Protect the Clean Streams Law: Say NO to SB 619

The State House is trying to pass a bill that would give industry a license to pollute our waters. Senate Bill 619 would significantly weaken the Clean Streams Law, one of our bedrock environmental laws that protects the drinking water supplies of all 12.8 million Pennsylvanians.

Tell your State Representative you oppose giving industry a free pass!

This bill would change the definition of pollution and make it legal to spill into our waterways as long as the spill is diluted enough to not cause a violation of water quality criteria and would also eliminate the current requirements to notify the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and downstream water users of a spill.

SB 619 would allow harmful spills to occur without liability or consequences for those responsible and will lead to more pollution in the streams and creeks that provide our drinking water.

Speak up for clean water — take action now!

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Please Oppose SB 619

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SB 619 is a license to pollute. By weakening standards and changing the definition of what’s legally considered pollution, this bill will allow harmful spills and discharges to occur without liability or consequences for those responsible. Additionally, DEP may not be able to order corrective action.

The current wording in the Clean Streams Law has been used effectively for many years to take both corrective action and impose civil penalties against companies that polluted our waters and contaminated drinking water supplies. The current wording shouldn’t be changed to appease those that don’t want to follow the rules.

I oppose SB 619 and ask that you vote NO on this bill. SB 619 changes the definition of pollution in the Clean Streams Law by exempting accidental discharges, spills, or releases that don’t cause a violation of water quality criteria. This means as long as the spill or discharge is diluted enough by a stream, it’s legal, and doesn’t need to be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) nor do downstream users, possibly in harm’s way, need to be notified. SB 619 is a license to pollute. By weakening standards and changing the definition of what’s legally considered pollution, this bill will allow harmful spills and discharges to occur without liability or consequences for those responsible. Additionally, DEP may not be able to order corrective action. The current wording in the Clean Streams Law has been used effectively for many years to take both corrective action and impose civil penalties against companies that polluted our waters and contaminated drinking water supplies. The current wording shouldn’t be changed to appease those that don’t want to follow the rules.

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