What’s at Stake?
In December 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army proposed a revised definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) that would strip protections from small streams and wetlands across our country and our state. If enacted, it would be the biggest rollback of the Clean Water Act in history. We are asking the EPA to reconsider this risky rule and keep the Clean Water Act in tact, in order to protect the health of Missouri communities and the waterways that we love. The proposed rule:
- Increases flood risks by stripping protections from at least 51% of wetlands in the U.S.
- Threatens drinking water for over 2 million Missourians by removing protections for small streams
- Ignores the voice of nearly 1.5 million Americans who wrote in to support the Clean Water Rule and oppose rolling back critical protections for clean water
How Can I Take Action?
We have until April 15, 2019 to make our voices heard. The EPA is obligated to reach each and every unique comment. You may reach out in as many ways as you would like. The more ways that EPA hears directly from concerned individuals like you, the better, so we encourage you to consider writing to EPA directly.
- Submit a Written Comment Directly to EPA:
Submit a written comment directly to EPA opposing the new WOTUS defintion. The 60-day comment period ends on April 15, 2019. Please feel free to use as much or as little of MCE’s public petition language below as inspiration. Send EPA your comment HERE. - Read and sign MCE’s public petition letter:
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What is MCE Doing?
- Testify at EPA’s Public Hearing: In collaboration with Washington University’s Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic, MCE provided verbal testimony at EPA’s February 2019 public hearing on the proposed rule.
- Submit Technical Comment Letter: MCE will submit a technical comment letter that outlines our legal and Missouri-specific concerns with this proposed rule.
- Organize A Postcard Campaign: If you attend any of MCE’s 50th Anniversary Annual Meetings in St. Louis, Columbia, Kansas City, or Springfield, you will have the opportunity to fill out a postcard and share your concerns about the proposed rule.
Photo: WOTUS Postcards from the March 10, 2019 MCE Annual Meeting in St. Louis.