Last week Kyrsten Sinema voted to change the definition of “waters of the United States” or “WOTUS”, in a way that would jeopardize protections for more than 95% of Arizona’s waterways.
Sen. Mark Kelly voted against the measure, saying it would have “unintended consequence of reverting back to rules that create even more uncertainty for Arizona businesses, developers, and farmers.”
“Once again Sinema is caught red-handed shilling for the benefit of corporate interests instead of working for Arizonans,” said Sacha Haworth, spokesperson for Replace Sinema. “Her vote throws Arizona’s farmers and businesses into uncertainty, exposes Arizona streams to pollution, and shows that at the end of the day, we know where her priorities actually lie: getting campaign checks.”
Sinema has received over $350,000 from industry interests that pollute the land, water, and air, including thousands from a mining company tied to the controversial Resolution Copper Mine, which is opposed by local Tribes. A former Sinema aide now lobbies on behalf of the mine, and her firm has donated tens of thousands to Sinema’s reelection campaign.
Excerpts below:
KPNX 12 News Arizona: Sinema joins Senate Republicans, 4 Dems in vote that exposes 95% of Arizona’s waterways to more pollution
Hunter Bassler // March 30, 2023
[…]
Arizona’s streams, like many other things in the state, are an outlier.
More than 95% of the state’s waterways are considered “ephemeral” streams, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Rather than continuously flowing with water, ephemeral streams only run wet after a heavy storm or melting snow, leaving them dry most of the year.
Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema joined four Democrats and all Senate Republicans on Wednesday in voting to pass a resolution that would cut ephemeral streams out of the nation’s definition of “waters of the United States” or “WOTUS.” The cut would halt the seasonal waterways’ federal protection against pollution.
[…]
Arizona’s other senator, Mark Kelly (D), voted against the resolution due to the move’s unintended consequences.
“This legislation would have had the unintended consequence of reverting back to rules that create even more uncertainty for Arizona businesses, developers, and farmers,” Kelly said.
[…]
The cut comes as part of a larger GOP-led resolution to shrink waterway protections offered through the federal government’s Clean Water Act. Republicans have argued that the move will cut red tape for businesses, farmers and builders. Sinema, who left the Democratic Party though she still caucuses with them, shares the same belief.
[…]
However, environmental advocates and water experts say getting rid of the protections would not keep water “clean, safe, and healthy.” Ephemeral streams can reportedly move pollution and chemicals just as easily as water.
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