Clean Water Action

Clean Water Action Alliance of Minnesota

About

Clean Water Action Alliance of Minnesota (CWAA) is a state chapter of national Clean Water Action. With over 55,000 members and thirty member organizations across the state, CWAA advocates for Minnesota's environment by bringing the voice of the grassroots to decisionmakers at all levels of government.

Since 1982 CWAA has organized and mobilized Minnesota citizens to protect public health and the environment. We organize people at the local level, coordinate statewide campaigns and advocate before state agencies and the Legislature to protect our water and our health.

CWAA's board, staff, member groups and members promote clean energy, strengthen state and federal water protections, build awareness of the health impacts from childhood exposure to toxins and fight pollution from factory farms.

Our History Working for Clean Water in Minnesota: 35 years and counting

1971: Clean Water Action, a national environmental organization is founded.

1972: The Clean Water Act, passes because of hard work by Clean Water Action and a strong coalition of conservation groups. The Act's goal is to make this country's waters swimmable and fishable.

1974: The Safe Drinking Water Act, which requires monitoring and controls on chemicals entering drinking water, becomes law after aggressive lobbing by Clean Water Action.

1976: Clean Water Action starts a door to door canvass to get citizens' support for tough water protections.

1977: The Clean Water Campaign, a coalition of major national environmental organizations, bands together to defend the Clean Water Act against weakening amendments.

1980: Clean Water action begins national expansion, beginning in the Chesapeake Bay area.

1982: The Twin Cities office opens and door to door environmental canvassing begins. Issues include reauthorization of federal Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act and stopping Winter Navigation on the Great Lakes. Organizing and lobbying activities unite with labor to support Workers 'Right to Know' legislation.

1984: The National Campaign Against Toxic Hazards, cosponsored by Clean Water Action and Citizen Action, is launched with broad coalition support. Minnesota establishes a Phone Canvass to renew memberships and grassroots support for strong environmental policies.

1985: Minnesota Clean Water Action joins forces with other state environmental groups to defend the State Superfund to clean up toxic waste dumps and establish a toxic victims' compensation fund. Clean Water Action volunteers participate in efforts to elect strong environmental candidates.

1986: Clean Water Action joins the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) coalition and mobilizes support from thousands of citizens and allies. The RIM program - to protect and enhance Minnesota's critical habitats, water and wildlife- wins passage in the state legislature.

1987: Minnesota Clean Water Action pushes for tougher penalties for polluters who knowingly violate the law. Campaign to implement 'Right to Know' provisions in the revised federal Superfund law begins.

1988: Clean Water Action - in coalition with environmental allies - helps win overwhelming passage of the Minnesota Environmental Trust Fund. Clean Water Action Voter Education Project - begun in 1984 to elect good environmental candidates to office - helps elect four out of six endorsed candidates to the Minnesota Legislature.

1989: Clean Water Action sponsors "Action for the Environment: Empowering the Citizens Network," a conference for environmental activists across the state. Clean Water Action's most ambitious legislative program to date is a major factor in passage of comprehensive groundwater protection and 'Right to Know' provisions. This allows citizens access to information on toxic chemicals stored in their communities. Clean Water Action becomes founding member of Minnesota alliance for Progressive Action (MAPA).

1990: Work continues on solid waste and toxic waste issues, groundwater protection and continues grassroots organizing. National War on Waste Campaign is launched. Members and local residents organize support for measure to halt construction of new incinerators. Coalition effort wins passage of the Toxic Pollution Prevention Act and Environmental Enforcement Act, expanding on 1987 legislation.

1991: Organizing work supports citizen efforts to stop proposed Dakota County incinerator. These efforts also block road paving project in Hennepin County that would have used toxic incinerator ash. CWA succeeds in passing legislation strengthening state solid waste laws. Coalition planning committee begins recruitment of organizations for our Alliance. Clean Water Action state chapter, Clean Water Action Alliance of Minnesota (CWAA) is established.

