What can I do personally?

Stop Dumping Mining Waste Into Our Water

Fix the Fill Rule


Dear Friends,

Mines are using a loophole to dump waste into America's lakes and streams: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to close this loophole in the Clean Water Act, protecting our nation's clean water from mining pollution. Please join this national call-in effort to stop the dumping of mining waste in America's waters.

Call the White House today at 202-456-1414, and ask President Obama to restore the Clean Water Act's prohibition on dumping mining waste into our clean water.

The Problem: Taking advantage of a loophole that the Bush administration created in Clean Water Act rules, mining companies are using America's streams and lakes as dumping grounds for unlimited amounts of solid mining wastes. For example, the Kensington Gold Mine near Juneau is planning on destroying a freshwater lake by calling mining waste "fill" and dumping it untreated into the lake. This loophole is also being used to allow mountaintop removal coal mines to dump their waste into Appalachian streams.

The Solution: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to close the waste loophole in the Clean Water Act, and President Obama should instruct the agency to do so immediately.

The Action: Please call the White House at 202-456-1414 today!

Please let us know you took action and called the White House by clicking here.

Together, we can demonstrate to the White House the urgent need for action to restore the prohibition of dumping mining waste in our water.

Talking Points:

• I'm calling to ask President Obama to end the dumping of mining waste in our water. Please restore the prohibition on filling waters with waste immediately.


• Mining companies are using the 2002 loophole in the Clean Water Act rule to bury streams and lakes with untreated mining wastes.


• From the mountaintop removal mines in Appalachia to the Kensington gold mine in Alaska, mining waste is destroying our streams and lakes.


• President Obama should direct the EPA to close the mine waste dumping loophole immediately.

For More Information

• EARTHWORKS' Letter to the EPA Regarding Mining Waste Policy. 3/2/10.
• Justices Say Waste Can Be Dumped in Lake, New York Times. 6/22/09.
• Mining waste dumped in streams - and now lakes, High Country News. 7/25/2005.

Thanks,
Lauren Pagel, Policy Director
EARTHWORKS