clean water action sustainer news · 2019. 12. 16. · 7 california lawmakers push for more...

also In thIs Issue:

2oIl and water don’t mIx

3Protect the san mateo

coast: 1 Percent maxImum Growth

4leGIslatIve aGenda

for 2006

5suPPort our clean

water act

6clean water actIon vote envIronment endorses

Kelly hayes-raItt

messaGe from the calIfornIa dIrector

7calIfornIa lawmaKers

Push for more comPrehensIve

ocean sanctuarIes

8now hIrInG!

Clean Water Actionsustainer news

vol. 16, no. 1 calIfornIa, summer 2006

Mercury in San Francisco Bayby Andria Ventura

c lean Water Action is celebrating a major victory! On September 7, 2005, the State Water Quality Control Board (SWQCB) took a bold step toward clean-ing up mercury in the Bay by rejecting a plan that would have allowed mercury levels to remain toxic for 120 years. The SWQCB sent the 120-year plan back to the Regional Board with many of the rec-ommendations proposed by Clean Water Action and its allies.

We applaud the SWQCB for their ac-tion. This is a major victory for our en-vironment and for impacted communities throughout the Bay Area. Thousands of you signed our petition and made this pos-sible! Thank you!

Over the past two years, many of you have helped us advocate for specific actions to prevent further mercury from entering the Bay and for the implementation of risk

reduction strategies for communities that depend on Bay fish for basic sustenance.

We now need to focus on en-suring the Regional Board adopts substantive changes to their clean-up plan. Clean Wa-ter Action testified at two Regional Board hearings last November, reiterating specif-ic measures that need to be included in the plan. While the draft revision that has re-cently been made available for public com-ment includes some positive changes, there are still fundamental revisions necessary to improve the Bay’s water quality and pro-tect local communities.

At the very least, the plan needs: • Standards on how much mercury indi-

vidual waste water treatment and indus-

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our water, our health, our future

2 clean water action • sustainer news • spring 2006

Oil and Water Don’t Mix by Colin Platt

editor: erich pfuehlermanaging editor: colin platt

editorial advisors: Jennifer clary, Heather Holden, Brett richer, andria Ventura

layout: designwrench.com

clean water action (cwa), founded in 1972, is a national citizens’ organization working for clean, safe and affordable water, prevention of health threatening pollution, creation of environ-mentally-safe jobs and businesses, and empower-ment of people to make democracy work. cwa organizes strong grassroots groups, coalitions and campaigns to elect environmental candidates, and to protect our environment, health, economic well-being and community quality of life.

calIfornIa offIce111 new montgomery street, suite 600

san Francisco, ca 94105phone: 415.369.9160 FaX: 415.369.9180

[email protected]/ca

staffcalifornia director: erich pfuehler

canvass supervisor: todd speightPhone canvass director: mary carbonefield canvass director: lana litvinchuk

senior Program associate: Jennifer claryProgram manager: andria Ventura

central valley outreach coordinator: Brett richerassistant Phone canvass director: Bethani cameron

Phone canvass administrators: nigel Dent, Jennifer Doob

office manager and field canvass administrator: Heather Holden

Phone canvass managers: richard Dunn, melissa Foster, Jennifer Jordan, steve moss

western regional director: gary steinbergfield canvassers: Dolores Beliso, megan chambers, corinn Haskins, lindsay love, alan mazzucchelli

Phone canvassers: Joshua chase, arturo cosio, pam Dodd, evan Dombrowski,

crystal eastman, James French, michelle patterson, Jessica marshall, colin platt,

John roguemore, Kelsey schank

Board of dIrectorsBrent Baeslack, pat costner, william Fontenot,

michael gravitz, maxine lipeles, peter lockwood, grant merritt, myrna poticha, Bill redding, maurice sampson, David tykulsker,

Frances spivy-weber, David Zwick

the california sustainer news is union printed on 80% post-consumer recycled, chlorine-free paper with soy-based ink

Clean Water Action sustainer newsvol. 16, no. 1 summer 2006

s ince 1982, Congress has imposed a moratorium on new oil drilling leas-es within the sensitive Outer Continen-tal Shelf (OCS)—including the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast, and the entire East and West coasts of the U.S.—a moratori-um that was recently reinforced by a vote of 217 to 203 in the U.S. House of Repre-sentatives on May 18, 2006.

