RESOLUTION CALLING UPON PRESIDENT OBAMA TO STRENGTHEN AND RESTORE CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT
WHEREAS, The North American Great Lakes are the world's largest freshwater system with more than 20% of the world's freshwater supply residing in them. Including Lake Erie, Michigan, Huron, Superior, and Ontario, the five lakes are an important source of fresh water and are home to many species of wildlife; and
WHEREAS, With the mistaken belief that water can dilute any substance, the lakes have also become a destination of dumping grounds for many different types of pollutants. Ranging from point source pollution such as industrial waste from drainage pipes to non-point source pollution like pesticide and fertilizer runoff from farms, these pollutants and others have had adverse effects on the lakes. Such adverse effects include reducing the water quality, contaminating soil, and damaging the lake ecosystems. This damage produces harmful repercussions on the fish and wildlife stocks, and to the humans surrounding the Great Lakes region as well.
WHEREAS, In his 2008 presidential campaign, candidate Barack Obama promised to strengthen provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act that had been weakened by judicial rulings and changed in previous administrations; and
WHEREAS, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its State of Illinois equivalent should strengthen enforcement of the Clean Water Act through the gradual reduction of permitted pollution levels from industrial facilities, ensuring permits are renewed in a timely manner, and mandating sizable minimum penalties for polluters in violation of the law; and
WHEREAS, The EPA should also eliminate the loopholes allowing greater discharge of toxic chemicals into waterways and require chemical manufacturers to test all chemicals for their safety, submitting the results of that testing to the government and the public. Furthermore, the agency should regulate chemicals based on their intrinsic capacity to ca...
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