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News
Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina
October 21, 2004
Contact:
Sara Lang
Phone:
(202) 225-4531
WASHINGTON - With the anniversary of the Clean Water Act this week, U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) vowed to fight to keep water safe and clean for North Carolina families. Etheridge noted that the current Administration's policies are reversing many of the gains made during the law's 32-year history. These policies could cost the state more than $8.7 million in federal grants and 505 jobs, Etheridge said.
"Keeping our water clean and safe from pollutants like mercury and arsenic is imperative to protect North Carolina's families," Etheridge said. "The Clean Water Act is under attack. Right here in North Carolina, the Administration's proposed cuts in clean water grants mean that critical improvements in water and sewer infrastructure will not be made this year. That means our water will be dirtier, and our communities will lose jobs."
A new report released by U.S. Rep. James Obserstar, ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, details the Administration's reversals that are threatening the nation's water, including:
- Refusing to give states additional tools for addressing the more than 20,000 rivers, lakes and streams that remain polluted to the point of endangering public health, and instead, proposed ways to avoid reducing water quality impairments;
- Slashing necessary funding to repair and replace the nation's wastewater infrastructure, despite reports from the Environmental Protection Agency that additional funding is necessary to avoid turning back the clock on water quality;
- Proposing cuts in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund that would reduce state grants for water quality by one-third, meaning fewer projects started and fewer jobs created.
The full text of the report is available at http://www.house.gov/transportation_democrats/Clean%20Water%20Act%20Report%2020041.pdf.
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