THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 29, 1996 TAG: 9603290527
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
As much as 77 percent of the wetlands left in Virginia could lose their federal protections against pollution, according to a study released Thursday by a Washington environmental group.
More than 800,000 acres of wetlands would lose their protection under the Clean Water Act if a pair of bills in Congress is enacted, the Environmental Working Group said.
Its analysis says that nationally, some 73 million acres of wetlands in the lower 48 states would be removed from oversight by the federal anti-pollution law. The study was released jointly with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
By relaxing standards for emissions of industrial waste, sewage from cities and agricultural runoff, and by allowing more development, drinking water supplies will be imperiled, especially in Eastern Virginia.
Supporters of the legislation claim that wetlands restrictions rob landowners of fair use of their property and force taxpayers to bear the costs of projects to reduce pollution and maintain the wetlands.
Jean G. Watts, a wetlands scientist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said that the drinking water supply for Newport News in particular could be at risk as Chickahominy River wetlands are endangered.
Sediment, heavy metals and other pollutants foul the Chickahominy as it flows through several urban areas, and the wetlands downriver remove much of the pollutants, Watts said in a news release.
``Without these wetlands, Newport News' water supply could be in jeopardy,'' she said. ``Over half of these wetlands would not be regulated under the proposed bills.''
``About 40 percent of the state's wetlands have been lost to development since Colonial times,'' Watts said. ``So we're deciding on the last wetlands we've got.''
The House of Representatives already has passed the bill. A similar version is pending before the Senate. by CNB