1992: CWAA Council votes to make renewable energy a priority focus for the organization. CWAA kicks off '1,000 x 2000 Campaign,' to bring 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy on-line in Minnesota by the year 2000. This effort is juxtaposed with the state debate over disposal of high-level radioactive waste on Prairie Island. CWAA worked with the Prairie Island Coalition and the Prairie Island Tribe to coordinate a lobbying effort. This results in the passage in the House Environment Committee of a resolution to bring the short term storage issue into the legislature for resolution. Clean Water Action Voter Education Project works to win a majority to the Dakota County Board to finally stop the incinerator.

1993: CWAA works with labor and other allies, to persuade the Minnesota Congressional delegation to vote against NAFTA. CWAA plays an active role in the Fair Trade Coalition. Membership pressure via the field and phone canvasses swing Congressman David Minge to vote against the bill. CWAA organizes for passage of Minnesota's Externalities Law - a vital state policy that requires electrical utilities to account for the pollution costs and harm to public health when considering the cost of electricity. CWAA circulates an amicus brief to legislators that is pivotal in sending the Prairie Island nuclear waste disposal proposal to the Legislature for approval. The CWAA Council votes to make the Factory Farm Awareness Campaign a priority for the organization. CWAA works with Land Stewardship and other farm allies to protect family farms and expose the environmental dangers of factory farming.

1994: CWAA plays central role in Minnesotans for Nuclear Responsibility, the campaign to prevent Northern States Power from disposing of high-level radioactive waste on Prairie Island. Canvassers contact tens of thousands of Minnesotans to generate letters and phone calls to legislators. CWAA assists Land Stewardship in fighting to save laws protecting family farmers. CWAA kicks off national 'Polluters Pay' campaign in Minnesota, generating press and citizen pressure on Congress to fund environmental programs through fees on polluters. Voter Education Project helps elect State Senator Bill Luther to Congress.

1995: CWAA grows to include thirty community groups from all across the state. To combat Congress' 'Contract on the Environment,' CWAA canvassers contact thousands of citizens to activate pressure on Minnesota's congressional delegation. This grassrrots pressure persuades most of Minnesota's delegation to vote against weakening the country's environmental laws. CWAA takes the lead on combating the environmental problems caused by factory farming in rural Minnesota through the Feedlot Pollution Prevention Project. CWAA canvassers target key rural areas to energize citizens on curbing factory farm pollution. Voter Education Project helps to re-elect Bobbi Megard to the St. Paul City Council.

1996: Clean Water Vote Environment mobilizes a massive effort to re-elect Paul Wellstone to the U.S. Senate. The Voter Education Project plays a key role in state legislative races. Clean Water Fund initiates mercury pollution prevention project in partnership with the Indigenous Environmental Network. Clean Water also plays a key role in forging a coalition of environmental, labor, energy cooperatives, seniors and low income advocates. These allies craft strategy to defeat radical deregulation of electrical utilities and to oppose a merger of Northern States Power with Wisconsin Electric Power Company. Canvassers generate thousands of letters, postcards and phone calls to the Minnesota Attorney General and legislators. Clean Water also defeats attempts by legislature to remove local authority to regulate and prohibit large-scale feedlots. The feedlot project builds one of the most comprehensive research files on feedlot issue in the nation, works to improve proposed NPDES general permit for feedlots, testifies at numerous MPCA and county board hearings regarding feedlot permits and ordinances and provides assistance to local groups fighting factory farms in their communities.

