Emily Bacha, Vice President of Public Affairs, January 23, 2020
Columbus, Ohio — Today, President Trump announced changes to the Clean Water Act that alter the definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS), putting numerous wetlands and miles of streams in Ohio at risk, some of which are drinking water sources for Ohioans. The result is what many are calling a “Dirty Water Rule.”
The following statement can be attributed in full, or in part, to Pete Bucher, Managing Director of Water Policy for the Ohio Environmental Council:
“This drastic reinterpretation of the Clean Water Act proposes to completely remove federal pollution protections for isolated wetlands and streams that do not flow year-round. Ohio already has lost 90 percent of our wetlands and we can’t afford to lose more. Wetlands are essential to clean and safe water. This rule ignores the reams of scientific data showing protections of these streams and wetlands are essential to clean and safe water. At a time when Ohio is facing serious water quality challenges and the nation is struggling to replace old water infrastructure, the proposed rule changes make no fiscal sense.
“No Ohioan should have to worry if their drinking water is polluted. The Dirty Water Rule endangers the health and safety of millions of people across Ohio and the country.”