EPA Support For Key 'Pristine' Waters Program Leaves Open Questions

摘要

EPA has partially approved Kentucky's landmark plan for determining how to provide increased protection to pristine waters, but activists say the agency's action fails to clarify which waters are subject to the strict requirements, maintaining uncertainties that they say stem from an appellate ruling but which could potentially spark further litigation and intensified lobbying to have EPA address the issue in a pending rulemaking. The agency Nov. 9 partially approved Kentucky's antidegradation implementation procedures - one of the relatively few state antidegradation plans to win agency approval - while recommending revisions to strengthen their application to de minimis discharges, general permits and storm sewers.