The Clean Water Act has brought progress to Minnesota lakes and rivers, but in order to continue on the path to success we must protect all the waterways in Minnesota. A loophole in the Clean Water Act has left more than 51 percent of Minnesota’s rivers and streams, including many that feed into the Mississippi River, vulnerable to pollution. All of Minnesota’s waterways deserve protection.

Fortunately, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed restoring protections to all of the state’s waterways this past March. After almost eight months, the public comment period ended this Friday.

In these last few days, the submission of public comments is essential as powerful polluters are waging an acrimonious campaign against the EPA’s rule. Despite this bitter opposition, nearly 740,000 supportive comments were delivered to EPA officials in Washington, D.C., last month, including more than 2,000 collected by Environment Minnesota.

If we push back against polluters in these last few days we can restore safeguards to all of the waterways that support strong local economies and make our state beautiful.

Environment Minnesota thanks the EPA for taking the steps needed to protect Minnesota’s waterways.

 

Chen Zhang

Environment Minnesota

Minneapolis