Working for Clean Water Article

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Whatcom County Council cast an irresponsible vote against clean water and
working families

For more information, contact:
Brendon Cechovic, Washington Conservation Voters brendon@wcvoters.org, (206)
437-6318

February 11, 2010

Bellingham, WA – The Whatcom County Council cast a vote Tuesday to approve a
resolution against a bill in Olympia that is strongly supported by other
local governments across Washington. The proposed Working for Clean Water
legislation (HB 3181
<http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=3181&year=2009> / SB 6851
<http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6851&year=2009> ) would
provide funding assistance to the county for addressing toxic stormwater
pollution in Lake Whatcom and Puget Sound.

The resolution was authored by representatives of the oil industry, who
would be required to help pay for the cleanup costs. Each year millions of
gallons of petroleum pollution wash into our lakes, rivers, and streams.
Polluted stormwater is often cited as our state’s biggest water quality
problem.

“Whatcom County Council did a disservice to the community with this vote,”
said Kurt Fritts, Executive Director for Washington Conservation Voters.
“They blindly supported a misleading resolution that was written by the oil
industry. The people of Whatcom County certainly deserve better leadership
than that.”

Working for Clean Water is a win-win for Whatcom County. This bill will
clean up polluted waterways like Lake Whatcom and create thousands of good
paying construction jobs to improve infrastructure. “It is unfortunate that
the Council chose the interests of big oil companies over those of working
families and clean water,” Fritts added.

The Council’s non-binding vote has no impact on the bills currently in the
legislature. They are also the only county to oppose this measure.

The proposal is an increase of the voter-approved Hazardous Substance tax.
It is levied on petroleum, pesticides, and other toxic pollutants that end
up in our waterways. The legislation in Olympia is a top priority for cities
and counties across the state because it helps local governments fund clean
water projects that they are required by law to complete.

Working for Clean Water is a top priority for the Environmental Priorities
Coalition, Washington State Labor Council, Washington State Building and
Construction Trades, Association of Washington Cities, and Washington State
Association of Counties.

Download a fact sheet and learn more about Working for Clean Water at
www.wcvoters.org/priority-issues/ <http://www.wcvoters.org/priority-issues/>