John,
We need your help to protect river otter habitat. A fast-moving proposal aims to weaken vital safeguards, allowing projects to destroy more of our nation's wetlands and streams without first assessing impacts.
The Army Corps of Engineers' proposal for new Nationwide Permits is dangerous and wrong for wildlife. It would fast-track more permits to dredge and fill the streams and wetlands that river otters need to thrive, often without any notification or requirement to compensate for habitat destruction.
Use your voice today to stop this assault on wildlife habitat and the landmark Clean Water Act.
Under the current Nationwide Permit system, the Corps fast-tracks permits for certain types of projects that are supposed to cause no more than minimal environmental harm. More destructive projects require stricter environmental review to protect habitat and opportunities for the public to voice concerns about harm to habitat for river otters and other wildlife. But the proposed changes to this permitting system would roll back existing protections and violate the Clean Water Act. Existing limits on the extent of projects' impacts to streams and other waters would be lifted or weakened, allowing more damaging projects to be permitted without evaluating potential harm to wildlife
Destructive projects, like oil and gas pipelines, should not be approved or constructed in secrecy or without careful evaluation of harm and plans to adequately protect habitat. John, call on the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw their proposal immediately. Wildlife, the public's voice, and government transparency are at stake.
This proposal is yet another rushed attack on critical clean water protections. The Corps of Engineers is proposing these changes to the Nationwide Permits two years before they are even due for renewal. These changes would compound the harm caused by another recent clean water rollback. This summer, the Environmental Protection Agency removed protections for about 18 percent of the nation's streams and over 50 percent of wetlands.
Now more than ever, we need your help to protect the clean water that supports river otters and countless more wildlife species.
Thank you for all you do for wildlife and the places they call home.
