“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable…
Every step toward the goal of justice requires
sacrifice, suffering, and struggle;
the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
This month’s newsletter is dedicated to the organizations of the Mississippi River Collaborative that won an important battle in the long-term fight to combat pollution in the Mississippi River and all of our country’s w
aters.
Due to the persistence of the Collaborative, the EPA has a court-mandated six months to decide to set federal limits on nitrogen and phosphorus pollution or explain why they are not needed. Nitrogen and phosphorus are nutrients in fertilizer that come mainly from agricultural fields. And, since the Mississippi River flows through large farm states, it gets a lot of nutrient pollution. This pollution makes its way down River to the Gulf of Mexico, where it contributes to the annual dead zone — an area with no oxygen where fish and shrimp can’t survive.
Making a case that federal limits on this kind of pollution are not needed will be difficult since the EPA agrees that, “nutrient pollution is one of America’s most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems”. EPA has also acknowledged federal intervention is now appropriate because states are not doing enough.
They are right about that. In 1998, states were given the responsibility to create plans to address nutrient and other non-point source pollution. Today, 25 states still have no plan. They are 15 years overdue on taking action.
The Collaborative’s work will hopefully reduce the massive dead zone we see every year in the Gulf of Mexico.
Tell the Collaborative “Thanks!”
Since 2005, the Mississippi River Collaborative has promoted clean water policies, facilitated coordination and improved consistency across EPA regions by working with experts on guidelines to limit nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Let’s thank the Collaborative for their excellent perseverance and progress in the struggle for safe, healthy, clean water in America. It’s really easy, takes only a few seconds but revives the team spirit BIG TIME!
Use the Action Center to send them the letter we’ve provided
or one of your own!
As always, thank you for your dedication to making the River a healthier place for us and future generations to enjoy.
Yours in respect and service,
Annette Anderson
1 Mississippi Outreach Coordinator
Trivia Question:
The total amount of excess nitrogen entering the Gulf of Mexico is approximately:
a. 10 metric tons
b. 1,000 metric tons
c. 100,000 metric tons
d. 1.5 million metric tons
Hint: It is 3,307,500,000 pounds or, if you can imagine, 3,307,500 elephants!