Working for Wetlands and Clean Water

By The June 24 article “Project Aims to Convert Farmland into Wetlands” was timely and promising for the nation’s water quality. The Bush administration’s commitment to gaining, not simply maintaining, wetlands means more habitat, improved flood control and cleaner water.
Washington Post; Friday, June 29, 2007; Page A20
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/28/AR2007062802147.html

Letter to the Editor

The June 24 article "Project Aims to Convert Farmland into Wetlands" was timely and promising for the nation’s water quality. The Bush administration’s commitment to gaining, not simply maintaining, wetlands means more habitat, improved flood control and cleaner water.

As head of the Environmental Protection Agency’s national water program and chair of the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force, I am seeing firsthand the power and potential of entrepreneurial, market-based solutions to complex problems. Sound science, enforceable standards and cooperative conservation of wetlands are key to protecting America’s greatest liquid asset — water. Wetlands, perhaps the Earth’s first treatment plants, are one of nature’s amazing cleaning machines. The Bush administration’s work to remove barriers and create trading opportunities will ensure that all communities can reduce the cost of upgrading sewage treatment plants by investing in nature’s treatment plants.

BENJAMIN H. GRUMBLES

Assistant Administrator for Water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Washington