Forest Service Presses EPA To Pare Back Hardrock Mining CERCLA Rule

摘要

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is advising EPA to heavily pare back its draft Superfund bond rule for hardrock mining in order to avoid duplicating and preempting existing rules the service implements on national forest lands, echoing concerns from GOP lawmakers, industry and western states. In an April 18 cover letter to the detailed comments, National Forest System Deputy Chief Leslie A.C. Weldon says while USFS appreciates the many opportunities to engage with EPA, including during interagency review, on the development of the Superfund bonding rule, the service "continues to have concerns with duplication and preemption of the proposed rule which overlaps with our established regulations …" The comments are available on InsideEPA.com.