Senate leaders try but fail to change the facts about Clean Water Rule

Environment America

WASHINGTON, D.C.. – Led by opponents of the Obama administration’s Clean Water Rule, a senate subcommittee held an oversight hearing this morning with Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy as the sole witness. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), subcommittee chair Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and others used the hearing to heap criticism on the clean water protections, often interrupting the assistant secretary and openly doubting her grasp of the science underlying them.
 
John Rumpler, senior attorney at Environment America, issued the following statement:
 
“The facts about the need to protect our rivers don’t change, no matter how many times polluters or their allies in the Senate try to dispute them. The Clean Water Rule is supported by the more than 1,200 peer-reviewed scientific studies; more than 800,000 public comments; and a long list of farmers, mayors, and businesses that depend on clean water.
 
“With the strong backing of the president, the American public, and enough senators siding with our waterways, we’re confident the Clean Water Rule will survive attacks like this morning’s; and our rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands will get all the protections they deserve.”