LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency. The Court restricted the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority under the Clean Water Act, limiting the power of environmental regulators to prevent ocean discharges of polluted stormwater.
Statement from Mike Young, Executive Director, California Environmental Voters:
“The Supreme Court has once again undermined the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to do its job, stripping regulators of the power to protect our nation’s waters from dangerous pollution. Releasing untreated sewage and stormwater into our water puts our public health at risk. This decision, which can only be explained by prioritizing polluter interests, undermines decades of progress in safeguarding our water, leaving communities, especially those already disproportionately impacted by pollution, more vulnerable than ever.
The Clean Water Act has been instrumental in reducing pollution and restoring ecosystems that support biodiversity, protect against flooding, and ensure clean drinking water — protections that up until now were seen for over half a century, as non-partisan expectations of the government to ensure access to clean water. Weakening its protections ignores both science and the reality of the climate crisis, which demands stronger, not weaker, safeguards. The Court has handed polluters a free pass to exploit and degrade our most vital natural resources without accountability.
This decision will have far-reaching consequences, particularly for low-income and frontline communities that already bear the brunt of the climate crisis and are already more financially vulnerable when they get sick. The fight for climate justice and a livable future depends on our collective resolve to push for stronger laws, mobilize communities, and demand that our leaders prioritize public health over corporate profits.”
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CONTACT:
Erika Guzman Cornejo
(310) 755-1615
erika@envirovoters.org
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ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. See more press releases.
