EPAs Clean Water Rule protects our drinking water

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency finalized the Clean Water Rule, which would restore the Clean Water Act’s protections to many of our nation’s streams, rivers and wetlands — sources of drinking water for 117 million Americans. The rule also provides an annual benefit of $388-514 million by reducing flooding, filtering pollution, providing wildlife habitats, supporting hunting and fishing, and recharging groundwater. More than 800,000 Americans called on the EPA to finalize the strongest possible Clean Water Rule. Recent polling shows that 80 percent of all Americans support the rule.

Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica offers the following statement in response:

We applaud President Obama for taking these common sense steps to ensure our waterways stay clean. President Obama heeded the call of sound science and public input in finalizing this rulemaking. Everyone will benefit from the greater protections of our nation’s drinking water.

###

Expert contact: Marcie Keever, (510) 900-3144, [email protected]
Communications contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]