Courtney Bourgoin, Courtney.Bourgoin@sierraclub.org
San Diego, CA-- Moments ago, the Department of Homeland Security announced that the federal government will waive more than 30 laws to replace border wall and add secondary wall in southern California. The protections waived include, but are not limited to, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, among tens of others. The waivers apply to land ranging more than fourteen miles east from the Pacific Ocean. The stretch of land along the border is rich in history, sensitive ecosystems, and communities.
In response, Jordan Giaconia. Federal Policy Associate at the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“Once again, the Trump administration is putting Americans in danger for expensive, destructive, and unpopular border walls. Neglecting bedrock environmental protections is an affront to our health, our safety and our history. San Diego has already seen the disastrous consequences of waiving laws to build border wall in the past. They include irreversible damage at Native American burial sites, deadly floods, and the destruction of wildlife habitat. It’s past time that Congress undoes this unchecked use of waivers and abuse of power. Border communities deserve equal protection under the law.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.