4. Grants will only be given to projects that have both a local government and 

 a local citizen group sponsor, 



5. The EPA will review grant applications pursuant to an established set of cri- 

 teria, including standards related to ecological objectives as well as economic 

 and community goals, 



6. Priority will be given to projects that provide jobs and career development 

 in urban watershed restoration for youth, particularly through youth corps pro- 

 grams, and 



7. Technical assistance will be provided by the EPA and other Federal agencies 

 with expertise in urban watershed restoration and protection activities. 



While the current provisions of the Clean Water Act address some of the threats 

 to urban waterways, the severity of the problems warrants a specific program de- 

 signed to give more attention to the restoration of urban lakes, rivers, and streams. 

 According to a 1992 Environmental Protection Agency study, urban areas comprise 

 only about 2.5% of the total land surface of the country, but pollution from these 

 areas accounts for more than 18% of impaired river miles, 34% of impaired lake 

 acres, and 62% of impaired estuary square miles. 



H.R. 3873 offers the possibility of addressing the environmental degradation of 

 urban waterways by creating an Urban Watershed Restoration Program within 

 §319 of the Clean Water Act and dedicating at least 25% of annually appropriated 

 §319 funding to urban waters restoration projects. Under my bill, projects would be 

 funded only if they had both a local government and a local citizen group sponsor. 



The bill also is in keeping with President Clinton's Executive Order, issued on 

 February 11 of this year, instructing Federal agencies to make environmental jus- 

 tice part of their missions by identifying and addressing the human health effects 

 of their programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations. 

 It is no accident that toxic dumping and other environmental abuses occur far more 

 frequently where the poor and people of color live. It should come as no surprise 

 that urban waters have encountered similar neglect and abuse. 



Without a voice for our urban rivers, they have sunk into an unbelievable level 

 of neglect. The technical term for what plagues urban waterways is "nonpoint source 

 pollution" — runoff from lawns and farms, raw sewage leaking from pipes and sew- 

 ers, and trash dumped by individuals and businesses. In lay person's terms, these 

 waterways, which have been so central to building America, have become stinkholes 

 and eyesores. The water crisis in the District of Columbia involving cloudy water 

 from the Potomac River in December of last year signals the urgent need for more 

 attention to urban watersheds. 



The numerous environmental restoration efforts already under way, especially in 

 the Washington metropolitan area, are a good indication that residents of urban 

 communities are capable of taking a more active role in revitalizing the waterways 

 in their communities. It is time to restore them to the beauty and variety of uses 

 nature originally provided. 



Mr. Studds. The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Woolsey. 

 Welcome. 



STATEMENT OF HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY, A U.S. 

 REPRESENTATIVE FROM CALIFORNIA 



Ms. Woolsey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to your 

 Subcommittee for giving me the opportunity to testify today on 

 H.R. 4408, the Russian River Fisheries and Riverbed Restoration 

 Act. 



The southern part of the Russian River flows from Representa- 

 tive Dan Hamburg's district through the Sixth Congressional Dis- 

 trict of California, which I am proud to represent. 



The Russian River is a vital resource to many communities in 

 northern California in terms of jobs, drinking water, recreation, 

 and it is also an essential fish habitat for steelhead and salmon. 

 The recent degradation of the river caused by activities such as 

 timber harvesting and mining and agriculture, and the growth of 

 urban areas has severely impacted our river. 



