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Federal judge rules EPA overstepped authority trying to regulate water as pollutant in Virginia |
2013-01-05 |
[FOXNEWS] Virginia officials scored a key victory Thursday in their battle with the Environmental Protection Agency over what EPA critics describe as a land takeover. U.S. District Judge Liam O'Grady in Alexandria ruled late Thursday that the EPA exceeded its authority by attempting to regulate stormwater runoff into a Fairfax County creek as a pollutant. O'Grady sided with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, which challenged EPA's stormwater restrictions "Stormwater runoff is not a pollutant, so EPA is not authorized to regulate it," O'Grady said. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says the ruling could ultimately save Virginia taxpayers more than $300 million. An EPA spokesman could not be reached for comment after business hours. The EPA, citing an abundance of stormwater runoff, had proposed a plan that Virginia officials said could cost homeowners and businesses their private property. The EPA contended that water itself can be regulated as a pollutant if there's too much of it. The agency says heavy runoff is having a negative impact on Accotink Creek and that it has the regulatory authority to remedy the situation. Cuccinelli, a Republican, argued what the EPA has proposed is "illegal," and he's not alone in the fight. He was joined in the lawsuit against the federal agency by the Democratic-controlled Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. |
Posted by:Fred |
#8 I recall that Urine is "Polluted Water" now do the EPA workers Pee? If so they're polluting the waters every day. |
Posted by: Redneck Jim 2013-01-05 15:16 |
#7 I would like to strangle this particular agency with their own entrails, personally. |
Posted by: newc 2013-01-05 13:15 |
#6 Howz about Fair Share? Something more official: Free Water Undocumented Emigration Services. |
Posted by: swksvolFF 2013-01-05 11:37 |
#5 So does this mean I will not be assessed a $73.00 annual "Storm Run-off Control Fee" on my Virginia Property tax bill ? --- Likey not, once money is demanded and surrendered to the State, it will continue to be demanded by the State, just under a different name. Care to suggest a new name anyone ? |
Posted by: Au Auric 2013-01-05 11:02 |
#4 EPA employees exhale CO2, not counting the methane from the other orifice. So, the EPA should be shut down as a polluter or the appropriate orifices capped to prevent further degradation of the environment. |
Posted by: Procopius2k 2013-01-05 10:59 |
#3 They'll keep trying, JQC. Experience teaches they eventually win. |
Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2013-01-05 10:09 |
#2 Had the EPA won, they would have had no restraints. |
Posted by: JohnQC 2013-01-05 09:52 |
#1 CO2 has been ruled a pollutant so why shouldn't water be too? |
Posted by: Glenmore 2013-01-05 09:07 |