Waterkeepers Call for Action to Safeguard Our Fisheries – and Our Health

Tuesday, June 19, 2012 - 10:45am

UPDATE:
The big vote is TODAY at 12:30 pm EDT. Please act now!!

On Thursday, June 21, Waterkeepers from around the U.S. are working together to promote access to clean, fishable waters globally and to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act that provides safeguards to U.S. drinking water.

We need your help TODAY. Sen. Inhofe (R-OK) is once again trying to dismantle the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) announced on Dec. 21, 2011. There could be a vote on Wednesday on his bill to stop MATS. MATS requires steep reductions of mercury, lead, arsenic, and other toxic pollutants from coal-fired power plants, the largest human-caused source of mercury emissions in the United States. These contaminants are linked to birth defects, brain damage, learning disabilities, cancer and other serious ailments and have significant impacts on our fisheries.

Call your Senators and Congressmen TODAY! U.S. Senate Directory here and U.S. House of Representatives here. See below for a sample message.

You can also sign the Waterkeeper Alliance petition here!

Fishable Action Day

 

SAMPLE MESSAGE

“I’m __________, a member of Potomac Riverkeeper and Shenandoah Riverkeeper, and I Stand for Clean Water. I ask you to pledge to do the same by working to protect OUR water and fisheries from pollution and toxics, and working to defend the Clean Water Act during this 40th Anniversary from attacks from corporate polluters and those in Congress who are trying to weaken this historic legislation.

 “Mercury is a dangerous neurotoxin that harms the developing hearts, lungs and brains of fetuses, infants and toddlers—it does not belong in our air or OUR water. The EPA has a new rule that would limit mercury and other dangerous pollution from coal-fired power plants. That rule is now under attack. Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma is organizing an outrageous campaign to halt the EPA’s new rule. Please protect the health of our families, communities and fisheries from this attack. I ask you to vote against his bill and any attempts to dismantle clean water protections.”