Save The River® Upper St. Lawrence Riverkeeper®

Save The River is a non-profit, member-based environmental organization whose mission is to preserve and protect the ecological integrity of the Upper St. Lawrence River through advocacy, education and research.

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Congress is currently considering H.R. 3898 the “Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today” (PERMIT) Act. This bill was designed to rewrite permitting rules under the Clean Water Act (CWA). While being promoted as a modernization effort, this bill actively weakens River, lake, and wetland protections set by the CWA, directly harming the great lakes and the St. Lawrence River.

This bill aims to redefine what is considered “Navigable Waters”, removing protections and excluding waste treatment systems, ephemeral flows, prior converted cropland, groundwater, and any other water determined by the United States Army Core of Engineers (USACE). These exclusions endanger small streams and wetland areas which serve as crucial filters by removing contaminants before they reach the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. 

Also, the PERMIT Act would: 

  • Place accountability protections for industrial polluters which discharge PFAS (forever chemicals) and other pollutants without notifying regulators of the discharge. 
  • Impose restrictions on states and first nations ability to protect their local waters and limiting the control these entities have over projects that may potentially harm local ecosystems.
  • Expedite the process of approval for backlogged permits, enhancing the risk of  wetland and stream damage.
  • Lengthen permit terms and limit regulatory follow up making it significantly harder to adjust permit terms as science evolves and changes. 

The impacts specific to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River is just as damaging. These areas rely heavily on streams and wetlands to filter pollution, control floods, and support aquatic life. The weakening of these protections poses an immediate threat to water quality, shoreline resiliency, and native wildlife. Crucial parts of the River economy we all depend on. 

With over 4o million Americans relying on the great lakes for drinking water and numerous communities on the St.Lawrence depending on it for recreation and commerce, this bill poses a clear and immediate threat.

Protecting our waters is not about unnecessary bureaucracy, it is about ensuring clean water, healthy ecosystems, and thriving communities for future generations. Please consider urging your representatives to oppose H.R. 3898 and stand up for your waters today.