay, the agency officially launched the process on July 27, triggering a very short 30-day window for public comment (deadline = Aug. 28). **UPDATE: COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 27th***
Public Comment Period Now Open. Deadline for Comment is SEPTEMBER 27th. Visit StandUp.TU.org and make your voice heard.
Why This Matters for Trout Unlimited: America’s headwaters are the genesis of our country’s iconic rivers. The Clean Water Act — and the clean water Rule — were designed to ensure that our nation’s small waters remain intact, and that the water flowing from them is fresh and clean. These waters are the spawning and rearing waters for trout, salmon and other wild and native fish that contribute greatly to the $50 billion recreational fishing industry in the United States. What’s more, these streams send clean water downstream, where it’s used to water our crops, cool our industrial generators and provide clean, fresh drinking water for our cities and towns.
Our main practical concern with the change in these federal standards is that we would lose the protection for seasonal streams and for wetlands from being dredged or filled in — protection that currently is provided. … Allowing those areas to be degraded will in turn have ripple effects downstream onto our drinking water supplies and our important fishing and recreation rivers. -David Nickum, Colorado TU director
What comes next (EPA 2-step process):
The Clean Water Rule of 2015, which was a critical step in protecting headwaters streams and wetlands across the country, was the result of a multi-year process which utilized the best available science and drew more than one million comments before being finalized. In contrast, the repeal allows only a 30 day comment period and the “replace” step will likely reduce protections on thousands of miles of streams.
The EPA has promised a 2-step process:
- Step One: proposal to rescind the 2015 Clean Water Rule; public comment closes on Sept. 27th.
- Step Two: During the second step, the EPA plans to re-write the rule to substantially narrow the current protections.
Trout Unlimited will be an active participant in this process, working with volunteers, staff and partners to provide information to the record and to ensure our concerns are heard during both steps.
*** TAKE ACTION NOW: COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE CLEAN WATER RULE AND AGAINST ROLLBACKS OF IMPORTANT PROTECTIONS***
In addition, to engaging in the rulemaking process, TU will continue to advocate against further cuts or rollbacks to programs that protect trout and salmon habitat. For opportunities to get involved, please check out standup.tu.org
Additional Info:
TU Fact Sheets and Briefing Papers
- TU Clean Water Rule Interactive Map — Is your stream at risk?
- TU update on CWRule Executive order (Feb. 2017)
- TU’s Rising to the Challenge Report
- Fact Sheet: Clean Water Rule: Protecting America’s Waters
Trout Unlimited Statements & Blogs
- July Lines to Leaders: The Clean Water Rule Fight is Back
- 2017–08–01: Voices from the river: Fishing the improbable (S.Davidson, Nacimiento River)
- 2017–06–27: Repealing Clean Water Rule Creates Uncertainty for $887B Outdoor Recreation Economy — statement from TRCP- NWF, TU, and Ikes
- 2017–07–28: Science Friday: Ephemeral Streams Provide Key Steelhead Habitat (Wild Steelheaders United).
- 2017–07–27: TU Urges Pennsylvanians To Speak Out For Clean Water Protections (Water Online);
- 2017–07–27: TU Press Release: Comment period open on repealing clean water protections;
- 2017–07–27: TU statement on opening of public comment period for Clean Water Rule repeal (S.Davidson; Cali-focus) | As a blog, here
- 2017–07–21: Senators push for more time on Clean Water Rule
- 2017–07–13: TU-PA volunteer Brian Wagner guest editorial in Lehigh Valley Live;
- 2017–07–12: Stand up for your clean water, public lands and Bristol Bay (C.Wood; Trout mag)
- 2017–07–10: EPA’s push to weaken clean water rule could hit Colorado’s groundwater, fishing, brewing, tourism and beyond (Bruce Finley, Denver Post);
- 2017–07–05: Montana, speak up for clean water rule — again (David Brooks Guest opinion, Billings Gazette)
Text of the 2015 Rule and the 2017 Proposal to Rescind & Replace
