[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2002)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 64787-64788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27025]


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                         Presidential Documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2002 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 64787]]

                Proclamation 7611 of October 17, 2002

                
Year of Clean Water, 2002-2003

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On October 18, 2002, our Nation marks the 30th 
                anniversary of the Clean Water Act and begins the 
                Observance of the Year of Clean Water. This landmark 
                environmental legislation has been central to the 
                important progress we have made as a Nation in 
                improving the quality of our drinking water and the 
                health of our waters, wetlands, and watersheds. During 
                this time, we renew our commitment to building on these 
                successes and to developing new approaches and 
                partnerships to meet our environmental challenges.

                The Clean Water Act of 1972 and the Safe Drinking Water 
                Act of 1974 have helped our citizens enjoy one of the 
                safest and cleanest water supplies in the world. Under 
                the Clean Water Act, the Federal Government has 
                provided more than $80 billion in wastewater assistance 
                to the States and localities. This fundamentally 
                important investment has ensured that 165 million 
                citizens now benefit from modern sewage treatment, up 
                from 86 million in 1968. The important advances in 
                waste water treatment since the Clean Water Act's 
                passage constitute one of the major achievements in 
                modern American public health.

                In the last 30 years, the overall health of our marine 
                waters, lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands has also 
                dramatically improved. The Federal Government has 
                cooperated with States, tribes, local communities, 
                businesses, and concerned individuals to reduce 
                significantly all forms of water pollution, making our 
                waters better suited for recreation and other pursuits 
                and more hospitable to aquatic life. Recent studies 
                show that we are close to achieving our goal of halting 
                overall wetlands loss, and we are hopeful that in the 
                near future we will begin increasing the overall 
                function and value of our wetlands. As we look to the 
                challenges ahead, the Clean Water Act will be an 
                important mainstay and tool for further progress.

                As part of our Nation's long-term commitment to 
                protecting our environment and natural resources, we 
                must continue to focus on cleaner air, water, and land; 
                healthier citizens, and vibrant ecosystems. We will 
                continue to collaborate with private organizations, 
                landowners, and all levels of government to encourage 
                the development of new technologies and innovative 
                approaches to protecting our environment. Through 
                policies and programs that recognize regional 
                differences, employ market forces, and empower 
                individuals to be good stewards of the earth, we can 
                and will meet the environmental challenges of the 
                future.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim the year beginning October 
                18, 2002, as the Year of Clean Water in commemoration 
                of the 30th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. I call 
                upon all Americans to observe this year with 
                appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities, and 
                to join in setting good examples of environmental 
                stewardship in our daily lives.

[[Page 64788]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand two, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 02-27025
Filed 10-21-02; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P