Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule May 2015 Hart Research Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule Key findings from a nationwide

Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule May 2015 Hart Research

Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the

Clean Water RuleKey findings from a nationwide telephone survey

among 800 likely 2016 general election voters(Margin of error = ±3.5 percentage points)

conducted May 4 – 7, 2015for

Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule May 2015 Hart Research2

Overview

A lot 5%

Voters support the Clean Water Rule by an overwhelming margin after hearing a brief description of it. Support for the rule crosses party lines, and voters who already were familiar with the rule break decisively in its favor.

Support for the rule is rooted in the personal concern that many voters have about water pollution, and in the belief held by a large majority that the federal government should be doing more to protect the nation’s waters from pollution.

Considerations about the impact on drinking water and children/ grandchildren are the most important to voters in deciding the merits of the Clean Water Rule.

(continued)


Overview (continued)

A lot 5%

Support for the Clean Water Rule remains strong even after voters hear a point-counterpoint debate from both sides of the issue.

Voters express notably more trust in the EPA and US Army Corps of Engineers than in Congress to make the right decision on protecting the nation’s smaller waterways.

The bottom line is that voters do not want Congress to block the Clean Water Rule, and a majority of voters say they would feel less favorable toward a senator who votes against the Clean Water Rule.


Water pollution is an important issue and a personal concern for many.

Water pollution is a very or fairly important priority

The issue of water pollution is a very or fairly big concern to me personally

Very big concern 36%

84%

61%

Very important priority 64%

Water pollution is a very/fairly important priority

Water pollution is a very/fairly big concern to me

Democrats

92%

69%

Independents

83%

68%

Republicans

75%

48%


Lakes and rivers

Drinking water supply

Streams/wetlands feeding into larger water sources

Majorities think that the federal government should be doing more to protect the nation’s streams and wetlands from pollution.

61%

61%

62%

Proportions saying that the federal government should be doing more to protect these water sources from pollution:

Demo-crats

77%

75%

77%

Inde-pendents

63%

62%

61%

Repub-licans

46%

44%

45%


Among those who feel they know enough about the Clean Water Rule to express an opinion about it, support outnumbers opposition by four to one.

8%

0.6

Initial Support for the Clean Water Rule

Favor Oppose Don’t know enough to say

32%

Democrats

Independents

Republicans

Favor

44%

33%

17%

Stronglyfavor21%

Oppose

1%

10%

16%

DK enoughto say

55%

57%

67%


Voters overwhelmingly are supportive of the Clean Water Rule when given a basic description of it.

14%

0.06

Stronglyfavor

50%

80%

Favor Oppose Not sure

The Clean Water Rule proposed by the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers clarifies which waters are and are not protected under the Clean Water Act. Specifically, the rule would restore pollution protections that used to exist for streams and wetlands that feed into bigger lakes and rivers and ultimately end up in our drinking water supply. With this background in mind, do you favor or oppose the Clean Water Rule?

DemocratsIndependentsRepublicans

CitySuburbsSmall townRural

MenWomen

WhitesAfrican AmericansHispanics

Totalfavor

94%75%68%

80%84%85%69%

77%82%

78%83%82%

Stronglyfavor

65%49%34%

55%49%57%39%

45%54%

48%56%53%

Oppose

4%15%24%

14%12%10%23%

18%11%

15%14%9%


Voters have greater trust in the Army Corps and the EPA than in Congress to make the right decision on protecting the nation’s smaller waterways from pollution.

4%

19%

26%

Trust a lot Trust some

Generally speaking, how much do you trust the following to make the right decision on how to best protect our nation's smaller waterways from pollution?

Army Corps of Engineers

EPA

Congress

72%

62%

25%

Democrats 79%Independents 55%Republicans 49%

Democrats 79%Independents 67%Republicans 68%


Voters trust the government agencies more than Congress to make the best decisions to protect smaller waterways.

77%14%9%

In each pair, whom do you trust more to have the right approach on how to best protect our nation's smaller waterways from pollution?

EPA vs. Congress

78%

15%7%

EPA and Army Corps of Engineers vs. Congress

Trust EPA/EPA and Corps of Engineers more Trust Congress more Trust both/neither/not sure


Majorities of voters across party lines think that Congress should allow the Clean Water Rule to go forward rather than block it.

12%

79%

Congress is considering whether to block the Clean Water Rule proposed by the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers: Which approach do you think Congress should take?

Congress should allow the Clean Water Rule to go forward and closely monitor how the rule is being implemented

Congress should block the Clean Water Rule and prevent it from being implemented


Strongly favor Clean Water RuleSomewhat favor Clean Water RuleOppose Clean Water Rule

Allow CleanWater Rule

94%78%66%

96%85%28%

Block CleanWater Rule

3%12%21%

2% 5%60%


Additionally, nearly seven in 10 voters say they would feel LESS favorable toward their US senator if he/she voted to block the rule.

0.09

Much more 6%

17%

Would feel more favorable

If your US senator voted to BLOCK the Clean Water Rule from going into effect, how would this affect your feelings toward him/her?


Morefavorable

10%11%29%

Would feel less favorable

No effect onmy feelings

Muchless

favorable

38%

69%

Total lessfavorable

81%71%55%

Much lessfavorable

51%38%24%


The potential impact on the nation’s drinking water supply and on future generations are the electorate’s top priorities when evaluating the Clean Water Rule.Which two of these considerations do you think should be the most important in deciding whether or not the Clean Water Rule should be implemented?

