2011 Clean Water Jobs Act. It is one of the four Environmental Priority Bills,
sponsored by the Environmental Priorities Coaliton.
Scientists have discovered that the most significant contributor to water quality problems, pollution, fish habitat degradation and health problems for Puget Sound is STORMWATER. The stormwater not only causes damaging floods like the below image in the "100 year storm", but the more frequent rainstorms that wash pollutants into streams, lakes and poison our waters.
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Ronald Bog during 2007 storm It’s a murky combination of oil pollution, pesticides, herbicides, and other hazardous substances.Washington's waterways are central to our way of life here in the Pacific Northwest. From Puget Sound to the Spokane River, they play a big role in our economy, our food system, and our quality of life. They are important places for us to hike, fish, and enjoy nature. Right now, they are under serious threat. Every time it rains, millions of gallons of toxic runoff wash into Puget Sound and our lakes and rivers, spreading poisons that threaten our health, environment, and economy. |
The first hearing on the Bill is this Thursday, 2/10 in Olympia at the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Washington Conservation Voters site has the facts and encourages supporters to contact their legislators.
Washington Conservation Voters site has the facts and encourages supporters to contact their legislators.
Bill Numbers: SB 5604 / HB 1735
Clean water, good jobs, healthy Washington
- Washington’s water is under threat
- Putting people back to work
- Polluters should pay their fair share
- The right solution for Washington
Washington’s water is under threat
Washington's waterways are central to our way of life here in the Pacific Northwest. From Puget Sound to the Spokane River, they play a big role in our economy, our food system, and our quality of life. They are important places for us to hike, fish, and enjoy nature. Right now, they are under serious threat. Every time it rains, millions of gallons of toxic runoff wash into Puget Sound and our lakes and rivers, spreading poisons that threaten our health, environment, and economy.
Putting people back to work
The 2011 Clean Water Jobs Act will directly fund local projects to clean up toxic runoff before it enters our water. This means thousands of good-paying new jobs in our communities on projects like retrofitting urban streets in Bremerton or building storm drains in Puyallup. Cities and counties know what they need to build and local businesses are ready to get to work. Meanwhile, our construction industry is facing record unemployment rates with thousands of workers looking for jobs.
Polluters should pay their fair share
Toxic runoff from our roads and urban areas is the number one water pollution problem in Washington and it’s only fair that polluters of our water pay to clean up after themselves. A small fee on toxic runoff pollutants, like oil, pesticides, herbicides, and other hazardous substances, would provide a polluters-pay approach to creating new jobs in communities across Washington.
The right solution for Washington
The 2011 Clean Water Jobs Act will create jobs, rebuild our local economies, and clean up polluted waterways like Puget Sound and the Spokane River. By levying a small fee on the wholesale value of toxic runoff pollutants, this legislation will generate $100 million annually to pay for local projects through a competitive grants process. It’s time for polluters of our water to pay their fair share to clean up after themselves. It’s time to create jobs, clean up our water, and protect our quality of life.
Our 2011 Priorities are
- Budget Solutions for Our Environment
- Coal Free Future for Washington
- Clean Fertilizers, Healthier Lakes and Rivers
- 2011 Clean Water Jobs Act
Heads up! Next Week, Tuesday, Feb 15th is
Environmental Lobby Day!
Join your neighbors who care about improving our
state's environment and about creating jobs!
2011 Lobby Day - Feb. 15th
Please join the state’s leading conservation groups and hundreds of citizen lobbyists on Feb. 15th to push for the passage of the Environmental Priorities Coalition’s legislative package.
Test your powers of persuasion as you meet face-to-face with all three of your state legislators. Receive detailed briefings on each priority and training on how to lobby from top environmental lobbyists. We’ll fuel your activism with a breakfast and lunch and all the coffee you can drink!
What: 2011 Environmental Lobby Day
Where: Olympia
When: Tuesday, Feb. 15th
Who: You and hundreds of other citizen lobbyists
Click here for additional details and to register.
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