water pollution

Federal Aid To Protect Water Resources and Create Jobs

January 25, 2010 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt was informed by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today that the Obama administration has approved $29.7 million in funds for several local water and sewer projects.

“Over the past year, my office has been working with officials from towns on the Cape and Islands and the South Shore to secure rural development stimulus funding for a number of important local projects,” said Delahunt. “I want to commend the Selectmen and public works officials in each of these communities for their tireless support and for helping us make the case that federal funding is desperately needed here in our region in order to protect the environment and create jobs.”    » read more »

December 08, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Ways and Means member Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA), along with Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), introduced a bi-partisan bill today to restore a provision that enables tax-exempt bonding for “air and water pollution control facilities,” so that facilities can readily pay for the clean air and water technology necessary to meet rising Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards and reduce their impact on the environment.    » read more »

November 30, 2009 -- Citing the concerns of Northern Colorado residents and officials, Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, and Congresswoman Betsy Markey today urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to listen to Coloradan's concerns before taking any further action on a proposed uranium mining operation in Weld County.

Many Northern Coloradans are raising serious concerns that the mining technique proposed, called in-situ leaching (ISL), could jeopardize water quality and may be inappropriate for use in an area near a population center of 300,000 people.    » read more »

November 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) has introduced legislation to limit domestic cleaning products, such as laundry detergents and dish washer soap, from containing more than 0.5 percent phosphorus. H.R. 3946 would help protect the Great Lakes by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide Congress with recommendations on how to address the problem of high levels of phosphorus in the water system.    » read more »

November 09, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens) today applauded the House passage of the Chemical and Water Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2868), which would increase the security and safety of the country’s chemical plants and water facilities. Maloney is a co-sponsor of the legislation, which passed the House late Friday afternoon by a vote of 230 to 193.    » read more »

Water Quality Pilot Program Will Be Duplicated in Florida, Hawaii and Pacific Islands

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5, 2009- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the launch of a new initiative to conserve coral reefs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide $1 million from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in Fiscal Year 2010 to reduce sediment and nutrient run-off from the watershed to help protect near shore coral reef ecosystems in the Guánica Bay Watershed in southwest Puerto Rico.

Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Ann Mills made the announcement today on behalf of Secretary Vilsack at the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force's bi-annual meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico.    » read more »

Inaction, Delay in Changing Bush-era Rule to Protect Streams Put Appalachian Communities at Risk and Put Focus on Environmental Protection Agency

November 2, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of the Interior intends to delay issuing a rule that would protect Appalachian streams and communities from mountaintop removal coal mining, giving even more urgency to the need for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to take action to address this destructive practice.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) announced that yesterday, the House and Senate Conference Committee for the FY2010 Interior Appropriations bill, “Approved an historic $475 million down payment for the restoration of the Great Lakes.” The legislation, which the House and Senate will soon vote on for final approval, would fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) which was requested by the President and shepherded through Congress by Obey who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.    » read more »

Erin Brockovich, public health and environmental advocates urge State EPA to set safe standard to protect Californians

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Oct 18, 2009 – Hexavalent chromium (hex chrome), the notorious cancer-causing chemical made famous in the film Erin Brockovich, contaminates drinking water in over 500 California communities, according to environmental and public health experts. The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) held a hearing today to take public comment on a proposed level for hex chrome in drinking water.    » read more »

10/15/2009 -- WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced today at a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing that the agency is stepping up its efforts on Clean Water Act enforcement. The Clean Water Action Enforcement Plan is a first step in revamping the compliance and enforcement program. It seeks to improve the protection of our nation’s water quality, raise the bar in federal and state performance and enhance public transparency.    » read more »

Enhanced stormwater regulations will reduce runoff pollution in waters of Chesapeake Bay, Virginia's waterways

October 05, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine highlighted the adoption of enhanced stormwater regulations by the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board today. The new regulations are expected to reduce the impact of polluted runoff from new developments into the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways in the Commonwealth.    » read more »

June 22, 2009, Anchorage, Alaska – Alaska Governor Sarah Palin today welcomed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Kensington mine, a gold mining project near Juneau.

Today’s ruling reversed a decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and confirmed the validity of a previously issued permit from the Corps of Engineers for disposal of tailings. The project is being developed by Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation.

The state supported Coeur’s legal efforts to move the project ahead at every level of court review, including intervening in the lawsuit at the outset, litigating the case in the Ninth Circuit, filing a petition asking for review by the Supreme Court, and briefing the case in the Supreme Court on the merits.    » read more »

Maryland And Virginia Senators Introduce Bill To Support Chesapeake Bay Clean-Up; Strengthens NOAA's data collection, resource management & public outreach

June 10, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Benjamin L. Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-MD), along with Senators Mark R. Warner and Jim Webb (both D-VA) today introduced the Chesapeake Bay Science, Education and Ecosystem Enhancement Act of 2009, which would strengthen and enhance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) role in the multi-state Chesapeake Bay clean-up effort.    » read more »

Grant Will Help Parish Expand East Bank Facility, Support Economic Growth

06/05/2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA-03) today announced that St. James Parish would receive a $1.6 million federal Recovery Act investment to expand the capacity of the East Bank Water Treatment Plant. The planned expansion will enable new industries to locate in the parish, creating many new jobs in the region.    » read more »

Mid-Atlantic Governors' Agreement on Ocean Conservation to help coordinate 5 states’ policies

June 04, 2009 -- RICHMOND – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced his participation in the Mid-Atlantic Governors' Agreement on Ocean Conservation, a partnership among the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia to protect the ocean waters of the Mid-Atlantic.

The new regional partnership will protect and improve the health of ocean and coastal resources through improved coordination and minimized jurisdictional barriers, ensuring the resources contribute to our economic vitality and high quality of life well into the future.    » read more »