Take Action to Protect our Water and Wetlands! Frogs, People — we all need clean water!

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The Amphibian Foundation stands with ASIH and our fellow herpetologists, biologists, conservationists and people who are concerned with the proposals to regress environmental policies which directly impact endangered species, national parks and most recently — The Clean Water Rule. Amphibians are one of the first groups of animals that respond to environmental contaminants and imbalances in the ecosystem. As part of the same ecosystems, these factors impact us directly as well.
Colleagues,
This is the first communication from the ASIH Conservation Committee via the Society's email blast encouraging individual comments to the Federal Register.
The rule to repeal the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Clean Water Rule (CWR) was filed on July 27 in the Federal Register. Comments on the proposed rule to repeal are due by August 28.
The EPA proposed to rescind the 2015 Clean Water Rule in two steps, initially reverting to pre-2015 regulations, then replacing the existing and long-standing federal Clean Water Act regulation with a new Rule.
Here are some suggestions for comment:
  1. State that you are writing to oppose the proposal to repeal the rule.
  2. Provide brief detail.

    a. EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers adopted WOTUS to clarify longstanding confusion over which water bodies were protected under the Clean Water Act. The rule was developed using the best available science and with robust engagement of stakeholders. More than 1,000 peer-reviewed, published, scientific studies support the rule.

    b. The new EPA and USACOE economic analysis used to justify the repeal of the rule is flawed. The new Administration’s cost-benefit analysis omits the long-recognized value of ecosystem services provided by wetlands. While methods to quantify the value of wetlands may have changed, there is significant research that conclusively demonstrates that society values the benefits of wetlands even more than in the past. (The new EPA Economic Analysis pertaining to the Clean Water Rule is available here. You can alsolearn more.)

    c. Freshwater and marine wetlands provide many services that promote human well-being and are critically important to aquatic resources and the health of our nation’s waters. Wetlands keep our streams, lakes, and groundwater cleaner by treating urban and agricultural runoff through natural processes. They also provide water during times of drought, and absorb runoff and floodwaters, which reduce disaster recovery costs. Wetlands sustain essential habitat for commercially and recreationally valuable wildlife, fish, and waterfowl.
  3. Urge the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider the far-reaching implications to aquatic resources from repealing the rule.
  4. Call for a meaningful opportunity for stakeholders to engage in the repeal and replacement of WOTUS to ensure the best available science is considered.
  5. Reiterate your opposition.
Comment using this link to the proposed rule in the Federal Register. 
Frank H. McCormick,
Chair ASIH Conservation Committee

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