Sample Comment Letter

*** Written by American Rivers ***

 

Valerie Badon, ORC-158,

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region X,

1200 Sixth Avenue,

Seattle, WA 98101

 

Attention Docket ID No. OW-2003-0068,

 

 

Dear Ms. Badon,

 

I urge you not to weaken the Clean Water Act (CWA) by reducing protection under new proposed water quality standard provisions for the State of Oregon.  I am also deeply concerned about reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering a national watershed rule that includes many of the same roll-backs included in the Oregon water quality standards rule. The current protections under the CWA should be maintained for the benefit of the communities and ecosystems that depend on the protection of water quality. 

 

Under the proposed plan, I am particularly troubled by the possible exemption of federal dams from having to meet current water quality standards.  I understand the challenges facing EPA and the nation in attaining water quality standards and, specifically, in achieving those standards where federal dams are in place.  However, the answer to this serious water quality problem is not to provide the opportunity for an exemption for this pollution source from water quality standards but to take steps to analyze and remedy the problem.

 

Under the proposed rule, the EPA eliminates the ability of the public and state government from making the important decision about how clean their rivers and streams should be.  I am opposed to allowing the EPA to usurp the state's prerogative to aspire to providing more water quality protection than was in place in the CWA since 1975, the so-called "floor" of protection.   

 

With the help of the Clean Water Act, we are just beginning to make progress in cleaning up our rivers and streams in Oregon and around the nation.  Retaining and enforcing strong clean water standards is critical to the ecosystems, communities, and economies that depend on healthy rivers and streams across the nation.

 

Please include this letter in the formal comment period for the proposed rule change (Docket ID No. OW-2003-0068).  Thank you.

 

Sincerely,