25 Apr 2001  

Tulloch-Fix Rule Goes Into Effect:

(from Clean Water Network's Clean Water Info Listserve) A rule that will limit the amount of wetland draining and excavation that developers and mining interests can do in wetlands and streams was put into effect last week.  Many thanks to Network members who called EPA, sent in comments on the rule, and activated your grassroots members. It feels so good to  have a wetlands success!  Please share our thanks with your members.

However, Network members should know the National Homebuilders' Association and the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association have both brought lawsuits against the rule so we will still be hearing about this possibly for some time. These lawsuits may be settled out of court or may be weakly defended in court. There is also the possibility that this rule may not be implemented in the field. We will keep you abreast of what's going on and keep you involved.

NRDC, Sierra Club, NWF, and Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund all did press releases of the announcement. Visit their web sites for the press releases ( www.nrdc.org  , www.sierraclub.org , www.nwf.org , www.earthjustice.org ). Here are some links to Washington Post and New York Times articles on the rule. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25173-2001Apr16.html  http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/17/politics/17WETL.html