house Bill H. Joint Res. 38
Should the EPA’s “Stream Protection Rule” be Repealed?
Argument in favor
The EPA’s “Stream Protection Rule” does more to kill jobs in the coal industry and drive up consumers’ energy prices than protect streams. Congress should use its power to repeal it.
02/01/2017
If the original EPA rule was passed under the Obama Administration, then repeal it. Everyone wants clean water, but it's the fine print. The SPR was a wooden stake designed to finally kill the Coal Industry? But will also be used to accost any business or family farm close to "streams." Just another socialist rule to control citizens and/or collect taxes or fees.
02/01/2017
The EPA should be defunded and eliminated. Complete and total government over-reach! The responsibility for this belongs to the states and the local communities not a bunch of bureaucrats that do not suffer from anything they dream up!
Argument opposed
The “Stream Protection Rule” would improve water quality in areas where coal mining takes place and require restoration afterwards. Congress should let it take effect and not repeal the rule.
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02/01/2017
My profession as a water keeper has allowed me to sample water quality, and its effects on human and environmental health. Streams near surface coal mines are often mountain tributaries to larger creeks, leading to larger rivers, which hundreds of thousands of people rely on for drinking water. The toxins in the coal industry are 'company secrets' and not released to water keeper organizations to test for them in the streams. Therefore, these toxins can not be removed at drinking water treatment facilities. This is an incredibly dangerous bill, and I expect my representatives to stand up for the safety and health of their constituents.
02/01/2017
Our environmental laws are weak as they are. It takes more money and effort to clean up streams than it did to protect them in the first place. Lets clean up streams as best we can and then prevent this from happening again.
My profession as a water keeper has allowed me to sample water quality, and its effects on human and environmental health. Streams near surface coal mines are often mountain tributaries to larger creeks, leading to larger rivers, which hundreds of thousands of people rely on for drinking water. The toxins in the coal industry are 'company secrets' and not released to water keeper organizations to test for them in the streams. Therefore, these toxins can not be removed at drinking water treatment facilities. This is an incredibly dangerous bill, and I expect my representatives to stand up for the safety and health of their constituents.
Our environmental laws are weak as they are. It takes more money and effort to clean up streams than it did to protect them in the first place. Lets clean up streams as best we can and then prevent this from happening again.
Clean water is vital to all life! Do not rollback or overturn EPA. Coal is not an essential element for life... but clean Air and Water is!! Just look at Flint, MI to see the devastating affects contaminated water can have on our children and grandchildren. Our legacy should be that we valued the lives of our children more than the profit margins of corporate America.
I was listening to an NPR podcast about this recently (on planet money) that how under the congressional review act, lawmakers can overturn regulations they disapprove of with a simple majority within 60 legislative days. I understand that this is a part of check and balance within our government. However I just can't understand how anyone can be okay with coal industry contaminating our water source. We should make the coal industry accountable for their actions rather than giving them more benefits. It sickens me that these Republican representative think that they're protecting our country. All they are doing is harming Americans. The stream rule prohibits the coal industry from polluting the water source near mines and if they are polluting the water source they should be paying to rectify their mistakes.
How can we be in such a poor political state that industry is winning the fight against one of the few necessities of life? When are these bigwigs going to take a step back and acknowledge that a quick buck is slightly less important than the preservation of our planet and mankind itself? Right when I think I've seen the most ridiculous bill, here comes another. The EPA is no longer trustworthy and nothing seems to be sacred. Am I crazy to care more about OUR PLANET than the revenue of the upper 1%?
We need to protect our water quality! Industry needs to clean up after itself and protect our plant just as people do.
The use of coal as an energy source is a health hazard that not only pollutes water supplies but the air as well. Congress needs to uphold this legislation to keep the coal industry accountable for waterway damage. Humanity can survive without coal, it cannot survive without clean water.
Why would we want to have Flint water all over the country?
If the original EPA rule was passed under the Obama Administration, then repeal it. Everyone wants clean water, but it's the fine print. The SPR was a wooden stake designed to finally kill the Coal Industry? But will also be used to accost any business or family farm close to "streams." Just another socialist rule to control citizens and/or collect taxes or fees.
Clean drinking water should be a top priority. Too many are having too many problems.
At this point the sanctity of the environment should be on everyone's political agenda. It is a scientific fact that coal emissions are the leading cause of pollutants in the air we breathe. Is it not against the Republican concepts of lassiez faire to let failing industries fail. To protect the coal industry from falling apart would cost tons of money as well as negatively impact the environment. I'm not saying that the coal industry should be completely left to fail, but that making progress towards alternative energies should be a primary concern. Think of the job and economic growth that could come of that. Would that not be the fiscally conservative approach that so many people on the right like to glorify?
Attempting to prop up an already dying industry at the cost of people's health is a losing proposition.
This strikes at the heart of the respect men and women of all nations and faiths should have for Mother Earth. If we don't respect and protect her, how can we expect her to do the same for us?
The EPA should be defunded and eliminated. Complete and total government over-reach! The responsibility for this belongs to the states and the local communities not a bunch of bureaucrats that do not suffer from anything they dream up!