American Rivers Statement on Supplemental Comment Period for WOTUS Rule

Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org

WASHINGTON D.C. – In response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement today seeking additional comment on its WOTUS rulemaking efforts, American Rivers is issuing the following statement:  

“Our nation’s water resources are precious and increasingly at risk. This is not the moment to be jeopardizing the nation’s water security by narrowing the safeguards of the Clean Water Act,” said Gary Belan, senior director of American River’s Clean Water Program. “While we appreciate EPA’s effort to seek more public comment, the proposed changes will have consequences that will impact communities across the nation if finalized. The proposed definitions do not reflect the established science on how rivers function and would significantly reduce the scope of the Clean Water Act. When headwater and intermittent streams and wetlands lose protection, downstream flooding worsens, the costs of drinking water treatment rises and water supplies become less reliable.”

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About American Rivers
American Rivers is a national conservation organization working to make every river clean and healthy for people and wildlife. We combine evidence-based solutions with enduring partnerships to safeguard the 3.5 million miles of rivers and streams that are essential to our nation’s clean drinking water, extraordinary wildlife, and the strength of our communities. For more than 50 years, our staff, supporters, and partners have been driven by a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers®. AmericanRivers.org