Judge Upholds Trump EPA Approval Of Controversial Nutrient Standards

摘要

A federal judge has upheld the Trump EPA's approval of Missouri's Clean Water Act nutrient limit for lakes, affirming an approach that many have said could shape how other states address the issue by allowing them to assess the pollutants' effect on waters before addressing any adverse effects rather than setting protective limits. In a ruling issued earlier this month, Senior Judge Nanette K. Laughrey of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri ruled in Missouri Coalition for the Environment Foundation (MCE) v. Wheeler that although the agency's shift in position is hard to understand, EPA has supplied a rational basis for its final decision that meets the Administrative Procedure Act's (APA) test for lawful decisions.