Sarbanes Opposes Dismantling of Clean Water Act

Press Release

Today, Congressman John Sarbanes voted against H.R. 2018, the Clean Water Federalism Cooperative Act of 2011, which would undermine the ability to enforce the Clean Water Act. Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ensures that states meet the minimum water quality standards under the Clean Water Act. H.R. 2018 would strip the EPA of that authority and threaten the relationships between the states in dealing with improving water quality in areas like the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

"If we want to protect the health of the Chesapeake Bay, we cannot do it alone in Maryland," said Congressman Sarbanes. "Federal standards for water quality establish a minimum level of responsibility for other states that are contributing to the pollution that runs into the Bay. This legislation will undermine the progress Governor O'Malley and other state leaders have made in restoring the Bay."

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed spans the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, along with the District of Columbia. Earlier this week Governor Martin O'Malley announced that Maryland is 98 percent of the way to reaching its 2-year milestone commitments for reducing nitrogen and phosphorous into the Chesapeake Bay.

The Clean Water Act is considered one of our most successful and effective environmental laws. Since its enactment in 1972, the federal government has protected our waterways by using its checks and balances to review and adjust key state water pollution control decisions to assure that they reflect up-to-date science, comply with the law, and protect downstream water users in other states. H.R. 2018 would roll back the provisions of the Clean Water Act that have been the basis of 40 years of progress in making the our waters fishable, swimmable, and drinkable.

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