Rather than focusing on renewable en-ergy strategies, President Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which gives bil-lions of dollars in tax breaks, loan guaran-tees and other subsidies to encourage states to increase oil and gas drilling. The legisla-tion also expands the federal government’s authority over liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, overriding local or state oppo-sition. Additionally, if offshore areas are leased for natural gas exploration, there is currently no legislation in place that would prohibit oil extraction if it is discovered in the same region.

Thanks to our phone and field canvassers, most CWA mem-bers in California know that Mendocino and Long Beach are major targets for oil and natural gas development. Many of you expressed strong support for the moratorium and opposition to the re-quired “seismic inventories” using sonic blasts that may adversely affect marine life in sensitive OCS areas. Thank you!

As New Orleans and other cities along the Gulf Coast fight to recover from Hur-ricane Katrina and the hazardous condi-tions she engendered, pro-drilling lobby-ists have intensified their efforts to open sensitive areas along the OCS and with-in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and natural gas exploration. Thanks to effective grassroots mobilization and a bi-partisan effort, however, pro-drilling rid-ers were eliminated from the highly con-tested federal budget bill in eleventh-hour negotiations.

Clean Water Action recognizes the ex-

treme dangers and consequences of off-shore oil development, and concurs with the vast majority of Californians that open-ing up our coast to development would do virtually nothing to reduce the cost of gas at the pump. We will be fighting against any renewed efforts that threaten our sen-sitive coastal areas, and will count on our members’ continuing support on this is-sue.

Colin Platt, Phone Canvasser, can be reached at [email protected].

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Protect the San Mateo Coast: 1 Percent Maximum Growth

by Erich Pfuehler and Brett Richer

clean water action • sustainer news • spring 2006 3

t he north San Mateo County Coastline is a national treasure. Fortunately, previous generations protected it from overde-velopment so we could inherit its beauty. Today, however, we have been pushing the current County Board of Supervisors to remain faithful stewards of this treasure. Over 300 CWA members sent letters to the Supervisors expressing the need to protect our coast. Thank you!

The Board of Supervisors is considering chang-es to the San Mateo County Local Coastal Pro-gram (LCP). The LCP is the set of laws that protects our coastline from overdevelopment, ensures access to the coast for recreation and preserves the character of our coastal neighbor-hoods, while permitting a modest and sustainable level of growth for economic development. Clean Water Action is particularly concerned that unchecked development with increased amounts of pavement along our coast will have devastating impacts on our marine environment.

The County Planning Commission recommended to the Su-pervisors a series of LCP amendments which would strengthen protections against unsustainable new development, close loop-holes in the existing document and ensure a 1 percent maximum growth rate. Their recommendations would also bring the LCP into better compliance with California’s 1976 Coastal Act. In the past few months, County Supervisors appear to be influenced by special interest developers and are reneging on their original 1

percent growth rate maximum. They have considered a 2 percent growth rate for the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County.

A 2 percent growth rate could cause the population of these ar-eas to double in 35 years, and would double the strain on our wa-ter resources and marine environment. The 2 percent growth rate disregards data and asks existing residents to foot the bill for new sewers, roads and other infrastructure, which would directly sub-sidize these new proposed developments. Mid-coast roads drain into the creeks and ocean, including the Fitzgerald Marine Re-serve. Doubling the amount of pavement here will increase creek and beach pollution levels—possibly resulting in more beach clo-sures, damage to ocean habitat and negative impacts on the fish-ing industry. Any infrastructure plan needs to have an honest as-sessment about the area’s carrying capacity—especially for water.

Clean Water Action does not support the expansion of water infrastructure projects that promote sprawl and development so near to California’s coastline. We believe that the maximum 1 per-cent growth recommendation is the best option for preserving the character of our coastal neighborhoods and protecting our irre-placeable natural resources, while allowing for sustainable growth and business development.

The Board of Supervisors will hold another hearing in July be-fore making recommendations to the California Coastal Commis-sion.

