Help Stop Changes to the Clean Water Act!
Proposed changes to the Clean Water Act are unnecessary and will result in increased federal wetlands permits and increased building costs. Call your Senators today at 1-866-924-NAHB (6242) or write them by clicking here and voice your opposition.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Thursday, June 18, 2009, is scheduled to decide whether to advance S. 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act. This bill, introduced by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), will dramatically increase the number of water bodies that come under the jurisdiction of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). As currently written, the CWA gives the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) the authority to regulate “navigable waters.” S. 787 would strike the work “navigable waters” from the CWA and grant these agencies regulatory control over all water bodies in the U.S.– even if such features are on private property. Such broad federal control of waters will greatly restrict a landowner’s ability to make a decision about his property and a state and local government’s right to plan for its own development.
The increase in the number of water bodies that will come under federal jurisdiction will increase the number of required federal permits required by a builder, which, in turn, will force even more home builders to deal with the federal permitting backlog and the high price of getting a permit. Increased permit requests resulting from expanded federal jurisdiction will only further delay an already overburdened and understaffed Corps. Simply, such costs and time delays will affect the ability of home builders to keep homes affordable.
How You Can Help
Call your Senators toll-free at 1-866-924-NAHB (6242) or write them by clicking here by Thursday, June 18, 2009, and tell them NOT to support S. 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act. Tell them S. 787 would have a detrimental effect on the home building industry by increasing the need for federal wetlands permits and increasing costs on homeowners.
Call your Senators toll-free at 1-866-924-NAHB (6242) or write them by clicking here by Thursday, June 18, 2009, and tell them NOT to support S. 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act. Tell them S. 787 would have a detrimental effect on the home building industry by increasing the need for federal wetlands permits and increasing costs on homeowners.
For instructions on how to send a letter through the capitol connect website, click here.
If you have any questions or comments, please email builderlink@nahb.com.