Bush Administration Attacks Clean Water Safeguards, Sets Dangerous Precede

[Judi Lynn]

Bush Administration Attacks Clean Water Safeguards, Sets Dangerous Precedent With Proposed Oregon Rule, Groups Say
40 minutes ago


PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 30 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites)'s (EPA) proposed "Oregon Rule," which would pave the way for federal dams to evade their Clean Water Act obligations, is a trial balloon for a broad national policy that would have devastating consequences for river ecosystems across the country, conservationists warned today.


The proposed Oregon Rule would allow federal agencies to petition the EPA to weaken water quality standards that are needed to maintain river conditions that support healthy and thriving fish populations.


Right now, many federal dams impair water quality to the point that fish populations are decreased and sliding toward extinction. If a federal dam operator petitions EPA, the Oregon Rule would require EPA to initiate a process to change standards to suit the dam -- even if lower standards would prevent restoration of healthy fish populations.


EPA staff have admitted that the Oregon Rule is a precursor to a national rule that would offer special treatment to federal dams that violate water quality standards -- dams that can have severe effects on both temperature and dissolved oxygen content in the water trapped in their reservoirs. (snip/...)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=669&ncid=669&e=5&u=/031030/180/5pzjc.html

[Beetwasher]

1. The EPA Has Now Become a Sick Orwellian Joke

Their job is not protecting the environment anymore. The EPA's job is now to identify and dismantle environmental protections...

[underpants]

2. Hmm related story Mercury warning on fish in Va. (no known cause)

;)
This is from the Richmond Times-Dispatch so take that into consideration.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031771828498&path=%21news&s=1045855934842

Mercury levels elevated in fish
Health advisories are in effect for waterways in eastern Virginia

Fish are contaminated with mercury in three swampy waterways in eastern Virginia, and no one quite knows why.

The DEQ will form a committee of health experts, scientists and citizens to investigate the pollution.


Potential sources of the mercury include air pollution and pesticides, Hayden said. Or the mercury could have formed naturally in the swampy soils.

Coal-fired power plants are major sources of airborne mercury, but Hayden said there are not any plants near the tainted waters.

Some scientists believe swamps' acidic waters create conditions that help mercury accumulate in fish.

Earlier tests found high levels of PCBs in fish below Smith Mountain Lake; an advisory was already in effect there.

[hedda_foil]

3. This is an AMAZING headline. Please rate it a 5 at Yahoo.

Get this up to the top of Highest Rated news stories so it smacks people in the face. Come back here and let us know the current rating and how high it stands in the rankings. Only the top 15 stories appear on that page.

[lovedems]

4. The EPA has become an institution that decides what laws

are getting in the way of even bigger corporate profits. I honestly can't believe he still has the support of 50% of the nation!