Bill will create thousands of jobs cleaning up toxic runoff pollution
OLYMPIA, Wash – Today, Senator Sharon Nelson (Vashon Island) and Representative Timm Ormsby (Spokane) will introduce the 2011 Clean Water Jobs Act (SB 5604/HB 1735), legislation to clean up Washington’s polluted waterways and put people back to work.
“Washington’s waterways are central to our way of life here in the Pacific Northwest,” said Dave Peeler, Program Director of People For Puget Sound. “From Puget Sound to the Spokane River, they play a big role in our economy, our food system, and our quality of life. And right now, they’re being poisoned by millions of gallons of toxic pollution each year.”
By levying a fee on toxic stormwater pollutants, this legislation will generate $100 million annually to pay for local projects through a competitive grants process.
“Puget Sound and rivers across the state are under siege from toxic runoff,” said Joan Crooks, Executive Director of Washington Environmental Council. “It’s only fair to ask polluters to pay their share of cleanup costs.”
The 2011 Clean Water Jobs Act will directly fund local projects to clean up toxic runoff before it enters our waters. This list from the Department of Ecology shows project examples from across the state (funding came from part of last year’s one-time $54 million allocation).
“The rains and flooding this month have been a vivid reminder of what’s at stake. Updated pollution control systems will help prevent sewage overflows and ensure the water flowing into our waterways is clean,” said Senator Sharon Nelson. “This legislation will help protect public health, clean up our waterways, and create jobs across the state.”
“Clean water is the key to our region’s economy, and we are seeing the catastrophic effects of polluted runoff throughout Washington,” said Jennifer Barnes, an architect and member of Cascadia Region Green Building Council. “We know how to solve the problem; this bill creates the means – and the jobs – to do so.”
The 2011 Clean Water Jobs Act is one of the Environmental Priorities Coalition’s top issues and is supported by the Association of Washington Cities and the Washington State Association of Counties.
Link to original release here.