Example Letter #3
January 30, 2001
Editor
Oregonian
1320 SW Broadway
Portland, Oregon 97201
Dear Editor:
The Oregonian’s January 29th summary of the current legislature session at the state was a good start at writing about the seriousness of an important issue being discussed by legislators. In Salem, our state representatives are trying to turn back the clock on Oregon’s water quality standards. They also want to allow agricultural and cattle businesses to extract more water from Oregon streams ¾ even streams that already lack enough water to support fish.
We need stronger, not weaker, water protection standards in Oregon. According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, more than 6,000 miles of Oregon’s rivers and streams are so badly polluted that the streams cannot safely support fishing or swimming. Pollution has also caused seasonal fishing or swimming restrictions in an additional 8,700 miles of Oregon’s waterways.
Nearly 4 of 5 Oregonians depend on streams or rivers to provide their drinking water. What will we do if we contaminate our drinking water sources?
Representative Hydro should vigorously oppose any effort to reverse Oregon’s water quality and quantity standards. And if she will not, Oregonians must urge Governor Kitzhaber to veto this type of regressive legislation.
Juli Speakout
Juli Speakout
1000 Cleanwater Lane
Portland, Oregon 97200
503/600-0001