EPA

EPA Unveils New Coal Ash Regulations

November 6, 2019

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed two rules that would ease Obama-era requirements for disposal of two streams of waste that result from burning coal to produce electricity—the storage of coal ash and the discharge of contaminated water into waterways.

EPA Indiana Loan a New Wrinkle for WIFIA

Tom Ichniowski

October 23, 2019

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As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to sign off on new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans, one of its latest WIFIA approvals has a new twist.

States, Utilities Take Sides on Carbon Emissions Regulations

Mary B. Powers

September 25, 2019

One Comment

A set of lawsuits challenging the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan were dismissed by a federal appeals court after the Trump administration replaced the regulation with the Affordable Clean Energy Rule, but that rule now faces its own set of challenges.

PFAS Cleanup in Limbo Without a Law

Pam Hunter McFarland

September 25, 2019

One Comment

As the number of communities in the U.S. discovering high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water supplies continues to grow, industry and local officials are waiting on legislative and regulatory leadership to set limits and standards for this pollutant class.

EPA Limits State Review of Section 401 Permits Under Proposed Rule

Pam Radtke Russell

August 21, 2019

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Energy producers are welcoming a proposed change to Clean Water Act regulations that would limit states’ rights to review Section 401 certifications.

Mixed Reviews for EPA Move to Speed Energy Permits

Pam Hunter McFarland

June 19, 2019

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The outlook for new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidance aimed at streamlining permit approvals for natural gas pipelines and other energy infrastructure projects is murky, at best, and could lead to more frequent legal skirmishes, some observers say.

Would You Drink Treated Wastewater?

A Growing Number of Communities are Considering Potable Reuse

Pam Radtke Russell

June 19, 2019

One Comment

Water recycling and other forms of reuse—such as direct potable reuse—have become mainstream enough to attract the attention of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Study: More Than 600 Sites in US Contaminated by PFAS

Group Recommends Lower Threshold than EPA

Mary B. Powers

May 14, 2019

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While the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a clean up standard of 70 parts per trillion for some PFAS chemicals, the Environmental Working Group says a safe standard is 1 part per trillion.