EPA BID FOR OIL, GAS RULING REHEARING RETAINS WELL PERMIT EXEMPTION

AUSTIN, TX -- A federal appellate court may have struck down EPA's controversial rule exempting construction activities at oil and gas facilities from Clean Water Act stormwater permitting requirements, but EPA's July 21 petition for the court to rehear the case means the ruling can not take effect -- and industry can continue constructing wells without permits. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled May 23 in Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) v. EPA to vacate the...