SB632/HB1615 is an attempt to narrow the types of waterbodies protected under our laws.  Since the changes are based upon removing the use classification of a stream, EPA approval is always required. SB633/HB1617 creates a new definition of “limited resource waters” in another attempt to restrict the types of waterbodies protected under our laws.  These bills would especially lift protection from our smaller streams during times of drought, when we need water protection the most.  Both bills also take these re-defined waters out of our public trust, therefore opening them up for pollution.

 The US EPA reviewed these bills and said “Should this legislation pass, it may result in federal action related to TDEC’s federally delegated water programs.”  Passing this legislation could result in direct federal oversight of our state programs, or worse the removal of our delegated authority to protect our waters.  The US EPA also notes these bills result in definitions which would not be consistent with the Clean Water Act. 

On top of all of this, the state could lose up to $2 million in federal funding as a result of this legislation while costing us an additional $1 million in our own expenditures. 

These bills are not only destructive to our water resources, but clearly violate federal standards to protect our waters!

This entry was posted on Monday, March 30th, 2009 at 7:40 am and is filed under Legislative Updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.