A Congressman’s Perspective About Legislating for the Ocean
Monday, September 22nd, 2008
Congressman Sam Farr, who represents the 17th District in California, talks about H.R. 21, the “Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act,” a bill which he introduced. According to Congressman Farr, while we have had national policies on clean air and clean water, no similar legislation exists related to the ocean which is the reason for this legislation.
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Linda Sheehan, Executive Director of the California Coastkeeper Alliance, says cleaning up pollution is half of the answer - the other half is teaching Californians how to prevent pollution in the first place.(Photo courtesy of Sarah Wilson)
David Beckman, Director of NRDC‚Äôs Coastal Water Quality Project, says that urban runoff is the largest source of water pollution to California’s coast. On this program he shares some easy ways to lower the environmental impact of our existing homes. 
Low impact development is a way of protecting water resources by building in greenscape - trees and grasses and natural types of plantings - to absorb rainwater instead of discharging it onto city streets. This urban runoff has become the biggest source of water pollution in California and in the country. David Beckman, Director of NRDC’s Coastal Water Quality Project, discusses this environmentally and economically viable building option.