1997: Clean Water Fund holds the Forum on the Environmental Impacts of Concentrated Livestock Operations, bringing experts from around the country to discuss the air and water contamination caused by factory farming. Clean Water activates its membership to call for enforcement of the state hydrogen sulfide standards for factory farms and a polluter tax on coal plants. Throughout the year, Clean Water canvasses generate thousands of citizen letters to the Pollution Control Agency on the feedlot rules. Clean Water works with allies to prepare for a massive campaign to pass a moratorium on new factory farms in the state. Clean Water mobilizes membership to pressure US EPA to require full disclosure of drinking water quality under the Safe Drinking Water Act. CWAA pushes the state to include the public in discussing Safe Drinking Act implementation. Clean Water joins with allies to prevent NSP from expanding dry cask storage on Prairie Island. The Alliance for Clean Energy pre-empts NSP's efforts and the utility backs off from expansion efforts. Voter Education Project works to elect Greg Gilbert to Duluth City Council and Annie Young to the Parks Board.

1998: CWAA continues the effort for a moratorium on factory feedlots. Legislature bans open air manure lagoons and sets deadline for adopting new feedlot rules. Electoral organizing by program and canvass staff help get Gary Kubly re-elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Mass mobilization of CWAA members on mercury contamination helps establish a state goal of reducing mercury emissions by 70%. CWAA staff are appointed to state Source Water Planning advisory group and wins strong citizen participation in state efforts to prevent drinking water contamination. Clean Water and allies at SEED launch the High Plains SEED collaborative, building unity in the upper Midwest on federal energy issues. SEED also wins major victories securing more wind energy from the Prairie Island mandates.

1999: CWAA energy program works with SEED allies to pass legislation establishing the Renewable Development Fund, with NSP dedicating $4.5 million annually. CWAA organizing helps pass federal tax production credit for renewable energy. CWAA plays major role in three wind dedications on the Buffalo Ridge in southwest Minnesota, in Moorhead and in Chandler. CWAA helps to organize the Alliance for Responsible Development to fight the proposed DM&E Railroad. CWAA's canvass and program staff organize massive efforts to stop anti-environment factory farm legislation and secure a veto of the bill from Governor Ventura. CWAA organizes the Farm to Fork Symposium to educate and mobilize consumers to protect the environment and support family farms. CWA Voter Education Project helps win three special elections for Hennepin County Commissioner, Gale Dorfman, Minnesota State Representative Dale Swapinski and Minnesota State Senator Twyla Ring.

2000: CWF coordinates massive 30th anniversary of Earth Day celebration at the state capitol. CWF turns out hundreds of citizens urging more clean energy at State Energy Plan hearings. CWF and CWAA support efforts to stop factory farms and enforce pollution permits in thirteen communities across the state. Staff brings leaders from the environmental community to Cree Nation lands in Manitoba to witness the destruction caused by Manitoba Hydro's flooding. CWAA helps coordinate the POWER campaign, successfully thwarting attempts to deregulate the electrical utilities and pushing for clean, affordable and reliable energy for the future. CWAVEP organizes on key races, winning seven legislative seats and electing Mark Dayton for US Senator and Betty McCollum as 4th Congressional District Representative. CWAA kicks off major efforts to increase membership and activist base in key parts of the state.

2001: Organizers and canvassers generate thousands of letters, postcards, phone calls and e-mails to the US EPA to uphold the drinking water standard for arsenic. CWAA leads POWER Campaign legislative fight that results in stronger state conservation laws and a goal of 10% of electricity from renewable energy sources. CWAA successfully defends the state's environmental review and nuisance laws for feedlots. CWAA helps launch the Minnesota Environmental Partnership Protect Our Water Campaign.

2002: CWAA celebrates the 30th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act. CWAA and our allies successfully pass a bill to ensure citizens will be able to more effectively use state data to identify polluted lakes and streams in Minnesota. CWF helps organize Preventing Harm Minnesota, a coalition of organizations working to strengthen our laws to better protect our children from harmful toxic chemicals where they live, learn, and play. CWF hosts workshops across the state to educate citizens about the State Clean Water Act program to address pollution clean-up in our lakes, rivers, and streams. CWAA Rural Communities Program responds to hundreds of citizen requests for help on feedlot pollution problems across the state. Local citizens and staff document the Metro Dairy manure spill in Waverly, Minnesota forcing the MPCA to take enforcement action. Staff assist in the Muelner, Halquist Dairy, O'Neil and Wendinger lawsuits. CWAA help organize the first legal conference on feedlots with attorneys from across the United States. CWAA generates over 200 calls to legislators to reinstate the ban for hog lagoons and to successfully retain the rights to sue under Minnesota's nuisance provisions.

