For Immediate Release
May 27, 2015
Water advocates, Illinois businesses applaud release of EPA’s Clean Water Rule
ILLINOIS – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized the Clean Water Rule, providing Clean Water Act protections for many streams, wetlands, and other bodies of water that are critical to our health, our economy and our natural world. The rule can be viewed here – http://www2.epa.gov/
The rule restores Clean Water Act safeguards for waterbodies that were historically protected under the Act. The streams and wetlands at issue – two million stream miles and 20 million wetland acres – provide critical wildlife habitat, flood control, and drinking water to 117 million Americans.
Streams and wetlands are economic drivers. They play an important role in fishing, hunting, agriculture, recreation, energy, and manufacturing. They also provide drinking water for 1 in 3 people. The Clean Water Rule will help ensure businesses have reliable access to clean water. Environmental advocacy groups and Illinois businesses praised the rule.
“A federal regulatory framework provides a level playing field to those businesses that operate responsibly, incorporating protection of this most precious resource into their business models. Allowing unregulated pollution of small streams and wetlands on the other hand, would incite a race to the bottom, with the costs borne by our rivers and streams, our communities, and our businesses,” said Kim Knowles, staff attorney, Prairie Rivers Network.
Leaving streams and wetlands unprotected would be devastating for American business. Business depends on clean water; it is critical for manufacturing, food production, and recreation.
“One of the most crucial things that we need as a society is rules to protect our most essential resources,” said Ken Myszka, owner and chef of Epiphany Farms in Bloomington, IL. “That’s why Epiphany Farms supports EPA’s Clean Water Rule.”
A 2014 poll conducted by the American Sustainable Business Council found that 80 percent of small business owners support federal rules protecting small streams, with 71 percent saying that clean water is crucial to support economic growth.
“We need the protection of the EPA and the Clean Water Act to ensure that the river where our customers recreate is clean and unpolluted,” said Tod Satterthwaite of Kickapoo Landing, an outdoor outfitter in Oakwood, IL.
“At Big Grove Tavern, we want to support our community’s economic health as well its literal health,” said Rebecca Kane of Big Grove Tavern, in Champaign, Illinois. “Clean lakes and streams ensure healthier food, which trickles down to healthier customers.”
The Clean Water Rule is supported by the latest peer-reviewed science, including more than 1200 pieces of scientific literature.
“Nobody has the right to pollute,” said Wes Jarrell, farmer and owner of Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery in Urbana, Illinois. “If something leaves my property and goes downstream from me, that’s my responsibility. I’m supposed to stop that. Clean water is absolutely essential to the success of our business.”
For more on why American businesses support the Clean Water Rule, watch our video:
Contact:
Kim Knowles, Prairie Rivers Network, kknowles@prairierivers.org, 217-344-2371 ext. 209
