Judge rejects plea to revoke Ala. permit authority

摘要

A federal judge rejected a plea earlier this week that sought to revoke the Alabama Department of Environmental Management's right to issue water discharge permits on behalf of U.S. EPA. Between 2001 and 2012, 16 Alabama-based environmental groups have asked that ADEM be stripped of its authority to approve National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits to industries and others across the state, as a result of alleged program deficiencies. Of the 26 deficiencies referred to in the opinion, EPA had found 22 did not warrant revoking authority from ADEM. The four other allegations raised "significant concerns," EPA said, but the agency said it would work with ADEM to address issues before withdrawing its permitting authority.