Do we need state environmental regulations?

Director Ted Sturdevant writes a weekly message for the Ecology Web site. This is the introduction for his latest piece. Read the entire text for this and other messages at Conversations on Washington's Future.

This week, my Conversations on Washington's Future message describes how environmental standards support jobs and economic vitality — and what is at stake should those protections be weakened or eliminated.

Sometimes we need to step back and remind ourselves of the basics — how clean water, clean air, and clean soil benefit our lives and our state as a whole.

The quality of our air, water, and soil is made better by many people, working over several decades, to reduce, prevent, and eliminate pollution. The environment they work to protect provides an economic benefit to our state as well — natural resources support nearly one-third of our state's economy through agriculture, tourism and recreation, forestry, and waterborne trade.

Literally and figuratively, our state would be poorer without environmental protections. A growing number of people recognize this. They are working toward solutions that bring all interests to the table, solutions that support the environment, the economy, and communities.

When we use that approach, the entire state wins.

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For more information:

• Overview of State Environmental Laws
• Rulemaking and Economics
• Protecting Washington's Quality of Life