Court Upholds U.S. EPA's Radionuclide Rules

摘要

In a decision having potentially broad implications, a federal Court of Appeals has upheld U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulations establishing standards for radionu-clides in public water systems. City of Waukesha v. Environmental Protection Agency, Case No. 01-1028, et al. (D.C.Cir.2003). This decision is broadly important for two reasons: it may put to rest the long-standing debate over whether water utilities must spend substantial monies to install treatment facilities to remove radionu-clides or to obtain alternative water supplies; and it demonstrates the difficulty in challenging regulations, particularly MCLs, issued by EPA.