Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, applauded the efforts of the Department of the Interior’s stream protection rule.   

“Clean water is critical to our national forests and our public lands, so I appreciate the administration’s process for a strong rule for stream protection,” Sen. Cantwell said.

The proposed rule would protect streams nationwide, including Appalachian streams affected by mountaintop removal coal mining, by requiring mining companies to abide by more stringent water quality requirements and to provide more resources for site clean-up. Furthermore, the proposed rule would require additional testing of streams in order to monitor pollution levels.

The administration will hold five public hearings on this proposal in Charleston, W.Va.; Lexington, Ky.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; St. Louis, Mo. and Denver, Colo.