{Kentucky}...Wednesday, Kentucky officials with the State Energy and Environment Cabinet made public the latest package of so-called “anti-degradation” rules that they have sent to the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office in Atlanta. They hope it will end years of conflict and lawsuits with environmentalists. Officials hope that after 16 years they finally have submitted acceptable rules to prevent the deterioration of the state’s rivers and streams. The Kentucky Waterways Alliance group had argued that earlier versions of the rules contained too many exemptions. And, in 2008, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, striking down portions of the regulations. Last year, the alliance was joined by the Sierra Club and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth in suing EPA to force the agency to make a decision on a subsequent package of rules that the state had submitted in 2009.Wednesday, August 10, 2011
State Cabinet Submits New Clean Water Rules
{Kentucky}...Wednesday, Kentucky officials with the State Energy and Environment Cabinet made public the latest package of so-called “anti-degradation” rules that they have sent to the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office in Atlanta. They hope it will end years of conflict and lawsuits with environmentalists. Officials hope that after 16 years they finally have submitted acceptable rules to prevent the deterioration of the state’s rivers and streams. The Kentucky Waterways Alliance group had argued that earlier versions of the rules contained too many exemptions. And, in 2008, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, striking down portions of the regulations. Last year, the alliance was joined by the Sierra Club and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth in suing EPA to force the agency to make a decision on a subsequent package of rules that the state had submitted in 2009.