Law: Conflict over Clean Water

New regulations issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to the Clean Water Act Amendments have been criticized by environmentalists, who claim the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program undermines parts of the Clean Water Act. Their concern is focused on new sources regulations and variance allowances from uniform treatment requirements on the basis of fundamentally different factors (FDF). Changes in EPA definitions of new sources are examined in this context. Industrial opposition to the regulations focus on these as well as on a wide range of other issues affecting facility construction and operation. Both groups are interested in litigation, but EPA contends that the piecemeal approach to regulation review should continue. 9 references.