Erich Pfuehler, California Director, and Brett Richer, Central Valley Outreach Coordinator, can be reached at [email protected].

277 letters



ly dismissed by legislators, environmental and environmental justice organizations.

When negotiations on the Governor’s package failed in March, legislative leaders of both parties, led primarily by State Sen-ate President Pro Tem Don Perata, devel-oped a compromise bond package, which was approved by both houses and signed by the Governor in early May.

Unfortunately, no compromise was reached by the Legislature on drinking wa-ter infrastructure or habitat needs. While the approved a $37.3 billion infrastructure package does contain a little over $4 bil-lion for levee maintenance and repair, it in-cludes no funding to meet current or fu-ture drinking water, open space or habitat needs. In a state with a growing population and facing the increasing uncertainty of cli-mate change, this is a serious oversight.

Fortunately, water agencies and envi-ronmental organizations, anticipating in-action by the Legislature, began prepar-ing a water bond proposal in 2005. A pe-tition was prepared and circulated to place a $5.4 billion water bond independently on the November ballot. This bond includes funds for drinking water infrastructure and habitat restoration, as well as planning for current and future water needs. Signa-tures have been submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. Unfortunately, since this bill did not go through the same pro-cess as the other bond measures, its passage may be a greater challenge.

enforcement of vended water ProtectIonsA growing number of Californians de-pend upon vended water for drinking wa-ter, even though the cost exceeds 100 times that of tap water. Disturbingly, the 7,000 plus vending machines serving hundreds of thousands of Californians receive lit-tle oversight. In fact, these machines are inspected only when the Department of Health Services receives a complaint. Clean Water Action and Latino Issues Fo-rum are working with Sacramento legisla-tors to create enforcement guidelines for

dental amalGam seParatorsIn the United States, the most common form of dental filling is silver amalgam. This amalgam is actually 50 percent mer-cury, which, converted to its methylat-ed form in nature, is one of the most haz-ardous contaminants in our water system. Dentist office disposal of these amalgams is the single largest source of mercury enter-ing our sewage treatment plants, compris-ing about 40 percent of the total mercury load. Fortunately, there is an effective and affordable solution. For less than $1000, amalgam separators can remove 95 percent of the mercury at the dentist’s office before it enters the waste stream. While some lo-cal communities already require these sep-arators (San Francisco and Palo Alto are two examples, and East Bay MUD is short-ly to follow), attempts to create a statewide program to protect all communities have met with strong opposition from the Cal-ifornia Dental Association.

Clean Water Action, backed by a grow-ing number of allies including the Sier-ra Club, is pushing the State Legislature to enact a strong law to protect Califor-nians from this easily preventable source of mercury contamination. Assembly mem-ber Lori Saldana (San Diego) introduced a bill last year, AB 966, to require the use of amalgam separators statewide. Unfortu-nately, that requirement was removed from the bill on the Assembly Floor. Clean Wa-ter Action and its allies will continue to push for a statewide mandate for amalgam separators, through this bill or other vehi-cles in the State Legislature.

Bonds for water InfrastructureIn January, Governor Schwarzenegger un-veiled a $68 billion bond proposal, which he touted as a plan to repair the state’s ag-ing infrastructure. This proposal included $9 billion for water infrastructure, which was to be augmented by a water user tax to finance additional projects. Neither the bond nor the tax addressed critical drinking water and habitat needs, and were general-

Legislative Agenda for 2006 by Jennifer Clary

these machines to ensure that consumers receive pure, clean and safe drinking water. Our bill, AB 2644, was introduced by As-sembly Member Cindy Montanez in Feb-ruary, and we will be working with her to get it to the Governor’s desk.

Jennifer Clary, Senior Program Associate, can be reached at [email protected].

water vending machines in poor repair.

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Support Our Clean Water Actthe threatSpecial interest polluters are pushing the newly formed Supreme Court to narrow the Clean Water Act’s protections to “tradition-ally navigable” waters. If the Supreme Court overturns two ap-peals court decisions, the Clean Water Act would no longer pro-tect the streams, tributaries and wetlands that are integrated and integral parts of our waterways. Water does not flow only in “navi-gable” ways, and it would be irresponsible to forget that we all live downstream.

