On February 28, 2017, President Trump ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to stop protecting drinking water sources for 1 in 3 Mainers by withdrawing its defense of the Clean Water Rule in federal court, according to a press release issued by Environment Maine recently.
“This defies common sense, solid science and the will of the Maine people,” wrote Laura Dorle, campaigns director, for Envirnoment Maine in the same press release.
“President Trump’s order turns the mission of the Environmental Protection Agency on its head, instead of protecting the drinking water sources for 1 in 3 Americans, he is telling he EPA to stop protecting these waters from polluters. It defies common sense, sound science and the will of the American people. Clean water is vital to our ecology, our health and our quality of life. We depend on our rivers and streams for safe drinking water.
That is why more than 800,000 Americans – including more than 1,000 business owners, local officials, farmers and health professionals – all supported the historic Clean Water Rule, including over 15,000 residents and 100 business owners and farmers right here in Maine. In fact, 79 local officials and 234 businesses recently joined Environment America Research and Policy Center and our state sister organizations across the country on amicus briefs in defense of the Rule in court.
Finalized in 2015 with widespread public and scientific support the Clean Water Rule restored protections for and thousands of waters across the country – including 25,000 miles of Maine streams which feed waterways like the Peneobscot River and help provide drinking water to 1 in 3 Mainers. Polluters and their allies have sought to overturn the Clean Water Rule in Court. And the Trump administration announced its intent to dismantle the Rule in a statement shortly after inauguration day. Today’s executive order instructs the US Environmental Protection Agency to stop defunding Rule – even to withdraw an extensive brief the Agency already filed with the 6th circuit court of appeals,” the press release added.
For more information, please email: laura@environmentmaine.org or at 207 – 245-6394.
(note: Chump Trump says that the press is the enemy of the people. Rather, so far, The Chump is the enemy of the People.)