Dear ,
As we face renewed threats to critical environmental laws, we must be ready to act. During the previous administration, we fought tirelessly with Waterkeeper groups and our partners to mobilize millions of voices and file 31 lawsuits to protect our waterways and the communities that depend on them.
The cases addressed vital issues like:
Defending Clean Water Act Protections: In the Constitution Pipeline case, we upheld New York State’s authority to deny a water quality certification for a natural gas pipeline proposed to be constructed through hundreds of trout streams and wetlands that would have severely damaged these waterways and ecosystems. This victory reaffirmed states’ rights to protect their waters from harmful federally approved projects under the Clean Water Act.
Protecting the Eastern Hellbender: We successfully pushed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to propose Endangered Species Act protections for the Eastern hellbender salamander. With populations declining by 80% due to pollution and habitat loss, protecting this species is vital because its health reflects the overall condition of freshwater ecosystems.
Reversing NEPA Rollbacks: We challenged changes to the National Environmental Policy Act that exempted concentrated animal feeding operations from environmental reviews. Thanks to our efforts, the Council on Environmental Quality reinstated requirements for these industrial operations to evaluate their environmental impacts, protecting ecosystems and communities alike.
Now, the fight continues. The stronger 2024 Steam Electric ELGs rule—an EPA regulation that limits toxic pollutants like mercury, arsenic, and selenium discharged from coal-fired power plants into our waterways—is under attack in court. Waterkeeper Alliance and the Waterkeeper movement are on the front lines to fight back.
After successfully challenging a weaker version of this Clean Water Act rule in court, our litigation secured stricter standards. Now, we're fighting to lock in these protections, hold power plants accountable for their pollution, and ensure cleaner, safer water for all.
As threats to these safeguards grow more urgent, your support is critical. Together, we can defend the Clean Water Act, stop toxic pollution, and protect the clean water every community deserves.
