Oil and natural gas contribute to climate change in various ways and also threaten water resources. Hydraulic fracturing (Fracking) is a relatively new method of drilling for oil and gas that allows industry to access resources that were previously inaccessible. Fracking uses two to four million gallons of fresh water for each well. It also produces millions of gallons of wastewater that can never be used again and must be properly treated and disposed.

The problems associated with our use of fossil fuels are well known and their effects on our climate and water are alarming. For the future, it is time for real, commonsense solutions. We must move toward a sustainable future. To do that we need to invest in clean, renewable energy sources that will continue to power us even after fossil fuels run out.

Congress has let automatic across-the-board spending cuts known as “sequestration” go into effect. The President and Congress must agree on a solution to stop the cuts to vital environmental, health, and other programs. These are the programs that help keep our drinking water clean and our air healthy.

Make sure environmental programs aren’t put at risk – contact your Representative and Senators today!

WASHINGTON – Today CEOs from Alaska Wilderness League, Center for Biological Diversity, Clean Water Action, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Environment America, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, League of Conservation Voters, National Audubon Society, National Parks Conservation Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, Oceana, Ocean Conservancy, Pacific Environment, Sierra Club and The Wilderness Society called on Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to suspend offshore oil and gas activities in the Arctic Ocean.

Clean Water Action, and our million members, salutes US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson for her four years of impressive service. Though we are saddened to see a strong leader like Ms. Jackson leave, we are excited to work with staff and a new administrator to continue to fight climate change, support green innovation, and protect our water.

Revised regulation further enhances safety of U.S. drinking water

Washington, D.C. – A diverse group of drinking water providers and environmental and health organizations applauded yesterday’s announcement of a revised rule to safeguard U.S. drinking water.

A pre-publication copy of the final Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) was released Dec. 20 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and will be published in the Federal Register in the next few weeks.  Significant improvements were made during the revision process, including new requirements that ensure assessment and corrective action when monitoring results indicate a potential risk of contamination exists.
 

Washington, DC – The national environmental group Clean Water Action mobilized its million-member grassroots base to help deliver winning margins in close-fought races up and down ballots in a dozen states this fall.  Key races included re-election of President Obama and the US Senate races in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Connecticut.

In the final stages of the campaign, Clean Water Action:

Click on your the Clean Water Action state (we only endorsed in states where we work) to find out if clean water candidates won. Winners will be in BOLD.

Download the results, with percentages, here.

Key Victories:

• President: Barack Obama
• Massachusetts Senate: Elizabeth Warren
• Connecticut Senate: Chris Murphy
• Maryland Senate: Ben Cardin
• Virginia Senate: Tim Kaine
• Michigan Senate: Debbie Stabenow
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Vote Now!

Clean water voters can make their voice heard now in states like Florida, Colorado, Maryland, Texas, and many others. 

Find out more at Rock the Vote.

Clean Water Action joined the Environmental Intergrity Project, and 15 other local, regional, and national organizations to petition the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require the oil and gas extraction industry—including companies engaged in fracking—to report to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).  The oil and gas extraction industry has long used and released large amounts of TRI-listed toxic chemicals, and this has dramatically increased in the last decade with the rapid spread of horizontal hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”).

Lynn Thorp, Clean Water Action's National Campains Director says, “Inclusion of oil and gas sector pollution data in the Toxics Release Inventory is long overdue, and will provide people the information they need to protect their health, their drinking water, and their communities.”

Today’s petition would finally make this information available for the first time to citizens, communities, and lawmakers.  The full text of the petition is available here.