Species Consultation Seen as Less Onerous For States With Existing Cooling Water Rules

摘要

Mid-Atlantic states won't find it as burdensome as other states to consult with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the NOAA Fisheries on whether discharge permits for cooling water intakes comply with the Endangered Species Act, a representative of state environmental officials said. States such as New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania that have a lot of cooling water intake structures have been dealing with ESA consultation for a long time because they have their own regulations in place. "They are comfortable with it," Alexandra Dunn, general counsel and executive director for the Environmental Council of the States, said at a "Clean Water Act: Law and Regulation" seminar, which was held Nov. 17 and 18.