GLIN==> U.S. House Moves to Restore Clean Water Protections

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition
 
House Moves to Restore Clean Water Protections, 
Vital to Great Lakes Restoration, Economic Recovery
 
ANN ARBOR, MICH. (April 21, 2010)—The U.S. House of Representatives
today introduced legislation that restores historic safeguards to
wetlands, lakes and streams that millions of people depend on for
drinking water, jobs and recreation.
 
“Reinstating clean water protections to U.S. wetlands, lakes and
streams is a vital component of Great Lakes restoration and economic
recovery,” said Jeff Skelding, national campaign director of the Healing
Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Millions of people will benefit from
the swift passage of this bill.”
 
Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) introduced America’s Commitment to Clean
Water Act (H.R. 5088) today along with Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and
Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.)
 
“We applaud these Great Lakes members for introducing this bill and
urge the rest of the Great Lakes congressional delegation to join this
effort to pass the bill quickly,” said Skelding. “Delay in restoring
protections will jeopardize many of our nation’s waters that supply
drinking water, jobs and swimming, boating, hunting and fishing
opportunities for millions of Americans.”
 
The compromise legislation restores Clean Water Act protections that
were placed in doubt by U.S. Supreme Court decisions (Solid Waste Agency
of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (2001) and
Rapanos v. United States (2006)) and Bush Administration guidance. These
decisions placed millions of acres of so-called “isolated” wetlands and
lakes, intermittently flowing streams, and wetlands adjacent to these
streams at risk of losing federal safeguards, leaving them vulnerable to
pollution and destruction.
 
“This legislation ends confusion over how to protect our nation’s
waters and re-affirms safeguards that Congress originally intended and
that were in place before the Supreme Court muddied the waters—nothing
more, nothing less,” said Skelding. “Quick passage of this bill will
benefit the Great Lakes and our economy.”
 
Wetlands provide essential services for people. Healthy wetlands supply
and recharge drinking water; improve water quality; prevent erosion;
provide habitat for wildlife, waterfowl, and fish; and support
multi-billion dollar hunting, fishing, bird-watching and boating
opportunities in the Great Lakes states. One acre of wetlands, according
to researchers, provides $10,573 of ecosystem services.
 
Passage of the America’s Commitment to Clean Water Act is essential to
protect and restore wetlands—a core component of the multi-year effort
to restore the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Regional Collaboration
Strategy has a long-term goal of restoring 1 million acres of high
quality wetlands in the region. More than 66 percent of Great Lakes’
original wetlands have been filled in or destroyed. In states like Ohio,
over 90 percent of wetlands have been lost.
 
The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is comprised of more than
100 environmental, conservation, hunting and fishing organizations;
museums, zoos and aquariums; and businesses representing millions of
people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes.
 
For more information, visit: http://www.healthylakes.org/ 
 
For Immediate Release:
April 21, 2010
 
Contact:
Jeff Skelding, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, 410-245-8021,
jskelding at nwf.org 
Chad Lord, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, 202-454-3385,
clord at npca.org 
Jordan Lubetkin, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition,
734-887-7109, lubetkin at nwf.org 
 
 
Jordan Lubetkin - Senior Regional Communications Manager
National Wildlife Federation
Great Lakes Regional Center
213 W. Liberty St., Suite 200
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1398
www.nwf.org/greatlakes 
www.healthylakes.org ( http://www.healthylakes.org/ )

Phone: (734) 887-7109 
Cell: (734) 904-1589

Inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.
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