Subject: Clean Water Currents - Fall 2011
From: Bob Wendelgass <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:20:54 -0500 (EST)

Clean Water Currents - Fall 2011 Clean Water Action Newsletter

Table of contents: 

The Dirty Water Caucus  [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/dirty-water-caucus-congress ]| From the President [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/presidents-letter ] | Fixing the Clean Water Act [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/fixing-clean-water-act ] | Coal Ash [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/coals-dirty-backside ] | Banning the Foam [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/fall-2011-state-spotlight ] | Fracking Fights  [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/fall-2011-state-spotlight#fracking ] | Scoring Congress [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/feature/did-your-representative-vote-protect-environment ] 

Download Clean Water Currents
 [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/clean-water-currents-fall-2011 ] 

The Dirty Water Caucus in Congress: 
So far in 2011 polluters and their allies in Congress have unleashed more attacks on clean air, clean water and protections for people's health than in the previous ten years combined. For the first time in Clean Water Action's history, a majority of Representatives in the U.S. House have gone on the record with multiple votes in favor of dirty water. That is 170 House votes to roll back protections and stop the EPA from doing its job - and more votes likely before year-end. "Read more" [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/dirty-water-caucus-congress ] 

From the President:
We can't live without clean water. It's that simple. But sometimes, the people we elect seem to forget that. They've been forgetting it a lot lately in Washington, DC and in too many of our state capitols. But with your support, we keep reminding them how important clean water is… to our health, to our quality of life, to our economy and to our jobs! 

"Read more" [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/presidents-letter ] 

BREAKING NEWS!

The Senate will vote to weaken the Clean Water Act! 

TELL THEM NO! [ http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2155/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=8664 ] 

Fixing the Clean Water Act:
Nine years ago, the Bush Administration began weakening water policies to limit which resources would be protected under the Clean Water Act. Bolstered by a pair of polluter-friendly U.S. Supreme Court decisions, those weakening changes have left water vulnerable to pollution across huge areas of the U.S. Those gaps in protection now threaten drinking water sources for more than 117 million Americans. 

"Read more" [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/fixing-clean-water-act ] 

Coal's Dirty Backside:
By now, most people are aware of the devastating impacts coal mining - especially the kind that removes entire mountaintops - can have on water and on the natural landscapes where it takes place. Similarly, the pollution that spews from power plant stacks where coal is burned is widely understood as a major water pollution source and public health threat, to say nothing of the added global warming burden. Mercury from coal plants is one of the main sources of contamination that has made so many fish caught by recreational fishing unsafe to eat. 

"Read more" [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/coals-dirty-backside ] 

State Spotlight: 
This year, California's State Senate and two key committees in the State Assembly approved SB 568, which would be the nation's first statewide ban on expanded polystyrene (StyrofoamTM) containers. If approved, the measure would require the foam used in food and beverage containers to be phased out by 2016. Intense lobbying by industry forced the bill's supporters to hold it over for consideration in 2012, which will allow Clean Water Action and allies to continue building support for the ban. Fifty-four California jurisdictions have already enacted foam food container bans. 

"Read more" [ http://www.cleanwateraction.org/publication/fall-2011-state-spotlight ]