They're Busy Not Enforcing the Clean Air Act

EPA not enforcing Clean Water Act, says report

Posted at 1:35 PM on 12 Oct 2007

The U.S. EPA is not so much enforcing the Clean Water Act, says a new report from green group U.S. PIRG. According to EPA data, 57 percent of the country's industrial plants and municipal wastewater facilities dumped more than the allowable level of pollutants and sewage into waterways at least once in 2005, the most recent year that records are available. The average violation was nearly four times the legal limit. Of course, the Clean Water Act turns 35 next week, so why shouldn't it relax a little? Meanwhile, in a timely case in point, Indiana may ease limits on toxic dumping into a Lake Michigan tributary by a steel mill in the infamous city of Gary (go on, just sing it). Indiana recently inspired public outcry when it considered allowing BP to increase pollution discharged into that very lake.

sources:  San Francisco Chronicle, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Chicago Tribune
straight to the report:  Troubled Waters: An analysis of 2005 Clean Water Act compliance
see also, in Grist:  Bush administration limits reach of Clean Water Act