U.S. House votes to end EPA water pollution oversight
By Ken Ward Jr.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Fueled by coal industry complaints about the Obama administration’s crackdown on mountaintop removal, legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday that would strip federal regulators of their authority to make state agencies properly police water pollution.
Does anybody remember this:
Big TCEQ conspiracy to cover up radiation in drinking water
Now this bill goes to the Senate and Texans have no hope that our US Senators will protect our interest. They are paid protectors of industry.
The legislation would stop EPA from rejecting Clean Water Act “dredge-and-fill” permits approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as EPA did earlier this year with the largest mountaintop removal permit in West Virginia history.
But the bill goes much farther than that. It would block EPA from stepping in if states write water quality standards federal scientists believe are too weak. EPA would no longer be able to withdraw federal approval of state water pollution regulatory programs, and would be stripped of authority to object to water pollution discharge permits issued by state agencies.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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Worst piece of news in a while. Who would have thought protecting water would be so radical? And I simply don't buy that the EPA with it's pathetic and laughable funding has been overstepping its authority in preventing the biggest mountaintop removal in West Virginia history. Mining and Drilling an unholy alliance. Who were the other 237 traitors that sold out their constituents water for special interests?