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Dryden, NY -- In the spirit of the fall season and the close of the public comment period for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s clean water rule, 25 community members gathered at Bacchus Brewing Company on November 22 to celebrate New York’s iconic waterways.

The event, hosted by Environment New York, called together advocates, environmentalists, political leaders and community members alike, just one week after the close of the public comment period. Nearly a decade ago, polluters and developers secured a loophole in the Clean Water Act that leaves more than 55% of New York’s streams vulnerable to unchecked pollution.

"Nothing is more precious or critical to life than clean water, and we must act now to protect our wetlands, lakes, rivers and their tributaries," said Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton. "The EPA draft standards being promulgated are a very important step in doing that, and I hope the public will weigh in to make them the very best they can be."

During the nine months since EPA proposed restoring Clean Water Act protections, polluters such as Exxon Mobil and Monsanto launched a bitter campaign in opposition to the rule. And now, with a new Senate vowing to challenge EPA authority, clean water groups, activists, and legislators are promising to continue their fight.

Among the waterways that are left unprotected due to this loophole are also New York’s valuable wetlands. “The Clean Water Act needs to be restored to its original intent,” said Hilary Lambert, Executive Director of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. “Especially important to the Cayuga Lake watershed are thousands of acres of wetlands, which capture rainfall and snowmelt to supply our streams, creeks and lake with abundant clean water. Wetlands also filter impurities, and provide habitat for birds and many other animals and plants. Wetlands protection is key to watershed protection, for which we need a strong Clean Water Act.”

Despite powerful opposition, Environment New York generated more than 35,000 public comments in support of the clean water rule during the public comment period, along with more than 750,000 supportive comments collected by coalition partners across the U.S.

"Though the Finger Lakes are protected under the Clean Water Act, many of the tributaries that feed into them are not," said Sarah Vitti, Clean Water Advocate with Environment New York. "By gathering here today at Bacchus Brewing Company, we are sending an active message that protecting all of New York’s waterways is a priority for our communities, as well as our local economies."

Bacchus Brewing Company is just one example of many growing local businesses that rely on clean water.


"Beer is at least 90% water,” said Richie Shallcross, Head Brewer at Bacchus Brewing Company. “For obvious reasons, the protection of our waterways is paramount not only for our general health and wellness, but for the health and wellness of the plethora of locally made beers, wines, and spirits that come from the Finger Lakes region and upstate NY.”

If all of New York’s waterways are not guaranteed protections under the Clean Water Act, then local businesses like Bacchus are not protected either.

"The legal protection of our nation's waterways established by the Clean Water Act laid the foundation for Riverkeeper's ongoing campaign to safeguard and restore the Hudson River," said Phillip Musegaas, Hudson River Program Director at Riverkeeper.  "EPA's rulemaking will expand and clarify these protections in a way that will reap clear environmental, social, and economic benefits for communities that depend on clean water."

The message at Bacchus Brewing Company on Saturday was clear. “The success seen by rivers like the Hudson cannot be said of other waterways in New York, and that leaves everyone at risk,” said Vitti. “The comment period may be over, but we still have a long way to go in ensuring all of New York’s waterways are protected.”

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