Wetlands Protections At Risk

Calls Urgently Needed To Epa Adminstrator Whitman!

This BEC Byline was originally published in 2001. It is included here for archival purposes.

The Bush Administration buzz saw that has been obliterating environmental rules and initiatives on land, air and water is careening towards an important wetland and stream protection measure, the so-called Tulloch-fix rule. Calls are urgently needed to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Whitman demanding that this rule not be the next environmental protection measure to be indefinitely delayed or withdrawn. Currently, the effective date of this final rule is under suspension by the White House until April 17 - the rule was originally supposed to take effect on February 16. Very soon, the Administration will decide whether to let the rule take effect or whether to bow to industry pressure and kill it.

Please let your voice be heard on this issue today.

Background

Wetlands provide habitat for dependent plant and animal species, are seasonal water sources for wildlife, assist in stormwater detention and groundwater infiltration, and provide numerous recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. The Tulloch-fix regulation would limit the draining and excavation that developers and mining interests can do in wetlands, streams and other waters without a Clean Water Act permit. The rule is currently "under review" by the Bush Administration, as are many other environmental rules adopted in the last month of the Clinton Administration, because of an order sent out by White House Chief Andrew Card the very day of the inauguration. This order put a host of Clinton Administration regulations on hold for sixty days.

Contrary to the current Administration's assertions that these were all "last minute" rules, the wetlands protection rule was developed over a two year period after mining interests and the homebuilding industry successfully managed to have the previous Tulloch rule on draining wetlands and streams nullified. Over 10,000 public comments were submitted during the rulemaking process, the vast majority of which were supportive of the rule.

The Bush Administration must be stopped from withdrawing this rule! Without the rule, wetlands can be ditched and drained and turned into shopping malls, parking lots, and housing developments, and streams can be essentially destroyed through mining and channelization without any public notice, environmental review or permit.

This alert was reprinted with permission of the Clean Water Network and revised by Butte Environmental Council.

This column originally appeared in March 2001 in the Chico Examiner.