The surface waters that provide drinking water for more than 110 million Americans, nearly 60 percent of U.S. streams and more than 20 million acres of wetlands in the lower 48 states could be excluded from Clean Water Act protections if the special inter-est polluters prevail. Undermining the protections for upstream waters and wetlands will turn back the clock on a generation of success in cleaning up our nation’s water and render the goals of the Clean Water Act unobtainable.

These changes to the Clean Water Act could allow pollution dumping, filling and dredging in up to 20 million acres of wet-lands. California has lost approximately 90 percent of its original wetlands, more than any other state.

the solutIonA strong, clear message needs to be sent to our elected officials—our rivers, streams and wetlands are critical for safe drinking wa-ter. Our health and the health of future generations depend on a strong Clean Water Act.

That is why Clean Water Action is supporting legislation in Congress—the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act (H.R. 1356 and S. 912)—which will re-enforce the original intent of the Clean Water Act and protect all U.S. waterways, including wet-lands.

This bill simply and specifically confirms that the intent and subsequent interpretation of the original 1972 Clean Water Act is codified by clearly defining “waters of the United States” as all waterways. The bill also addresses protections for certain so-called isolated streams and wetlands in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2001 decision in Solid Waste Agency of North-ern Cook County v. Army Corps of Engineers, which will help ward off any future legal challenges to the scope of the Act.

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and many of California’s U.S. Rep-resentatives have already cosponsored the Clean Water Authori-ty Restoration Act. Most Californians understand that protection of our waterways benefits everyone in our state, especially future generations. To date, however, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein has not yet signed on with her colleagues.

taKe actIon!Please write to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein and ask her to sup-port the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act, S. 912.

The Honorable Dianne Feinstein U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20515

samPle letterDear Senator Feinstein,

As a leader in environmental and health issues, you understand that removing protections of the Clean Water Act will contami-nate our drinking water, worsen floods, and endanger wildlife and public health. The Clean Water Act was written to protect ALL waters of the U.S. We need to better enforce the Act, not limit the scope of its protection. As a concerned resident of California, I am asking you to cosponsor the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act (S. 912). Thank You.

Sincerely,Your Name Your Address

the mouth of the russian river, Jenner, california.

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Clean Water Action Vote Environment

Endorses Kelly Hayes-Raitt by Erich Pfuehler

c alifornia Clean Water Action’s Vote Environment Committee has en-dorsed Kelly Hayes-Raitt as the best choice in the June 6 primary to replace Fran Pav-ley in California’s 41st Assembly District (Santa Monica area).

“Our Vote Environment Committee un-derstands just how important it is to elect a leader when we see one. We are proud to lead the way in endorsing Kelly for Assem-bly,” said Erich Pfuehler, California Direc-tor for Clean Water Action. “Kelly won’t just be a good vote on our issues, she will lead the fight to protect our environment, preserve our coastline and fresh drinking water. We know protecting our environ-ment is more than just an issue for Kelly—it is a deeply held part of her life. Back in the early 1980s, Kelly spearheaded the cit-izen outreach campaigns in San Francisco and Los Angeles for the California League of Conservation Voters. She helped found Heal the Bay, galvanized the community to preserve the Ballona Wetlands and fought offshore oil drilling while working with Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy. She was also a pret-ty darn good Clean Water Action canvass-er back in the day.”

“Our coast is under renewed threat from zealous overdevel-opment, offshore liquid nat-ural gas processing, and the Bush-Schwarzenegger Admin-istrations who want to weaken environmental protection laws we fought for years ago,” said Kelly Hayes-Raitt. “In Sacramen-to, I will fight to preserve our coastline and safe drinking water. And I will take on the record-gouging profiteers in the oil and gas industry. We need to fight for renew-able energy, not renewing our fight against offshore oil drilling or processing.” For

message from the california

director

t he first year on the job has been an exciting and enlight-ening experience. the program and canvass teams in our san Francisco office work extremely hard with infectious enthusiasm.

as we head into this election season, we will be keeping you informed about our work in some exciting races—including a few of national significance.

we are also seeking to expand our rural water collaborative work in the central Valley.

we have embarked on an excit-ing new “sustainable Jobs through green chemistry” project, which will put us at the forefront of chem-ical policy reform.

i look forward to working with all of you as we continue our cam-paigns in 2006. without you, none of our victories are possible. thank you for your continued sup-port!

