Not enougth muscle to pass Clean Water bill

The votes were very close, but our leadership in Olympia didn't flex the muscle necessary to pass the Clean Water bill which would have collected funds from the oil industry to help clean up stormwater pollution and prevent it from draining into Washington's rivers and ocean. This is an enormous missed opportunity. Despite the fact that stormwater pollution mostly comes from oil, property owners are still expected to pay for its management without much help from industry. And as a result, struggling local governments are not likely to make much headway against the number one threat to Puget Sound.

This is a loss for Surfrider Foundation and for clean water. But don't think for a second that your actions this session -- your letters, emails, phone calls, tabling, and other outreach -- were not invaluable. They were. And our continued push to educate the masses about the impacts of stormwater pollution remains critical. The take away from this session is that we need to be louder and we need to be more clear about how important clean water is -- for us, for our communities, and for Washington.

If you haven't already, take a moment to watch The Cycle of Insanity, The Real Story of Water and then send the link to your friends: http://knowyourh2o.org

Our broken water cycle

Timing couldn’t be better for the release of The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water, a short, animated film made by creative and dedicated Surfrider Foundation volunteers. With the Working for Clean Water Bill still being debated in an extended session of the Washington State legislature, now is the time to spread the word on how stormwater is polluting our oceans. Take 20 minutes to watch this important video on our (broken) water cycle. Then call the legislative hotline and ask your legislators to vote yes on the Clean Water Act of 2010 HB 3181/SB6851: 1-800-562-6000.

The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water from Surfrider Foundation on Vimeo.

Last set for Clean Water -- legislators need to hear from you

The Working for Clean Water Bill is still alive in a special session. The vote is very very close and with just a few more yes votes, we can win this fight to tackle stormwater -- Washington's biggest source of water pollution.

This is likely my last chance to ask you to take action and the last chance that you will have to help us win on the clean water bill, so please, yes, one more time -- CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS! Just dial the hotline and leave a message for all three of your legislators asking them to vote yes on the Clean Water Act of 2010, HB 3181/SB 6851 right now: 1-800-562-600.

The oil industry is fighting dirty to stop this bill. Their latest scheme has been to file a law suit challenging the Hazardous Substance Tax. This tax was approved by voters 22 years ago to help tackle oil pollution and has been collected without legal challenge this entire time. According to legal experts, this lawsuit has no merit. The timing of this suit during the special legislative session is a scare tactic designed to discouraged votes. So, all the more reason why need to make the citizens' voice loud and clear to our legislators who represent us, not big oil.

The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water

Surfrider's San Diego Chapter put together this great video on the water cycle and what is needed to fix our wasteful behaviors. Check out the movie trailer here & look for the full video to come out soon. Think about ways to minimize your water footprint at your home and in your daily routine, Know Your H2O!!!

And if you haven't already, please call or email your legislators and ask for their support on the Working for Clean Water Bill: Send an Email by clicking here or call this number to leave a message: 1-800-562-6000.

The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water - TRAILER 1 from Surfrider Foundation San Diego C on Vimeo.

THIS FRIDAY -- next hearing set for Clean Water bill

Kick off your Friday by supporting Clean Water!

The next hearing for the Working for Clean Water bill is Friday, Feb 26th, at 8:30 A.M. Please come and show your support!

House Finance Committee
House Hearing Rm C, O'Brien Building, Olympia
Friday, February 26th, 8:30 AM

Even if you can only stay a short while, please come and sign in.

Polluted runoff from our city streets is the equivalent of an Exxon Valdez oil spill in slow motion - the implications for Puget Sound and our ocean are that harmful.

We know what to do to address polluted runoff - retrofit urban streets, dig storm ponds, build better storm drains, and encourage low-impact development. To complete these stormwater projects on a scale that will make a difference we need to pass the Working for Clean Water bill. By taxing the pollutants that are harming our waters, this bill provides a long-term source of funding for desperately needed stormwater infrastructure projects.

Can't make it to Olympia? Then please Email or call your legislators right now and ask them to support Working for Clean Water.

Send an Email by clicking here.

Or call this number and leave a message for your legislators: 1-800-562-6000.

Clean Water bill hearing set for Monday 3:30PM

Working for Clean Senate hearing set for this Monday. Please come and show your support.

Senate Ways and Means Committee
Monday, February 22 at 3:30pm
Meet outside Senate Hearing Room 4 at 2:45pm to sign in to support the bill
J.A. Cherberg Building, Olympia

Last Wednesday, supporters for Clean Water packed the hearing room for the House Capital Budget Committee. As a result, it passed out of committee by a 8-7 vote. Now, we need do it again on Monday.

Can't make it to Olympia, then call your Senators: 1.800.562.600. Ask them to support Working for Clean Water (HB 3181/SB 6851) because it is a win-win for Washington families. It will clean up polluted waterways across the state and create thousands of good paying construction jobs to improve clean water infrastructure.

Or, send an instant email.

Rally draws thousands to state capital

Yesterday, thousands gathered at the Washington State capitol in favor of protecting budgets for clean water, health care and education.

Fearing an "all-cuts" state budget, citizens spoke out in support of revenue raising strategies, including the Working for Clean Water legislation that would raise the tax on polluters to fund stormwater infrastructure projects.

Clean water legislation to tackle stormwater pollution is one bill that Surfrider Foundation is working hard to pass this session. Others would establish a Marine Spatial Planning blueprint for WA and provide for the safe collection and disposal of unwanted medications.

Marine Spatial Planning in WA, SB 6350
This past weekend, this bill passed the Senate 44-2. Spearheaded by ocean champion and longtime Surfrider activist, Senator Kevin Ranker, this bill initiates a local approach to marine planning that would engage ocean users in a process to minimize impacts from new and emergency ocean uses.

Secure Medicine Return, 2SSB 5279
Up for possible Senate floor action this week, this bill creates a statewide medicine return program provided by drug producers. Harmful medications often get flushed down the toilet and into our marine waters where they threaten marine species and human health.