Impact on our drinking water supply

Impact on our children and grandchildren

Impact on wildlife and natural habitats

Impact on agriculture and farming

Impact on jobs and the economy

Impact on landowners’ property rights

Allvoters

54%

52%

26%

24%

15%

15%

Stronglyfavor

64%

62%

28%

20%

12%

5%

Somewhatfavor

52%

49%

29%

28%

15%

16%

Oppose

32%

33%

11%

30%

26%

51%

By support for Clean Water Rule


Support for the Clean Water Rule holds when voters are presented with core arguments from both sides.

0.170.21

0.780.74

Agree more with opponents of Clean Water Rule Agree more with supporters of Clean Water Rule

OPPONENTS: (same in both pairs) The Clean Water Rule would immensely expand the authority of the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to dictate land-use decisions and farming practices in or near smaller bodies of water. Congress should block this rule because it is goes too far in imposing unnecessary restrictions that will hold back our economy and threaten jobs by having a negative impact on farmers, homebuilders, and other job creators.

SUPPORTERS: The Clean Water Rule is needed to protect the streams and wetlands that feed into the drinking water supplies of one in three Americans. It will help protect the more than 60% of the nation's streams and 20 million acres of wetlands currently vulnerable to pollution and destruc-tive development. Congress should allow the rule to be implemented because clean water is critical for the health of our families, the health of our environment and wildlife, and the health of our economy from manufacturing and farming to fishing, swimming, and other kinds of recreation.

SUPPORTERS: The Clean Water Rule is needed to reinstate protec-tions for the streams and wetlands that feed into the drinking water supplies of one in three Americans. The Clean Water Act was adopted in 1972 and it worked well until court decisions and decisions by former administrations created confusion and legal loopholes, leaving these smaller waterways vulner-able to pollution. These supporters say that Congress should allow the rule to be implemented to ensure that these smaller waterways that feed into our drinking water supply are protected from pollution and destructive development.


Focusing on the debate as related to farmers does not change the dynamic: the large majority side with supporters of the rule.

0.22

0.74

OPPONENTS: Some farming and agriculture groups, including the Farm Bureau, oppose the rule because they say that it would give the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers the power to regulate normal farming activities such as building fences, digging ditches, and applying fertilizers or pesticides. Congress should block this rule because these regulations would make it harder to farm, making farming more costly and leading to higher food prices at a time when American farmers and families are already struggling to make ends meet.

SUPPORTERS: The Clean Water Rule is needed to protect the streams and wetlands from pollution and destructive development, and it will NOT get in the way of farming. Farmers, ranchers, and foresters who are conducting everyday activities such as plowing, tilling, planting, harvesting, and building and maintaining roads, ponds, and ditches have always been allowed to do these things under the Clean Water Act, and this rule will not change that. These supporters, including the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and the Ohio Farmers Union, say that the rule offers greater clarity for farmers, so Congress should allow the rule to be implemented because clean water is not only important for families and communities but for the continued success of our nation's farms.

With whom do you agree more?


There are several compelling arguments for the Clean Water Rule, but protecting waterways for future generations and protecting American’s drinking water are particularly persuasive themes.

Proportions saying each is a very or fairly convincing reason Congress should allow the Clean Water Rule to be implemented

Our families depend on clean water. By restoring protections to streams and wetlands, the Clean Water Rule will again protect the waterways our children and grandchildren use to drink, swim, and play in.

The Clean Water Act currently protects large sources of water such as lakes and rivers from pollution, but streams and wetlands that feed into those larger bodies of water no longer enjoy the same level of protection. This rule would restore the safeguards for smaller waterways that filter out pollution and feed into drinking water supplies.

Our economy depends on clean water, and many business groups have said that protecting these smaller waterways is vital to maintaining our economy. Manufacturing, farming, ranching, energy, tourism, and recreation sectors all need clean water for their businesses, and to support new jobs.

80%(49% very)

80%(42% very)

80%(41% very)

(continued)


There are several compelling arguments for the Clean Water Rule, but protecting waterways for future generations and protecting American’s drinking water are particularly persuasive themes.Proportions saying each is a very or fairly convincing reason Congress should allow the Clean Water Rule to be implemented

This rule will restore protections to streams and wetlands that have an impact on the communities, cities, businesses, schools, and farms that are downstream, and thus help communities avoid threats like last year's toxic algae contamination of Lake Erie that left more than 500,000 people in Toledo, Ohio, without access to safe drinking water for nearly three days.

Today one in three Americans gets their drinking water from sources currently lacking protection from pollution and destructive development. Without this rule the drinking water of 117 million Americans will be at risk.

Healthy streams and wetlands support wildlife habitat and provide critical places for rare and endangered animals to live.

The Clean Water Rule will protect streams and habitat for wildlife, support our $646 billion outdoor recreation industry, and ensure that our hunting and fishing traditions can be passed along to the next generation.

Economic analysis of the rule indicates that it will provide an estimated $388 million to $514 million annually in benefits to the public, which will significantly outweigh the rule's costs.

79%(49% very)

78% (50% very)

77%(40% very)

76%(39% very)

64%(29% very)

Documents

Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule May 2015 Hart Research Voters’ Attitudes Regarding the Clean Water Rule Key findings from a nationwide