William Cox, is a Animal Behavior and Art Major at the University of New England, at a Rally at City Hall Last Year. 

The US Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps. of Engineers have now revoked federal protection for thousands of waterways across Maine as published in the Federal Register.  With our ecosystems and drinking water at stake, Environment Maine will challenge the Dirty Water Rule in court according to a press release issued by Environment Maine.

Streams and wetlands are crucial to the health of Sebago Lake, the Penobscot River and many other bodies of water.  Wetlands filter out pollutants, provide wildlife habitat and protect communities by absorbing floodwaters.  If streams are polluted, that pollution can flow into large rivers and our drinking water.  Yet the Dirty Water Rule wipes out protections for countless streams and wetlands  —  a move that was recently rebuked by EPA’s own science advisors.

“Fifty Years ago, the first Earth Day, demonstrated American’s overwhelming bi-partisan support for clean water.  Now one day before Earth Day 50, the EPA has just marched forward with the worst rollback in the history of the Clean Water Act.

“As surely as water flows downstream, the Dirty Water Rule endangers the waterways where Mainers swim, fish, boat and draw our drinking water.  Moreover the rule violates the Clean Water Act itself.  The Dirty Water Rule defies common sense, sound science and the law.  We will not allow it to stand,” wrote Anya Fetcher, State Director for Environment Maine.

“Public support for maintaining Clean Water Act protections is widespread.  More than one million Americans — including business owners, local officials, scientists and hunters and anglers — have provided comments to the EPA, urgining the agency to protect streams and wetlands under the Act,” wrote Fetcher.