Gulf Coast Beach Warnings Skyrocket Due to Oil, Pollution Persists Nationwide

Duluth, Minnesota (July 28, 2010) – Pollution continues to contaminate the water at America’s beaches, causing 99 advisory days for Minnesota’s Lake Superior beaches last year and 18,682 closing and advisory days nationwide. Meanwhile, as of July 23, the Gulf oil disaster had already led to 1,755 days of beach closing, advisories, and notices in the Gulf region this year, according to the 20th annual beachwater quality report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Washington, DC - Clean Water Action joined with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Story of Stuff Project to launch the startling and fast-paced <em>Story of Cosmetics</em>  expose, a 7-minute online film exposing toxic hazards from personal care and consumer products used by millions of Americans each day.
 
The film's release coincides with the introduction of the Safe Cosmetics Act in Congress. The legislation would for the first time regulate and limit the use of toxic and cancer-causing ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products.
 

Constitutional change will protect MI from oil disaster; Legislature must act now

LANSING, MI - Clean Water Action today urged the full House and Senate to pass the strongest possible proposal to ban drilling in the Great Lakes after a bipartisan Senate panel approved protections that would ensure Michigan doesn't become the next oil disaster zone with devastating consequences.

A state House committee had previously passed the measure, which will protect local communities dependent on tourism, fishing and other industries.

Philadelphia - Clean Water Action today released a report showing ten years of diminishing funding for environmental protection. Citing recent incidents in signficant pollution in the areas of wastewater treatment, food processing and natural gas drillers, the report is meant to show the urgent need for a robust agency to check polluters, look for problems and fine them aggressively for violations. In the Governor's budget deal released today, DEP would take another cut in funding. Adjusted for inflation, the agency is now two-fifths the size it was under the previous administration.

From the first page of the report:

"When adjusted for inflation, state support for environmental protection has dropped from $340,000,000 in 2000-2001 to approximately $160,000,000 today (see General Fund line item in following tables and charts, this represents what the state allocates to DEP). The 2010 – 2011 state budget is projecting to lower this even further to $145,000,000.  The story is much worse when you adjust for inflation. If the state spent as little on environmental protection in 2000 as it does today, the agency would only be receiving $130,000,000. In other words, the DEP budget is 2/5s today of what it was midway through the Ridge Administration.

Published On: 

06/30/2010 - 18:25

Washington DC - On July 1, 2010 a voluntary ban on phosphates in dishwasher detergents will be implemented by many members of the American Cleaning Council (formerly the Soap and Detergent Association), a manufacturer's trade group representing most detergent companies.

Proposals in House will protect Michigan's lakes, economy

LANSING, MI - Clean Water Action today applauded a state House panel for moving forward a proposed permanent ban on oil drilling in the Great Lakes and called on the full House to act quickly ensure Michigan doesn't become the next oil disaster zone with devastating consequences to local communities dependent on tourism, fishing and other industries.

Northampton—Scientists and advocates gathered today to call on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) to phase out BPA from infant formula and baby food packaging and reusable food and beverage containers, as well as baby bottles and sippy cups.  The DPH has proposed a “limited ban on bisphenol-A (BPA) in reusable food and beverage containers intended for use by children ages 3 and under,” ie: baby bottles and sippy cups.  Scientists, parents, and advocates representing members of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT) coalition will offer testimony at a hearing this afternoon in Northampton demonstrating that the proposed regulation

Trenton, NJ-- David Pringle, the Campaign Director for the NJ Environmental Federation, released the following statement in response to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection's offshore wind meeting and report release this afternoon:

"This is an important step in transforming New Jersey's economy into a 21st century clean energy-driven green engine. This top notch report provides the scientific baseline needed to advance offshore wind and thereby effectively combat climate change, create jobs, grow the economy and protect public health.

Mobilization of citizens, organizations and legislators succeeds in limiting pollution in streams

Harrisburg - The PA Independent Regulatory Review Commission voted today to enact new protections for the state's rivers and streams. Two regulations were approved to set new treatment requirements for wastewater from Marcellus Shale drilling operations, and to require buffers along our best streams when new development is proposed there. These new rules fall under Title 25, in the PA code, Chapter 95, Wastewater Treatment Requirements, and Chapter 102, Erosion and Sedimentation Control.

Myron Arnowitt, PA State Director for Clean Water Action stated, "Pennsylvania is taking a big step forward to protect our rivers and our drinking water supplies. Both natural gas drilling wastewater and stormwater from uncontrolled development can quickly contaminate any river. We are glad to see that our state regulators heeded the call of so many in this state who want to see more done for clean water."

Altogether over 8,000 comments were received by the state from the public, with over 90% in support of the proposed water protection rules. 100 organizations supported the new rules, several major water suppliers in the state, and 50 state legislators wrote in support.

NJ Environmental Federation and NJ Sierra Club Statement

 Trenton, NJ--The Sierra Club and NJ Environmental Federation believe that the proposed NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) public access rules are a compromise that tries to balance competing interests while still allowing public access to New Jersey's waterways.