– Erich Pfuehler

more information, visit www.KellyForAs-sembly.com.

Clean Water Action Vote Environment supports candidates which work for clean, safe and affordable water, for the preven-tion of health-threatening pollution, for the creation of environmentally safe jobs and businesses, and for the empowerment of people to make democracy work.

Erich Pfuehler, California Director, can be reached at [email protected].

california 41st assembly district candidate Kelly hayes-raitt.

other democratIc PrImary endorsements:

Governor: phil angelideslt. Governor: John garamendi

and liz Figueroacongressional district 6:

lynn woolseystate senate district 8:

leland yeeassembly district 6: Jared Huffmanassembly district 11:

mark Desaulnierassembly district 28: ana

Ventura pharesoakland mayoral: nancy nadel


california lawmakers Push for more comprehensive ocean sanctuaries

by Colin Platt

t he north coast of california is home to one of the most biologically diverse marine environments in the world—exceeding the biological productivity of tropical rain for-ests. three million people visit the sonoma county coast ev-ery year to enjoy the natural beauty and catch a glimpse of the nesting seabirds, elephant seals, seasonally migrato-ry marine mammals and other protected species that inhab-it the region.

clean water action supports legislation that would strengthen protections for our precious marine environment, as well as supporting the tourist and fisheries economy along the marin and sonoma coasts. H.r. 1712, authored by u.s. rep-resentative lynn woolsey (District 6–ca), is currently pend-ing in the House committee on resources chaired by rep. richard pombo (District 11–ca). this legislation, also sup-ported by the Farallones marine sanctuary association, would block any attempts to conduct seismic surveys or drill for oil in this important area. rep. woolsey’s bill, along with a parallel measure s. 880 sponsored by u.s. senator Barba-ra Boxer, would add 1,094 square nautical miles to califor-nia’s sanctuary network, which also includes the channel is-lands and monterey Bay national marine sanctuaries.

clean water action continues to encourage our members to thank rep. woolsey and senator Boxer for taking this pro-active step to protect our coastline.

Colin Platt, Phone Canvasser, can be reached at [email protected].


clean water fund is an earth share of california member. to support clean water fund via payroll deductions, contact earth share of california at 800.368.1819 or www.earthshareca.org.

senator Boxer and rep. woolsey announce their marine sanctuary legislation.

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now hiring!

w e are hiring articulate and motivated activists to build grassroots support throughout the Bay area. community involvement = strength in numbers. we win over 90 percent of our campaigns here in california and across the country. we cannot afford to be silent while our health, environment and future are traded away for short-term corporate profit. we will train you to become a grassroots or-ganizer for the summer or as a career. Flexible part time or full time weekday shifts are available. call Heather Holden at [email protected] or 415-369-9160 ext. 301.



clean water action111 new montgomery street, suite 600san francisco, ca 94105

we value our volunteers. Please consIder donatInG your tIme to clean water actIon. for more InformatIon, contact volunteer coordInator

heather holden at [email protected] or 415-369-9160.

trial facilities can discharge should be en-forced.

• A plan to develop meaningful risk reduc-tion strategies (beyond current fish advi-sories).

• Actions to identify and prioritize the impacts from mines, most of which are no longer in use but continue to release mercury into our waters.

• The requirement that refineries account for all of the mercury leaving their facilities in order to prevent further pollution.

Please be aware that fish consumption ad-visories still remain in effect for San Fran-cisco Bay and other water bodies. For in-stance, pregnant women and young chil-dren should limit their intake of Bay fish to one meal per month.

For more details about the advisories, please visit www.oehha.org/fish/so-cal and click on the waterbody in which you are in-terested.

Andria Ventura, CWA California Program Manager, can be reached at [email protected].

2,400 sIGnatures

san francisco bay, from page 1

clean water action sustainer news · 2019. 12. 16. · 7 california lawmakers push for more...

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