June 26, 2009

Statement of John DeCock, President, Clean Water Action

(Washington, D.C.) "Today, the U.S. House of Representatives took the first meaningful steps on the long path toward transforming our energy economy and curbing global warming. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) passed the House by a vote of 219-212. This action signals that Americans want to address the challenge of climate change by transforming our economy and rewarding investments in clean, smart energy production. This bill will create jobs and allow us to reap the economic and environmental benefits of a new energy economy. We can now move forward with the transformation of our energy policies that will reduce global warming pollution and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.

"Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) report on climate change impacts in the United States underscored that our climate is already changing across the country-altering our water cycle, increasing floods and droughts, and threatening the quality and quantity of our drinking water. This damage could be compounded if our energy choices continue to draw significantly from our water sources, while polluting what remains.

"Passage of this bill is a move in the right direction, but is not our destination.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition will come together on the shores of Lake Superior to reunite with friends, celebrate our successes and develop strategies to achieve our Great Lakes restoration goals for 2010 and beyond.

The conference agenda will address critical issues such as linking Great Lakes restoration to economic recovery, working with the Obama administration to fulfill the $5 billion Great Lakes commitment and securing Congressional funding for on the ground restoration work.

Please register for the Conference by August 19, 2009. After this date a late fee of $40 will be charged. The registration fee for the 2009 Conference is $140.

Register today at the Healing Our Waters website

Thanks to you, Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) introduced the Clean Water Restoration Act in the Senate on April 2, 2009.

For three decades, the Clean Water Act protected America's waters from industrial pollution, oil spills, sewage and outright destruction. Recent interpretations of the law have now put protection of drinking water sources for 110 million Americans in jeopardy.

Big polluters will be talking to our Senators, claiming the Clean Water Act should not cover numerous wetlands, streams, rivers and lakes that have been protected under the Clean Water Act. In just one year more than 500 enforcement cases have been dropped by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and Justice Department.

We cannot go back to the days of dirty water. Congress must reverse this damage and pass the Clean Water Restoration Act this year.

We believe in America's ability to innovate and solve big problems. We've proven time and time again we can rise to the occasion and address major environmental challenges without harming the economy. Just think about the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. Global warming and dirty energy put America's water resources at risk – now is the time to act!

Federal legislation has been introduced in Congress that would ban the toxic chemical BPA from food and beverage containers.

Help ban BPA nationwide

BPA, first developed as a synthetic sex hormone, can be found in re-useable water bottles, the lining of your soup or soda cans, baby bottles, sippy cups, and other polycarbonate plastic products. It has been shown to leach from containers directly into food and beverages, especially when heated. Why is this a problem?

More than 200 studies have found that low dose exposures to BPA are linked to heart disease, breast and testicular cancers, reproductive problems, and other diseases reaching epidemic proportions in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted research that revealed detectable levels of BPA in the bodies of 93% of Americans.

Photo courtesy Michelle Tribe via Creative Commons and Flick'r

Accidental pesticide exposure-and the resulting health problems-is an ongoing problem for people throughout Minnesota, especially in the Spring and Summer growing seasons. Clean Water Action is releasing a Tool Kit for the victims of pesticide exposure with the advice they need to treat exposure, obtain medical help and deal with the State of Minnesota's complicated process of obtaining pesticide information to facilitate proper treatment.

"Pesticide data-what chemicals are being sprayed, where and when-are not available to the public. Only doctors and veterinarians can request the information. So ordinary Minnesotans need this Tool Kit to properly navigate the system and get the info they need," says Julie Jansen, Rural Communities Organizer for Clean Water Action. "Right now, the law clearly favors pesticides over the health of Minnesotans." The toolkit will be released on Clean Water Action's website.

Aurore Sibley, a St. Paul resident who sought emergency medial treatment after her accidental exposure to lawn treatment pesticide in her home, is relieved that the Toolkit is out. She says, "It took me over a week to find out what to do when I was hit with pesticide drift. I'm really excited about this."

Learn more about what to do if you are exposed to pesticides. Get the toolkit here.

If you are interested in how we can work together to protect water resources by curbing global warming while transitioning to a clean energy economy, please take action today!

According to the United States Geological Survey, the Marcellus Shale Formation, which stretches across 9 states and into Canada, is believed to contain up to 50 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas. Potentially, two thousand natural gas wells could be drilled across northern and western Pennsylvania in the coming years.