Drugs in Your Water?
A widely publicized investigation by the Associated Press found that most communities where tests have been done detected low levels of prescription drugs in their water. What are the health effects - on people and wildlife - of drugs in water bodies? Where do they come from? Can we do anything to prevent this pollution or to clean it up? Clean Water Action has called on Congress and other decision makers to take action on drugs in drinking water. Learn more and take action...
Tell your Representative and Senators To Support The Clean Water Restoration Act
The Clean Water Act was passed in 1972 to protect all the nation's waters. However, the Bush Administration, at the urging of special interests, has interpreted the law to apply only to some bodies of water. This is not what the law intended or what the American people want.
The bi-partisan Clean Water Restoration Act (H.R. 2421 and S. 1870) is closer than ever to passing in the House. This legislation restates and clarifies the original intent of the Clean Water Act -- to protect all waters of the United States.
Take Action: Tell your Representative and Senators to support the Clean Water Restoration Act!
Sign a petition to support the Clean Water Restoration Act
The petition will be used to support Clean Water Action's direct efforts to help get this bill passed.
Spotlight
Rhode Island Director Wins EPA 2008 Merit Award
When Sheila Dormody was nominated by her colleagues for the federal Environmental Protection Agency's 2008 Merit Award, they told the story of a passionate leader with remarkable successes in fighting mercury pollution and organizing Rhode Island activists.
And when the EPA made the Earth Day announcement that Dormody”Clean Water Action's Rhode Island Director”had won the prestigious award, the agency cited a long and impressive list of accomplishments. They included: leading the effort to ban the toxin mercury from Rhode Island's landfills, negotiating legislation to recycle mercury switches and remove them from old cars, introducing programs to remove mercury from schools, as well as chairing the state's Mercury Reduction Group and co-chairing the state Department of Environmental Management Roundtable on the Environment.
Read the full article...
The Issues
- Clean Water: Bush Administration policies could put the drinking water of over 110 million Americans at risk. The Clean Water Restoration Act would ensure that all waters of the United States are protected from pollution and destruction. Read more about stopping water pollution and protecting drinking water sources and take action!
- Climate Change & Clean Energy: Congress is considering a new energy bill this summer that would combat global warming by improving auto efficiency and promoting renewable energy. Learn more about the bill and take action!
- Toxics & Chemical Policy: We need to phase out the most dangerous chemicals, innovate safer alternatives, and protect high-risk communities. Cleaner and safer chemicals, products, and production processes are feasible. Learn more about the issue.
Other News
U.S. Steel takes a 'giant step' in the Mon Valley
The company has applied for permits to begin upgrading its Clairton Coke Works. At a cost of $1 billion, it would be one of the most expensive capital projects ever in Allegheny County, but environmentalists question if even that is enough.
Monday, June 02, 2008
By Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh region got its eye blackened by a recent American Lung Association report labeling it the sootiest metropolitan area in the country, but U.S. Steel Corp.'s proposed $1 billion coke oven replacement and maintenance project in Clairton should improve air quality and go a long way toward removing that civic smudge.
Environmental groups are worried, however, that the coke oven upgrades -- one of the most expensive capital improvement projects in the history of Allegheny County -- might not clean the air as much as they should in the Mon Valley communities that have long been sustained by, and suffered from, the steel industry.
"U.S. Steel is going to build a new coke facility. We know that," said Myron Arnowitt, state director for Clean Water Action, at a public meeting in Clairton last month at which environmental leaders were quick to say their intent is not to stop the project. "But how it's going to affect the people who work and live in the Mon Valley for the next 40 years is the big question. We want it to be the best project possible."
Read the complete article...
Take Action
Visit our action center to find out how you can get involved. Voice your opinion to your legislators on pollution, citizens' rights in making environmental decisions, and other issues that impact our environment.
