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Senators move clean water fight out of committee

Posted by: Maven on June 19, 2009 at 7:15 am

From Environment News Service:

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved six water-related bills today, including the controversial Clean Water Restoration Act, S. 787.

The bill would amend the Clean Water Act to clarify the jurisdiction of the federal government over waters of the United States.

Over time, several U.S. Supreme Court decisions and Bush administration policies have created uncertainty regarding federal protection for some waters, especially headwater streams and so-called isolated wetlands. Headwater streams are the small swales, creeks and streams that are the origin of most rivers.

Committee Chairman Senator Barbara Boxer of California said, “Today the Environment and Public Works Committee took historic steps to restore, in a balanced way, the common-sense Clean Water Act protections that have been in place for decades. We also passed important measures to ensure our families have clean, safe water, to promote conservation of migratory birds, and to protect America’s beaches, lakes, rivers, bays and wetlands. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as these bills are considered by the full Senate.”

This change in language would bring under federal protection all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, the territorial seas, and all interstate and intrastate waters and their tributaries, including lakes, rivers, streams, including intermittent streams, mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, and natural ponds to the fullest extent that these waters, or activities affecting them, are subject to the legislative power of Congress.

Read more from the Environment News Service by clicking here.

June 19, 2009 · Filed Under Water Quality

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One Response to “Senators move clean water fight out of committee”

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