2003: CWAA defeats the Bush Administration's proposal to make dramatic cuts in the federal Clean Water Act. CWAA helps pass a Metro Area ban on phosphorus in lawn fertilizer. Clean Water Fund and Preventing Harm Minnesota co-sponsor the Healthy Planet, Healthy Kids Conference and Expo in May. Clean Water Fund hosts a successful Safe Drinking Water Conference in November to improve protection efforts for our drinking water resources. Citizens are educated on drinking water protection opportunities and given tools to work in their local communities to protect drinking water sources. CWAA Rural Communities staff assists many rural communities on township zoning issues. In Swift county alone, seven out of twenty-one townships enact moratoriums on feedlot expansion. Swift County approves a countywide moratorium. CWAA generates hundreds of calls to legislators from citizens and township officers in support of the Community Rights campaign. CWAA successfully retains the rights for township and counties zoning. CWAA held the second annual legal conference with attorneys from across the country.

2004: Faced with attempts by corporate interests to weaken or eliminate the right of townships to regulate land use locally, CWAA and allies begin a successful campaign, generating over 2,000 contacts to decision makers to protect community and township rights. Determined to make Minnesotans' voices heard, even if the EPA wouldn't hold an official public hearing in Minnesota, CWAA staff coordinate a community hearing on the EPA's proposed rule to reduce mercury emissions from coal plants, and generate hundreds of comments in opposition to the rule. Clean Water Action works with allies to successfully pass a state-wide ban on phosphorus in lawn fertilizer. Clean Water Fund hosts two well attended forums to address children's health and the environment - a kick-off for Preventing Harm Minnesota's major outreach effort. CWAA Legal Project filed suit against the MPCA over pollution from the Union Dairy project proposal in Stearns County.

2005: CWAA helps expose the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) secret meetings with industry on a plan to reduce mercury pollution. CWAA members generate almost 1,000 public comments on the state's mercury clean-up- more than MPCA staff had seen in over a decade. CWAA pressures Senator Norm Coleman to be a leader on renewable energy, generating hundreds of calls to his office. Senator Coleman then co-sponsors a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), which passes in the Senate. CWAA generates over 500 comments to the MPCA to block attempts to gut Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) rules for factory feedlots. CWAA watch-dogs MPCA enforcement for factory feedlots emitting toxic hydrogen sulfide. CWAA provide support and information to communities in southeastern and central Minnesota to as they learn how to protect their families and neighbors from pesticide pollution. CWAA engages our members on Great Lakes restoration, turning out over 60 people to a meeting about the health of the Great Lakes.

2006: As the culmination of over a decade of work on mercury contamination, CWAA and allies pass a bill to reduce mercury from power plants by approximately 1,200 pounds per year by 2015. This is almost one-third of all the mercury emissions in the state. Together, these three power plants will be required to reduce their mercury emissions by 80-90%, phased in over a 5-6 year period beginning in 2009. CWAA generates hundreds of calls and letters from members supporting a state Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). With our legislative allies, CWAA protects the legislation from weakening amendments. CWAA blocks attempts to hinder the ability of cities, townships, and counties to enact local zoning to protect the health, environment, and character of their communities. CWAA urges Attorney General Mike Hatch to sign on to an amicus brief supporting clean water in a case before the Supreme Court. With pressure from CWAA members, Red Path Heifers officially pulls their proposal for a14,000 heifer feedlot in Traverse County.