Clean Water Act
The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) provides the basis for most American water pollution control laws. Significantly, the Act regulates releases of pollution and toxic substances into waters of the United States and ensures that surface waters are fit for human recreation. All waters with a “significant nexus” to “navigable waters of the United States” fall under the prevue of the CWA. However, the term “significant nexus” has been the subject of great legal debate. Many believe that nonpoint sources of pollution were intended to be covered by the act as well. However, to date, these sources (most notably large farms) are not subject to provisions of the CWA.
Cry Wolf Quotes
Because of our guilt—and because of the media’s espousement (sic) of the movement—laws were passed which asked industry and the American consumer for the impossible. The members [of Congress] admitted they did not know what could actually be done to clean up our environment, how long it would take or how much it would cost. But they went ahead anyway in the spirit of political expediency to ramrod through measures that would affect millions of people and billions of dollars…
Laws dealing with complex and technical problems were passed with much emotionalism, little debate, and even less of a data base for support.
[The impact on industries and farmers of dropping the word 'navigable' from the Clean Water Act] could be catastrophic.
Proposed new subsection 10(k) in section 4 of the bill (page 43, line 8), would prohibit the Federal Government from entering into contracts with, or providing financial assistance to, any person whose facilities are not in compliance with water quality standards…..This provision, as written, seems unwieldy. It could not be faithfully carried out without generating a tremendous amount of unnecessary paperwork and inconvenience for all concerned—Federal and State agencies, as well as industry.
Evidence
-
Protecting the Clean Water Act: 37 Years of Progress
A fact sheet extolling the achievements of the Clean Water Act.
-
Water Quality Today - Has the Clean Water Act Been a Success?
The Clean Water Act works and it hasn't impeded economic growth.
-
Jobs vs. The Environment: An Industry-Level Study
Four industries that operate under intense environmental regulatory scrutiny, but haven't lost jobs as a result.
