Contact:

Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator.  Email:  Jackson.Lisa@epa.gov

Nancy Sutley, Council on Environmental Quality.  Contact: http://www.whitehouse.gov /contact/

Sample Letter:

Dear Administrator Jackson and Chairwoman Sutley,

A generation ago, Americans made a commitment to clean up and protect our lakes, rivers and wetlands when we passed the Clean Water Act. Thanks to this commitment, lakes and streams that were once polluted are now once again safe for fishing and swimming. At the time, many argued that the economy would be injured if industry could no longer dump its untreated wastes into our nation’s waterways, but after years of strong pollution control and strong industry, it is clear that clean water is not only essential for public health, but it is good for business.

The Bush Administration’s policies on disposal of mine waste into waters of the U.S. has undermined the intent of the Clean Water Act and America’s commitment to responsibly managing our clean water.  The redefinition of “Fill Material” to include waste material to be used to “fill” streams, lakes, wetlands, and other waters, has allowed for the damaging practice of mountaintop removal and the permitting of the Kensington Mine to destroy an Alaskan lake by dumping toxic, chemically processed mine tailings into it.

I am asking you to immediately revoke the Kensington mine lake dumping permits, revise the Bush Administration’s policies on disposal of mine waste into U.S. waters, and return the definition of fill to what it was before the Bush Administration.

Sincerely,

Congress:

Tell Your Congressman and Senators to support HR 1310, the Clean Water Protection Act.  The Act is a bipartisan bill that would put the definition of “Fill Material” back to what it was before the Bush Administration.

More about the Clean Water Protection Act.

Who are my elected officials and how do I contact them?

Sample Letter:

Dear Congressman or Senator,

A generation ago, Americans made a commitment to clean up and protect our lakes, rivers and wetlands when we passed the Clean Water Act. Thanks to this commitment, lakes and streams that were once polluted are now once again safe for fishing and swimming. At the time, many argued that the economy would be injured if industry could no longer dump its untreated wastes into our nation’s waterways, but after years of strong pollution control and strong industry, it is clear that clean water is not only essential for public health, but it is good for business.

The Bush Administration’s policies on disposal of mine waste into waters of the U.S. has undermined the intent of the Clean Water Act and America’s commitment to responsibly managing our clean water.  The redefinition of “Fill Material” to include waste material to be used to “fill” streams, lakes, wetlands, and other waters, has allowed for the damaging practice of mountaintop removal and the permitting of the Kensington Mine to destroy an Alaskan lake by dumping toxic, chemically processed mine tailings into it.

I am asking you to support HR 1310, the Clean Water Protection Act, an act that would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify that fill material cannot be comprised of waste.

Sincerely,

For more information on the Kensington mine

For more information onmountaintop removal