http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/colorado-waters-under-pressure http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/colorado-waters-under-pressure Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:53:25 -0500 http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/u_s_-supreme-court-rules-in-clean-water-cases In http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/u_s_-supreme-court-rules-in-clean-water-cases Wed, 23 May 2007 14:53:30 -0500 http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/protecting-americas-waters-clean-water-restoration-act-of-2007-introduced “Environment Colorado applauds U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D – Denver) http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/protecting-americas-waters-clean-water-restoration-act-of-2007-introduced Wed, 23 May 2007 14:51:19 -0500 http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/colorado-maintains-crucial-regulations-controlling-runoff-from-construction-activities-on-oil-and-gas-sites DENVER—On May 14, 2007, the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission declined to change the regulation requiring stormwater controls on oil and gas sites in Colorado, thereby ensuring continued protection of Colorado’s rivers and streams from pollution from the burgeoning energy exploration industry. The regulation was passed in January 2006, after a coalition of local governments, water conservancy districts, soil conservation districts, General Assembly members, and environmental groups asked the Commission to continue to regulate storm water discharges from oil and gas construction sites in Colorado in spite of an exemption given to the industry by the Bush administration in 2005. After hearing compelling evidence presented by the coalition, the Commission voted 9-0 in favor of retention of the Colorado program. s part of its decision, the Commission asked the Water Quality Control Division to explore options for waivers for any activities that presented a low risk of adverse water quality impacts and examine opportunities for coordination between the regulation and regulations of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, and come back and make recommendations to the Commission in May 2007. he oil and gas industry used this opportunity to request substantial waivers and exemptions from the regulation, which, if granted, would have gutted the regulation. The coalition, including Environment Colorado, reformed and fought the industry’s efforts, submitting technical information to the Division showing that the requests were based on neither sound science nor sound policy and building support statewide for keeping the regulation unchanged. ased on the evidence provided to it by the coalition, the Division recommended to the Commission that, in order to protect Colorado’s waters, the regulation should not be changed. Soon after the Division’s recommendation was submitted to the Commission, the oil and gas industry withdrew all of its requests. On May 14, 2007, the Commission followed this recommendation and upheld its 2006 rule, ensuring that protection of Colorado’s waters would remain in effect as is, at least until the next regular hearing in 2012. Clean Water Advocate Stephanie Thomas called this a huge victory for Colorado’s water, in the face of the state’s exploding energy development industry. “Our members can rest easier knowing these protections will stay in place to protect our waters as the rush to develop our oil and gas resources continues over the next five years,” she said. http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/colorado-maintains-crucial-regulations-controlling-runoff-from-construction-activities-on-oil-and-gas-sites Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:11:12 -0500 http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/2004-tri-data-shows-increase-in-water-pollution DENVER—Toxic http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/2004-tri-data-shows-increase-in-water-pollution Wed, 23 May 2007 14:58:15 -0500 http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/house-invests-in-clean-drinking-water DENVER—A measure to protect and improve Colorado http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/house-invests-in-clean-drinking-water Wed, 23 May 2007 14:52:32 -0500 http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/polluters-foul-colorados-waters DENVER— http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/polluters-foul-colorados-waters Wed, 23 May 2007 14:59:30 -0500 http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/gov_-ritter-signs-landmark-water-quality-bill On March 12, 2007 Governor Bill Ritter signed a landmark bill to protect Colorado water quality. Governor Ritter noted the importance of the bill to Colorado: "We as a state need to do all we can to protect this precious resource," Governor Ritter noted. "Water quality and quantity should be viewed together." House Bill 1132 will, for the first time, allow water court judges to consider environmental impacts and water quality along with water quantity when making decisions in substantial and permanent changes of water rights. It allows water judges to reject applications to remove 1,000 acre-feet (enough for about 3,000 households) or more from a river if the removal would be environmentally harmful to the river or downstream users. Water is a very political topic in an arid state like Colorado. Until now, Colorado courts have focused on quantity of water, leaving quality concerns to the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission. “This small measure represents a big step in the right direction,” said Clean Water Advocate Stephanie Thomas. "This bill has gone through a lot of trials and tribulations," Representative Buffie McFadyen, the bill’s sponsor, said. The bill lost by one vote last year. HB 1132 avoided the same fate this year through small drafting changes that garnered support from environmentalists, the agriculture community, water-conservancy districts, and municipalities throughout the state. “The coalition of people supporting this bill is unprecedented and wide-ranging. It represents a three-year effort and many negotiations,” said Thomas. http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/gov_-ritter-signs-landmark-water-quality-bill Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:34:36 -0500 http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/clean-water-act-turns-35--challenges-lie-ahead DENVER— Clean water advocates http://www.environmentcolorado.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/clean-water-act-turns-35--challenges-lie-ahead Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:11:20 -0500