Lawsuit seeks new water protection rule in Idaho
We are working to protect water in Idaho!
The Idaho Conservation League has filed a lawsuit demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency either craft its own plan to protect Idaho waters from long-term pollution, or force state officials to get the job done.
The lawsuit accuses the state of operating for 40 years without a formal plan for implementing antidegradation rules, a key component of the Clean Water Act adopted by Congress in the 1972.
The environmental group specifically blames the state and the EPA for neglecting to develop the framework needed to enforce rules designed to protect lakes, rivers and streams from incremental pollution that can significantly harm state waters over time.
"What we're asking here is for the EPA to step in and write a regulation that protects Idaho's water quality ... and prevent the slow decline in the health of rivers, lakes and streams," said Justin Hayes, program coordinator for ICL.
EPA spokesman Mark McIntyre declined to comment, citing the agency's policy against making statements on pending litigation.
