EPA is working to prevent construction runoff from polluting our waters.  They announced plans to initiate national rulemaking to develop a program to minimize stormwater runoff from new development and redevelopment.  Sediment is the primary pollutant running off construction sites and polluting adjacent streams, but other pollutants can quite feasibly be included in the runoff.  Proper installation and maintenance of best management practices (BMPs) can keep runoff onsite during most rain events.  The EPA and states already have rules addressing construction sites, but this proposal will expand those rules and establish specific requirements for stormwater control.  They also intend to ensure consistency and analyze mechanisms to protect “sensitive areas.”  Five hearings across the country are being held to gather public input.  Unfortunately none of these hearings are being held in the southeast.  To learn more about this rulemaking process go to EPA’s stormwater website.

Come on, EPA.  Everyone associated with coal ash knows how hazardous it is. Ok, maybe the coal industry won’t admit it, but who’s surprised there?  We’ve been waiting patiently for years to get coal ash catagorized as hazardous and it looked like it would happen within the year. But no!  Again EPA has put this decision on hold.

We now demand that EPA classify coal fly ash as hazardous.  How many more Kingstons do we need!

RvH