The Stream, March 30, 2021: Reports Say Israel Will Deny Request to Send Water To Jordan

YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN

• Israel’s prime minister is reportedly refusing a request for water from the country of Jordan.
• The Biden administration revokes a key permit from an oil refinery known for polluting water and air on the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• The entire state of Utah is experiencing moderate to extreme drought.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers determines a proposed Arizona mine does not need a Clean Water Act permit.

A multibillion-dollar plan to restore wetlands in Louisiana could hurt local fishing industries.

“What this project is about is mimicking the natural process that built the state of Louisiana to begin with.” – Chip Kline, chairman of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. 4WWL reports that the Army Corps of Engineers released an environmental impact study on a $2 billion plan to rebuild vanishing wetlands south of New Orleans, saying the plan would change salinity levels in Barataria Bay and could hurt the region’s brown shrimp fisheries and oyster grounds. Project supporters say rebuilding coastal wetlands could protect the greater New Orleans area from hurricane storm surge.

IN RECENT WATER NEWS

In Case You Missed It:

HotSpots H2O: Homeless San Franciscans Are In A Clean Water Crisis – People living on San Francisco’s streets and in its parks face daily barriers to finding and accessing clean water, according to a report released earlier this month by the nonprofit organization, Coalition on Homelessness.

What’s Up With Water – March 29, 2021 – This week’s episode covers a campaign to stop hydropower development on an Albanian River and meetings between India and Pakistan to resolve issues under the Indus Waters Treaty.

Oil Refinery Responsible for Decades of Air and Water Pollution on U.S. Virgin Islands Loses Air Pollution Permit

The Biden administration withdrew a federal air pollution permit from the Limetree Bay oil refinery on the island of St. Croix, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Inside Climate News reports that the administration cited “environmental justice concerns” after locals called on President Biden for action against the refinery, which they say has long polluted their water and air.

TODAY’S TOP WATER STORIES, TOLD IN NUMBERS

100 PERCENT OF UTAH

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox issued an executive order declaring a local state of emergency and urging Utah residents to conserve water, ABC4 reports. The order comes as 100 percent of the state is experiencing moderate drought and 90 percent is experiencing extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

$2 BILLION

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided that the proposed Rosemont Mine in Arizona does not require a Clean Water Act permit due to federal rules changes under the Trump administration, the Associated Press reports. Other hurdles remain before the $2 billion project can begin, including the need for a U.S. Forest Service permit, which was denied by a federal judge in Tucson in 2019.

• Why it matters: Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump and his administration repealed or narrowed federal environmental rules, prioritizing big business and reducing pollution protection for waterways. Several experts told Circle of Blue the Trump administration’s changes to the scope of the Clean Water Act were the most damaging for water.

ON THE RADAR

The Times of Israel reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly delayed approving a request for water from the country of Jordan. Jordan made the request earlier this month through a joint Israeli-Jordanian water committee. Netanyahu and the National Security Council intend to deny the request, which some unnamed officials say could endanger the peace agreement between the countries.

Jane Johnston

Jane is a Communications Associate for Circle of Blue. She writes The Stream and has covered domestic and international water issues for Circle of Blue. She is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University, where she studied Multimedia Journalism and Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. During her time at Grand Valley, she was the host of the Community Service Learning Center podcast Be the Change. Currently based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jane enjoys listening to music, reading and spending time outdoors.