More than 51 percent of industrial and municipal facilities across New Mexico discharged more pollution into our waterways than their Clean Water Act permits, according to Troubled Waters: An analysis of Clean Water Act compliance, a new report released today by Environment New Mexico.
“As the Clean Water Act turns 35, polluters continue to foul our rivers, lakes and streams,” said Environment New Mexico Associate, Randall Coleman. “With so many facilities dumping so much pollution, no one should be surprised that nearly half of America’s waterways are unsafe for swimming and fishing. But we should be concerned.”
The goals of the 1972 Clean Water Act are to eliminate the discharge of pollutants into waterways and make all U.S. waterways swimmable and fishable. Over the last three and a half decades, this landmark environmental law has made significant improvements in water quality, but the original goals have yet to be met.
Using the Freedom of Information Act, Environment New Mexico obtained data on facilities’ compliance with the Clean Water Act between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005. Environment New Mexico researchers found that:
- Fifty seven percent of all major U.S. industrial and municipal facilities discharged more pollution into U.S. waterways than allowed by law at least once during 2005. The average facility exceeded its pollution permit limit by 263 percent, discharging close to four times the legal limit.
- 51.5 percent of New Mexico’s major industrial and municipal facilities exceeded their Clean Water Act permits at least once in 2005.
- On average, New Mexico facilities exceeding their Clean Water Act permits did so by 1153.3%, or by over 12 times the legal limit—making New Mexico’s dumping the worst in the nation.
- Polluters in New Mexico reported 44 instances in which they exceeded their Clean Water Act permit by at least 500 percent over the legal limit.
“Facilities in New Mexico and across the country continue to dump more pollution into our waterways than is allowed by law,” said Coleman.
Coleman noted that the findings are likely just the tip of the polluted iceberg, since the data that Environment New Mexico analyzed includes only “major” facilities and does not include pollution discharged into waters by the thousands of minor facilities across the country.
Over the last six years, the Bush administration has proposed or enacted numerous policies that weaken the Clean Water Act. These include: two separate policies that eliminate Clean Water Act protections for streams and wetlands that feed and clean treasured lakes, rivers and bays; funding cuts to EPA’s budget, including significant cuts to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund; and policies that allow more sewage pollution into waterways.
Environment New Mexico called on the Bush administration to end its efforts to weaken federal clean water safeguards and for Congress to pass the Clean Water Restoration Act, legislation to ensure all U.S. waterways are protected by the Clean Water Act.
“Instead of holding polluters accountable, the Bush administration is allowing more—not less—pollution to enter our waterways. Now more than ever, Congress should step in to protect all of America’s waters,” concluded Coleman.
Additional Contacts: Christy Leavitt, 202-546-9707
