Statement on TX lawsuit against clean water

Media Contacts

Environment Texas

AUSTIN – Today, Attorney General Paxton joined the states of Louisiana and Mississippi to file suit against the EPA’s new clean water rule. Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger released the following statement:

“People in Texas enjoy and depend on our rivers and lakes. They’re beautiful and they’re where many of us love to swim, fish and boat every summer. We should be doing all we can to protect them. It’s outrageous Attorney General Paxton wants to turn back the clock and allow polluters to spoil the streams which feed great waterways like the Colorado River and Galveston Bay. The EPA rule will protect 143,000 miles of Texas streams, including those which feed the drinking water sources for 11.5 million Texans. It’s the biggest victory for clean water in a decade and it’s irresponsible for General Paxton to put the interests of big polluters ahead of all of us who love our rivers and lakes.”

More than 34,000 Texans and dozens of local elected officials, small businesses, and farmers and rancherssubmitted comments in support of the rule.

“Our customers expect quality, and that means raising our bison naturally, where they eat native grasses and drink clean water,” said Hugh Fitzsimons, a south Texas rancher and owner of Thunder Heart Bison and Shape Ranch. “As a rancher who depends on clean water, I strongly support President Obama and the EPA’s actions to protect Texas streams and wetlands.”