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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Smoke blankets Rogue Valley as Stouts fire grows to 8,500 acres ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Missing Jon Stewart ... Ticket Availability ... Smoke blankets Rogue Valley as Stouts fire grows to 8,500 acres ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Missing Jon Stewart ... Ticket Availability ... COMMENTARY Jeffrey Gillespie: Crystal clear on water safety Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 29, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted May. 29, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News The sexy story this week is about the regulation and possible expiration of the nefarious USA Patriot Act, which was brought into law in 2001 after the worst terrorist attacks in the history of the nation. New provisions would require law enforcement to obtain a court order before they can arbitrarily listen in on the personal calls of any citizen with a phone. While this change is welcomed by many, there is another news story this week that is not getting the coverage it deserves — one that is far more likely to provide protection to the average American on a daily basis. That action is the Clean Water Rule, a new regulation set into effect by the EPA on Wednesday, under pressure from the White House. Before the rule, there was the act. The Clean Water Act of 1972 was implemented to counter ongoing polluting, by commercial forces, of America's streams and rivers. Despite being vetoed by President Nixon, that embargo was overridden by Congress and the Act became law. In the 40 years since, it has slowly been eroded again by special interests, and by court rulings that have favored big companies over the health and safety of public waters. According to the Obama White House, one in three Americans now get their drinking water from sources that "lack clear protections." As a result of the new ruling, 117 million Americans will have purer, cleaner water piped into their homes from bodies of water around the country. But many Republicans, including House Speaker John Boehner, have suggested that the rule goes too far, and will choke small businesses and larger agricultural concerns, alike. The conservative right has even gone so far as to call the ruling a "power grab," one that will place more water under federal control, crush jobs and make the California drought crisis worse. These are scare tactics, to be sure. The fact is, the Clean Water Rule is designed to more precisely define what waters are protected and to clarify those aspects of the original act that have been rendered opaque over the years. The EPA itself says in a statement that there are no new regulations or permitting requirements for agribusiness; all previous exemptions and exclusions will be maintained. That raises the question — what exactly does big agribusiness have against the American public being granted clearer protections under the rule? Why would anyone be against special environmental protections for an additional 2 million miles of streams and 20 million acres of wetlands? The backlash so far has been characteristically vague. Most of the comments from House and Senate leaders opposed to the rule have alluded to new bureaucratic statutes and to government overreach, which would result in regulatory and economic strains on business. That kind of language seems designed to pump up the usual anti-government sentiment prior to an election year. In fact, many businesses that rely on clean water as an ingredient in their products, (such as breweries and soda manufacturers) have been happy for the change, which is seen as a move to protect the very resources that they will need to stay competitive in the long term. It is primarily the businesses with the dirtiest processes, the ones that turn clean water into scummy byproduct, that appear most opposed to the ruling. Big oil and gas companies are balking. Heavy manufacturing, construction and industrial agribusiness giants such as Monsanto and others are mobilizing their lobbyists to attack and weaken the new law. As usual, they are attempting to place profits above the health and well-being of millions of Americans. There may be trouble ahead for the EPA and its courageous stand on long-term water security; in the meantime, they've got your back. So drink up. Your private phone calls may not yet be secure, but for now, your tap water will be. Jeffrey Gillespie's writing has appeared in the Santa Fean and Art Collector magazines, the Portland Mercury and Willamette Week. He lives in Ashland. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 29, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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