WVEC Action Alert

February 6, 2007

Water Quality standards (SB 259) and Antidegradation (SB 255) scheduled to be taken up tomorrow, Wednesday Feb. 7th.

Call and e-mail our Senators in Energy, Industry and Mining (EIM) and Natural Resources committees (listed below).  Tell them to support DEP Rules as they stand.

EIM meets at 10:00 am – Room 208 W – Taking up SB 255, the Antidegradation bill. 

Natural Resources meets at 1:00 pm – Room 208 W – Taking up SB 259 - Water Quality Standards and will ALSO take up SB 255 if it passes out of the morning EIM meeting.

Background:  A coalition of industry groups is attempting to gut the Tier 2.5 stream list that protects the states healthiest and most pristine waters.  They also want to change the definition of  “what is a trout stream” in the Water Quality Standards rule.

It’s as simple as this: industry wants the ability to add more pollution to West Virginia rivers and streams.   Both DEP and DNR have carefully crafted these two rules to protect the waters of the state for the use of all citizens.  Please call your Senators and tell them you strongly support the DEP rules as proposed.