Newark, NJ – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., issued the following statement regarding the Clean Water Rule announced today by the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Army Corps of Engineers:
“40 years ago, Congress had the foresight to pass the Clean Water Act—a law designed to protect our nation’s waters. Local streams and wetlands across New Jersey and our nation have benefitted from its protections. The importance of clean water cannot be overstated. Streams and wetlands naturally remove pollution, provide habitat for hundreds of species of fish and wildlife, trap floodwaters, and replenish groundwater resources.
“Unfortunately, one in three Americans are at risk of drinking water from rivers and streams that are vulnerable to pollution from upstream sources. Across our nation, raw sewage and industrial pollution stymie economic growth by degrading our harbors, fisheries, and swimming waters.
“The rule issued today by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers ensures protections for waters that have historically been covered by the Clean Water Act and provides certainty to stewards of the Act by clarifying which waters fall under its jurisdiction. Many of our vulnerable waterways, including those that provide drinking water to 4.2 million New Jerseyans, will be safeguarded by the implementation of this rule. I applaud the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers for integrating the most recent science into the rule and for engaging with the public throughout this rulemaking process.
“Protecting our drinking water should not be a controversial or partisan issue. It should unite us, because safeguarding our natural resources impacts us all, both today and for generations to come. Community leaders, state legislatures, and environmental groups understand the critical importance of protecting clean water. I join them and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who voiced their support for the final Clean Water Rule. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I will continue the fight to protect our environment and our water.”