WVEC Action AlertNovember 26, 2007Call Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee Members Now! This week the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee will consider three proposed agency rules that significantly affect the environment. WVEC urges you to contact the members of this committee and ask them to defeat the slashed Tier 2.5 stream list that DEP has proposed, and to strongly support the other two rules. The committee will meet Wednesday, November 28 at 3:00 PM, so you have plenty of time to contact these legislators. 60CSR5, the Antidegradation Implementation Procedures Rule -- DEP is proposing to cut in half the number of streams on the Tier 2.5 stream list that will be protected from further degradation. The streams that are being slashed are among the highest quality rivers and streams in the state. The original Tier 2.5 list contained 444 streams. Last year DEP proposed cutting the list to 309 streams. This year DEP has proposed cutting that list to just 156 streams, in spite of the fact that the agency repeatedly told the Legislature last session that all 309 streams qualified for Tier 2.5 protection according to sound science and the law. Ask the Rule-Making Review Committee members to either restore the list to the 309 streams contained in last year's rule, or to defeat the rule as proposed. 47CSR2, the Water Quality Standards Rule -- This is an excellent DEP rule that greatly expands the list of trout streams (called the “B2” list) which qualify for water quality standards that are higher than drinking water standards. Ask the Rule-Making Review Committee members to pass the rule as proposed. 58CSR35, Rules for Oil and Gas Drilling in State Forests -- This is an excellent new rule proposed by DNR that includes extra early notice to the State Forests of drilling and maintenance activities, and allows the DNR to require the use of native plants in reclamation, among many other protections for all State Forests. Ask the Rule-Making Review Committee members to pass this rule as proposed. Here is the contact information for members of the Rule-Making Review Committee (phone calls are most effective): Delegate Bonnie Brown, House Chair Delegate Tim Miley, House Vice Chair Delegate Mike Burdiss Delegate John Overington Delegate Kelly Sobonya Delegate Joe Talbott Speaker Rick Thompson -- Ex Officio, Nonvoting Senator Joe Minard, Senate Chair Senator John Pat Fanning, Senate Vice Chair Senator Donna Boley Senator Roman Prezioso President Earl Ray Tomblin -- Ex Officio, Nonvoting |