RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The United States Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Water Rule officially took effect on August 28, 2015, further protecting drinking water for the nation; and
WHEREAS, The Clean Water Rule was developed in conjunction with the United States Army Corps of Engineers and restored conservation to thousands of streams in Illinois that have previously lacked clear protection; and
WHEREAS, The Clean Water Rule was put into effect to maintain streams and wetlands following United States Supreme Court rulings in 2001 and 2006 that made the protection of such waterways unclear; and
WHEREAS, The Clean Water Rule more fully defines how the Clean Water Act of 1972 is implemented across our nation by providing a definition of regulatory safeguards, especially as they relate to downstream water health; and
WHEREAS, The Clean Water Rule has restored protection to an estimated 56 percent of streams in Illinois that provide drinking water to more than 1.6 million Illinoisans; and
WHEREAS, The Clean Water Rule also preserves regional water treasures and especially focuses on streams that can carry pollution further downstream; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this twenty-fourth day of September 2015, do hereby applaud the United States Environmental Protection Agency for enacting the Clean Water Rule and do hereby call upon members of the United States Senate and Congress to stand firm in support of this rule; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to United States Senators Richard Durbin and Mark Kirk and the members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation,
Alderman - 14th Ward