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| Conservation
Issues |
Legislative Update
Action Alert: Stop Raw Sewage Discharges Now!
Tell your Senators and Congressional Representatives that raw sewage discharges must be stopped now!!
On January 5th the Clinton administration announced proposed regulations to control and prevent sewer overflows
and require the public be informed of potential health threats when overflows occur. The proposed rules, however,
were not printed in the Federal Register prior to the end of President Clinton's term, and Bush administration
officials have issued an order putting an indefinite hold on any regulations that were not printed by the time
they took office, preventing the proposed sewer overflow regulations from taking effect.
At least 40,000 sewer overflows every year dump raw and inadequately treated sewage into basements, streets and
waterways, contaminating beaches, lakes and streams and jeopardizing public health. Pathogens in sewage-contaminated
waters can cause gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses, dysentery, and hepatitis. The consequences of contact
with sewage-infested waters are even greater for children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
(For more information on sewer overflows see: http://www.epa.gov/owm/pdfs/facsheet.pdf)
What to do: Visit www.americanrivers.org/takeaction
to send a message to your Senators and Representatives urging them to demand that the EPA release the rules now. |
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