Council asks Congress to protect federal Clean Water Act from erosion

December 6, 2010

Summary

Recent Supreme Court rulings add confusion and uncertainty to clean water protections

Story

The Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously expressed its support for a consistent definition of the waters to be protected under the federal Clean Water Act. Recent divided decisions out of the U.S. Supreme Court have introduced additional confusion and uncertainty into determining the scope of federal jurisdiction and protection for some waters.

“The Clean Water Act is critical for helping protect King County’s wetlands, streams, lakes, and estuaries,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips, sponsor of the motion. “The effectiveness of the act must be protected, rather than eroded by uncertainty and competing interpretations advanced by divided stakeholder groups.”

The motion encourages Congress to make its intentions clear and to reestablish Clean Water Act jurisdiction to the full scope of waters, particularly streams and wetlands, and to work in cooperation with King County and other interested organizations such as the Conservation Leaders Network to resolve Clean Water Act jurisdiction issues.