Lobbyists And Lawyers Weakened Water Protection

Critics Charge Bush Administration With Caving To Special Interests Lobbyists for the construction industry and farmers stopped the Bush Administration from enacting tougher standards for protecting the nation's water supplies, according to critics. Following a Supreme Court decision that threw into question the extent of the federal jurisdiction over wetlands, the Environmental Protection Agency had been poised to enact rules that would have protected many streams, ponds and swamps that share the same watershed as a navigable river or lake. Instead, the administration defined federal wetlands as those that are directly connected to navigable water. The wetlands in question are part of the network of waterways that feed streams, rivers and lakes. The health of the smallest water bodies often predict the health of the larger water bodies people care about, so protecting headwater streams and isolated wetlands can be important when it comes to overall goals of filtering pollutants, providing safe drinking water, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife like trout and waterfowl. The question now is whether Congress will pick up the issue. The language of the Supreme Court decision clearly pointed to the need for new legislation clarifying the intent of Congress, and the justification for a federal role in regulating water bodies that, often, exist only in one state. Related Stories Common Birds In Drastic Decline Feds Stick To Scaled-Back Clean Water Act